The principal shakes his head, slowly.
“And proof is what we're trying to get, Mr Marks. The first piece of evidence, was an analysis on the school provided sports drinks. The four bottles yourself and the other three gentlemen didn’t consume were analysed and the substances found were consistent with the first positive results. And Miss Richmond herself has just admitted that she has been providing you four with all your drinks on game day.”
Teague shakes his head and I don’t miss the exasperation in his tone.
“Sir, but isn’t this proof that Aubrey has nothing to do with all of it, if anything? The fact that we passed the drug tests and drank only what she gave us means—”
Mr McArthur looks dead serious when he explains that actually at the beginning of the season, when we tested positive, the rumours were that Aubrey was into me but I rejected her.
And of course, the principal believes that theory because he witnessed Aubrey’s reaction when she first saw me at the assembly on the first day of school and blurted out that infamous ‘fuck me’.
I have only my own dumbass self to blame for the way I shunned Aubrey afterwards and for how I yelled at her in public more than once when I thought that the tainted drinks were payback for ignoring her.
If even I thought that she was responsible for it all, how can I be surprised if others believe that too?
Especially because I was very vocal about it.
And I can easily guess Mr McArthur’s line of thought: at first Aubrey messed with us when I was ignoring her and the others were only vaguely involved with her but now that we’re all officially dating her, she would protect us.
What the principal and coach are failing to provide is a motive to mess with the rest of the team.
But do they really need a motive? All they really need is proof that she did it.
Aubrey must be following a similar train of thought because she squares her shoulders and asks the principal what was the anonymous tip that made him call her into this office today.
Mr McArthur hands her a piece of paper that looks like it’s been torn from a notebook.
“It was found this morning in the suggestion box that Mrs Avery checks every morning. As you know, we have an online one too but we still keep a box in the admin offices.”
The piece of paper says:
‘Aubrey Richmond is the one fucking with the football team’s drinks. If you want proof, search her locker.’
Aubrey
I KNOW I’VE NOTHING to do with what’s happening to the football team, so actually this could be good to exonerate me once and for all.
“So, this is why you called me in here? You want to search my locker?”
The principal and coach confirm that’s their intention and I tell them that it’s totally all right with me.
“Let’s go, then. I haven't done anything wrong, so let’s clear this up.”
I rise from my chair but Knox asks if I have the right to have a parent present or a lawyer.
The principal shakes his head in denial.
“The student lockers are and remain property of the academy, so it’s in our right to search them if we have reason to believe that they might contain illegal or dangerous substances or any item prohibited on campus. The reason why we called Miss Richmond in here today, is because we value our students’ privacy and we were hoping that something could emerge from this conversation that would deem a search unnecessary.”
I jut my chin up and look at the principal.
“I’ve done nothing wrong. Let’s get this over with.”
Coach steps closer to me, his big frame effectively blocking me from leaving the room.
“Young lady, I need to warn you that if we were to find any evidence of wrong doing, the consequences would be extremely serious: immediate expulsion from BHPA and if the school were to press charges, legal consequences too. Also, some of those pills are controlled substances so it’s illegal to purchase them without a medical prescription.”
I’ve always disliked Coach Benson, especially because Reece, Pryce, and Chaz told me how he treated them the entire time last year, believing the rumours that they had sexually assaulted Max’s ex-girlfriend.
So I'm not surprised at all that he looks at me as if I were guilty.
I glare at him with the most defiant look I can muster and drawl:
“Let's go and get this over and done with. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
We walk down the hallway, and stop at the row of lockers closest to the A-Classroom.
First period is just over and students are starting to trickle out on their way to their next class.
We must be quite a sight to behold: me surrounded by the guys in their letterman jackets, followed closely by the principal and Coach Benson.
The men wait behind me while I put in the combination to open my locker and the gasp when I pull the metal door open is a collective one.
“What the fuck?”
That's my voice coming out as if someone had knocked the wind out of me and the guys behind me use very similar expletives.
Somehow I'm not worried about being heard cussing since in my locker, sitting on the first shelf there are two boxes of weight loss pills and two of diuretics or water pills.
I turn around to look at the principal and I know it sounds extremely lame, but I find nothing better to say than:
“This shit isn't mine. I swear I’ve never seen it before and I've no idea how it made it into my locker.”
The principal and Coach Benson are looking at me with matching serious expressions and Mr McArthur’s voice is low and somber when he informs me that I'm expelled, effective immediately.
I don't even have time to react to the news when the guys explode in an array of protests.
“You can't do that! She said that shit isn't hers!”
Devon.
“If you expel her, I refuse to play football tomorrow night.”
Teague.
“Me too!”
Landon and Knox.
“Sir, with all respect, I believe her and I think she's being framed. There must be a way to prove Aubrey's innocence. What about the security cameras in the hallway? There must be some footage that can tell us if someone has tampered with Aubrey’s locker. And by the way, as long as my girlfriend is expelled, I’m not playing football either.”
