RILEY

ON TUESDAY, I'M STILL FIRED UP.

With my plastic rain boots on, I march to the Dean of students' office. 

Now, I've been in trouble before. I've been called to the principal's office in high school more than three times for various reasons. Like the time my Trig teacher thought I was being rude just because I told her that the answer she wrote was inaccurate. I could have worded it differently but it was too late and the class had already laughed.

Or that time in junior year when I fought a senior because he called my friend a whore for wearing a choker and bright red lipstick.

And that the time I skipped class, missed my exam because a younger me thought that was the better choice than sitting there writing my name on the paper and bombing the whole thing.

I didn't care about the continental and oceanic plates colliding. I didn't care that Antarctica was the fifth largest continent in the world. I didn't care that Iceland was located on or above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

I cared about perspective. How I shaded. Making sure my lines are smooth when I'm drawing. How I'm supposed to improve my mistakes. If I'm even good at sculpting or wood carving. Those were my concerns.

I've also done illegal stuff. Like graffiti which is considered vandalism but it's art and it's mine.

I'd understand if I did something wrong to be having a hearing to prove myself. That's not the case here. I'm here to prove that my own art belongs to me. How ridiculous is that? Younger me couldn't foresee something like this happening but I'm just gonna roll with it.

I draw the hood of my puffer jacket over my head as my shield. Over the course of twenty four hours, it's gotten colder and I can feel my cheeks going numb with every step I take. Lightening ripples through the clouds startling my body before thunderous crackle follows, rattling the trees. There are no birds in sight. Naturally, my heart beats at a pace that's certainly not ideal for me. I watch the sky grow dark, ugly and angry but I'm determined to see the Dean so I keep walking.

My eyes stay aware just in case anything happens. Not too long after, I'm in line with the building. I exhale a breath of relief when I'm inside, away from the storm brewing. Through the doors, I catch a glimpse of students scattering to find shelter before it downpours. One of the lovely staff members inside directs me to the office where the Dean is supposedly waiting for me.

The door creaks the minute I open it which makes my teeth feel like they're being pushed against each other. The physical discomfort writes itself on my face and I freeze.

"Riley Becker? Come on in. I should really get that door fixed. It makes that awful sound every time." The blonde woman behind the wooden desk gestures for me to fully step inside.

I don't make the same mistake twice. When closing the door, this time, it's quicker to get it over with. One and done. I'm now standing in the dean's office for the first time and all I can think about are the amount of frames and what exactly are in them. Some of the words are too tiny. I can't see what they are but I'm sure it's all the dean's accomplishments. People like to broadcast everything they've achieved.

An insane amount of files are topped off on the desk with two pens. The dean's down for business where she peers at the laptop in front of her that I assume has information.

"Thank you for coming down here. Have a seat."She tells me. "I have a report here about artwork being stolen? Jade isn't here yet."

Obviously. I would've seen the thief.

Quietly, I plop down on one of the chairs in front of the desk swinging my backpack from my shoulders to my lap.

"This is a serious violation to our school's Honor Code. It's all about integrity. I will make the decision based on the facts, both of your sides to the story of what happened and so on."

Maybe this is a normal procedure. Stating what you're gonna do before you do them as a powerful figure with people's lives in the palm of your hand. She has the ability to squeeze her palm and crush whoever she wants. Must be nice being on that side of the wall.

"Okay." I say, scanning the room. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do while we wait for Jade who has been ducking ever since Professor Grimshaw reported plagiarism. "Do you have a daughter? Or a son?" If we're going to be waiting, we might as well get to know each other better. There's not a single family photo framed. They're all... achievements.

She looks surprised by the question, pushing her glasses down her nose. "No. I don't have any children."

Can't get through to her over children then.

"Have you ever been held accountable for something you didn't do?" I question, I mean that's what's happening to me. "Do you know how many people are framed at colleges per year?"

The dean seems to be thinking about my questions but she gives up and shakes her head. "No. I don't. I can assume quite a bit."

"Twenty percent." At least here at Taft anyway because I've done my research. "Don't get me wrong, some students willingly plagiarize and cheat, ten percent have admitted."

I don't know why Jade didn't admit.

Just then the door creaks open and the devil walks in. Jade Driscoll. In her stupid preppy clothes. "Sorry I'm late Aunt Violet."

"Have a seat Jade."

Turmoil erupts in my stomach and I burst out laughing.

Jade stands unsure of what to do. She knows she fucked up by saying exactly what the Dean is to her.