Devon again.
Coach Benson starts yelling at the guys that they have a responsibility towards the whole school, that they can't let everybody down by refusing to play.
“Son, if the four of you refuse to play, we might as well forfeit the final. I don’t have another quarterback and I’d have to draw from the junior varsity team. Plus Teague and Landon are our best running backs. You can’t do that to us.”
We all know how much coach has riding on tomorrow night’s game, so I’m not surprised when he pleads with the principal.
“Adam, is there anything that can be done?”
The principal shakes his head.
“I’m afraid my hands are tied. Miss Richmond, you need to leave campus immediately. All I can promise is to get in touch with our security company and view that camera footage in hopes that it exonerates you. But it might take twenty four hours.”
I’m too shocked to say anything and lean into Devon’s side when he wraps a protective arm around my shoulders.
“We’re all going home with our girlfriend. It looks like you have until tomorrow afternoon to look at that footage.”
When we move to leave, the principal tries to stop us:
“I would think twice before refusing to play tomorrow. If you four want a letter of recommendation for college from any of your teachers, I suggest—”
Devon calls his bluff.
“Fair enough. My father is a Harvard alumnus, I’m sure he’ll find a few of his buddies willing to write letters for all of us. Our plan is to attend Harvard together, the five of us. So, for as much as I’d love your help, sir, I’m gonna tell you right now that my
father and Mr Richmond will be extremely unimpressed that you won't work harder to see that justice is upheld. Isn't that what school should teach us?”
The principal agrees to do his best to obtain that footage but remains adamant that his hands are tied and unless my innocence is proven, he has no choice but to expel me.
“You can of course appeal this decision, Miss Richmond and appear in front of the school board but as of right now, the evidence against you is pretty compelling.”
His tone of voice has softened up a little and he looks genuinely sorry to have to ask me to surrender my school ID.
The guys walk out with me under the eyes of a small crowd that’s been observing the last part of this showdown after the bell rang announcing the end of first period.
22.
Family Reunion
Aubrey
I’M SO WRAPPED UP IN my own thoughts that I don’t say much during the ride home in Landon’s car.
The guys have all decided to stick with me, and while I appreciate it, I wanna talk to them about not going through with their threat to skip tomorrow’s game.
I know I’ve got absolutely nothing to do with the drugs and have no idea how those pills got into my locker, but I’m confident that we’ll be able to find proof to exonerate me and it would be easier to do that with boots on the ground, so to speak, since I’m no longer allowed on campus.
Of course I’m worried about the consequences of an expulsion: could my daddy or Devon’s father really help me to get into Harvard or not?
I know that the competition to be admitted to any of the Ivy League colleges is incredibly fierce and I’m sure that an expulsion would be a huge stain on my record.
I should be distraught about what happened today but the only reason why I’m not, is that the guys defended me tooth and nail.
When I caught wind of what the principal wanted, I got really worried that they would doubt me again like they did a few weeks ago.
The fact that they were on my side, so much so that they stormed out of school with me and threatened to miss a final game I know is very important to each of them, makes my heart feel warm and full and gives me the certainty that this horrible incident will be solved and the truth uncovered.
It also wasn't lost on me how they acted like good friends, not turning against each other like they did in the past.
This fills me with hope about the future, despite the fact that today so far was utterly shit.
And I haven't talked to Daddy yet, which I'm not looking forward to because I'm still mad about the whole Tyler situation.
But I need to man up and ask for his help: he’ll rain on BHPA with an onslaught of lawyers and threats to withdraw any financial help he offers the academy.
I'm lost in these thoughts the whole time of the ride home and don't say much to Landon, who’s driving quietly, with his jaw uncharacteristically tight and a very serious expression on his normally smiley face.
When we pull into Chaz's driveway, I’m surprised to see his Rolls Royce parked out front but there's also another car: Alex's SUV.
I'm excited to see my siblings but at the same time I wasn't planning on having them meet the guys all at once, so I take a deep breath when I unlock the door.
I hear laughter coming from the living room where Tuna, Max, and Pryce are having some kind of video game tournament and Abi and Ayla are playing Uno with Alex, Sam, Chaz and Reece.
Chaz is the first one to see me and he puts his cards down, ready for me to fly into his open arms.
“Aubrey! Baby girl! I missed you so much!”
He hugs me tight and I can't help my heart from making happy leaps in my chest: of course nothing sexual could ever happen between me and Chaz but I had a huge crush on him during his popstar years and I can't help but notice how fucking hot he looks.
The next one to hug me is Reece, which provokes Alex's protests.
“Hey, assholes! I get it that you love my baby sis, but I'm the actual brother, do you fucking mind?”
I giggle at his fake stern expression and leave Reece’s embrace to find myself in my brother’s arms.
I hate that my siblings are away at college but since we first met a year ago, we've been keeping in touch constantly and Abi and I spent spring break and part of the summer with Alex.
I adore his girlfriend Ayla, who's become a good friend to both me and Abi; and Sam and Tuna are super hot, funny, and kind.