Are you kidding me? 

Eventually, Jade sits down and I still can't stop laughing. I'm out of breath when I'm done. It's not that I find anything funny. In fact, I'm furious. I laughed because I'm that pissed off. Why am I not surprised they're related? There's no other way Jade has gotten away with plagiarism over and over.

Violet as Jade calls her directs her attention to me. Icy blue eyes. "Is something funny Miss Becker?"

I straighten my back, staring at her. "Not funny. But I should've known you were her aunt. It all makes sense now. That's why she's still here after copying from other students, isn't she? Penelope, Hazel... me."

It's Violet's turn to laugh. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"How else is she still in this school?"I really want to know. "Unless you're covering for her and I'm not sure how that's going to look when everyone finds out. This is what Hazel meant when she said she couldn't stand up for herself isn't it?"

Violet points a perfectly manicured finger accusingly at me. "Are you threatening me?"

If she thinks that then so be it. What else do I have to lose? "When does this end? How many more girls will sit silent because they're scared the Dean won't believe them or turn them away." My only wish is that Hazel told me that the Dean and Jade were aunt and niece. I didn't know Jade and the Dean had any relationship. "Whether you believe it or like it... Jade's been stealing. I'm not sure if you willingly believe Jade doesn't because you have a perfect image of her or you actually shut down others because you can't possibly let your niece be expelled."

Jade is silent the entire time. Mute. Refusing to give input. "So you're just going to keep doing this?"

I'm surprised Jade even spears me a glance the way she's acting.

"You know that it's my artwork." I press, watching her face redden. Ugh.

Violet pushes back her chair, the wheels screeching. "Prove it to me Miss Becker that Jade Driscoll is the girl that you say she is. Forget she's my niece. You have the floor, prove your case. Go on."

"Fine. Okay. According to Professor Grimshaw, the way she worded something was very interesting to me. It's my 'first offense'." I quote with my fingers. "Which means it's not Jade's first. That already should tell you what you need to know. She's done it before so she'll do it again but I'm sure you already knew that." I unzip my backpack and pull out my phone. "Starting from the line of crimes she's done before this point. Let's take a trip down memory lane. We're working the way up to how we ended up here."

There's no way what Jade did could be denied.

Halfway through my points with evidence, Jade shifts uncomfortably in her chair. "I can't listen anymore. I did it."

She speaks?

Never thought Jade would admit to ever doing anything.

"That's literally all you had to do. That's all you had to say to our studio professor. I wouldn't be here right now." I don't know how to react to the confession.

Not sure what brought Jade to her senses. Maybe she didn't have anything planned. I didn't even get to my favorite part where I was going to rip her to shreds. Now it's like I didn't need to get inside the dorm in the first place.

Violet glares at her niece. "Jade, I have no choice but to expel you. You do understand that?"

"I do. I'm just tired. Tired of pretending and lying. Tired of acting like I'm good at school when I'm not. I'm not smart, I don't have a high enough GPA and mom and dad can't keep buying their way—"She pauses, clearing her throat. "My way with everything. Not even you. So please expel me. Because I'm tired of pretending I know what my professors are talking about. I'm not good in the studio, I'm not good at English Lit. Those aren't my passions, they're what's been instilled inside of me since I was young."

"You could've gotten a tutor." Violet reasons, removing the pair of glasses from her face.

"You're right but it's too much pressure trying to please my family when I know I can't keep up with it. I don't know who I am. But I know it's not any of this. So please Auntie Violet do what needs to be done this time."

The way Jade says 'this time' speaks volumes.

My focus aims at the Dean again and I lift an eyebrow.

What's her move?

She needs to do what was supposed to be done two girls ago. That way I can walk out of here away from this family meeting waiting to happen.

—-
A/N: I saw where ppl thought Asher would be 6'5 or more? Guys he's 6'2 and he's fine. He doesn't need to be taller. Though idk why you guys would think he'd be 6'5? Riley would be swinging from him if he was 6'5 or more omg, she'd look so tiny beside him and I personally am tired of tiny/small female main characters. She's 5'9 so it's 5'10, 5'11, 6', 6'1, 6'2——five inches height difference. For reference this is what he and Riley would like beside each other barefooted. I hope it helps you visualize. Couples like this exist too. We're so use to the female characters bending their necks to see male's face or swinging from arms or climbing them like a tree😭 stop it 4-6 inches height difference is normal and average among couples.

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