After I hug Abi and Ayla and all the guys, everyone’s attention shifts towards my boys who are standing a few steps behind me.
Reece is the first one to notice them and addresses them through narrowed eyes, with his usual smart ass smirk firmly in place.
“Well, well. If this isn't Campbell, Colton, and Marks! And you must be Max’s QB replacement. Devon Archer, right?”
Devon shakes Reece's hand and Reece tells him that they watched all the games that are uploaded on the academy's website.
“You might be a better fucking QB than Max! Are you ready for tomorrow night’s final?”
Devon makes a comment on having really big shoes to fill and about how awe inspiring it is to meet the four guys that led BHPA to victory last year.
Obviously Teague, Knox, and Landon have played football with Abi’s guys, so the guys know each other despite my boys being one year younger.
I’m glad that football represents a common ground among the guys, making things less awkward but I don't even finish the thought when Alex asks:
“So sis, which one of these clowns are you actually dating?”
I clear my voice: Abi and Ayla are the only ones who know about my relationship with the guys and they obviously completely understand.
I look at my boys for help but they're all standing behind me with matching amused smirks, enjoying the show of me squirming under my brother’s intense gaze.
“Uhm ... all of them?”
Alex's eyebrows lift in a surprised gasp and after an appraising look at my boys, he grabs Chaz in one of his friendly headlocks and asks:
“Come here, Atwood! You went to school with these clowns, are they decent human beings or do I have to kick their asses until they have a very legitimate fear of the gruesome consequences they’ll face if they hurt my baby sister? I knew you and your friends but this lot was all finishing middle school the year I graduated.”
Chaz tries to reassure Alex that my boys are all right but I decide it's my job to step in to avoid anymore embarrassment for the guys after what happened in the principal’s office earlier on.
“Alex, they're fucking great. You should've seen how they protected me earlier on, when I got expelled.”
For a second the room goes eerily quiet: you could hear the proverbial pin drop from miles away.
Then Alex is the first to react:
“Expelled? Aubrey, what the fuck’s going on? You better start talking!”
Alex's tone is hard but I know that's his normal way to react to problems, however the boys don't and Landon and Knox immediately flank me.
“Dude, she didn't do anything wrong! She's upset enough without you interrogating her—”
I put a calming hand on Landon's chest and sit down on one of the black leather couches with a deep sigh.
“I suppose I better start from the beginning of this mess ...”
And I tell them everything, from the first positive drug test to the pills found in my locker earlier on.
Alex reacts with a string of cusses and informs me that Daddy’s out of town for business until tomorrow afternoon and that my mom has gone with him.
“But there's no time to waste. I’ll call our family lawyers and get them to contact the school on your behalf. I'm sure Dad will be able to persuade the principal not to press charges but maybe our lawyers will be able to find out some details that at least will shed some light on this fucking mess. It sure sounds like you're being framed. Sis, think long and hard: is there anyone at school who doesn't like you? At the beginning, when only yo
ur guys tested positive, it could have been a coincidence if the facts pointed to you, but pills in your locker and an anonymous tip? Someone wants to hurt the team but also you.”
I say that I don't have any enemies that the only people who’ve been cross with me have been a few girls on the cheer squad, because they were the guys’ rally girls and wanted to date them, so they were jealous when they realised that they were dating me.
Devon steps forward and after a side glance towards Knox, he speaks up.
“I think Margaux’s behind all this. She’s tried to date me since the first day of school, she’s my rally girl and she blackmailed me about telling everyone at school that my mom is a house maid that got knocked up by her married boss if I didn't date her. Plus, she was the one that handed you the roofied sports drinks when this whole shit show began.”
I protest that while it’d make sense that Margaux could be mad at Devon for rejecting her, I doubt that she’d go as far as putting stuff in my locker.
“Look, she isn't the nicest girl in the world but she’s always been pretty nice to me, in her own ‘Queen Bee’ kinda way. She even let me cry on her shoulder when I thought that Knox was ghosting me after sleeping with me.”
Alex snaps at Knox.
“You fucked my sister and then you ghosted her? I—”
Knox ignores Alex, his problem seems to be with Devon.
“Dude! She's my sister! Ok, she might be slutty at times—”
Teague and Landon chuckle sarcastically and Knox gives them a withering look before continuing:
“Ok, fuck it! My sister is slutty most of the time but don't you think it's a bit extreme to accuse her of something as serious as drugging you three first and then the whole team? She's not a psycho bitch. People don't look beyond the first impression. If you bothered to get to know her better, you’d know that deep down, she's sweet and only wants people to give her a fucking chance!”
Knox’s cheeks are red, his fists are clenched and he's so mad at Devon's accusation that he's shaking.
It's such an usual demeanour for cool and collected Knox and I'm about to speak up in his defence, when Devon apologises.
The Retribution: A High School Light Bully Romance (Beverly Hills Prep Academy Book 3) Page 27