I forgot about the coin the moment she stopped talking.
Only then did Cromwell look at me. I couldn’t help it; I shrank back in my seat. “How long has this been going on?”
I didn’t answer.
“Apparently since the first day she started,” Principal Hawkes answered. “Mayor Cromwell, I want to ensure you that PHS doesn’t tolerate this kind of behavior. Nor have we ever, in the history of my career, had anything like this.”
I felt his stare on me while he talked. “This is the first I’ve heard of this. I am… extremely disappointed that Ember didn’t confide in me. Principal Hawkes, what are you doing to ensure this will stop?”
“She states that no one has been bothering her, so that gives us very little to go on. Although, I am not entirely inclined to believe her since this is the first time any of this has been brought to our attention.”
I looked up then. That wasn’t true. I’d told Mr. Theo and he’d told her. She had to have figured out that he knew, but then the next thing she said sealed my fate. I was a goner. No doubt about it.
“I don’t mean this as any offense to you, Mayor Cromwell. As you know, I voted for you and you still have my vote,” she continued. “But I am inclined to believe that this issue started even before she stepped foot in this school.”
Cromwell stiffened beside me. “I’m not sure I’m following you.”
She cleared her throat and nervously worked at the button on her suit. “How have her interactions been with the other…. children living in your home? Are there any problems you may be aware of? It could be that—” She stopped talking. She stopped moving. Actually, I think she stopped breathing.
Holy crap.
Then I noticed that Cromwell was standing. “Nothing has happened in my house.”
“Nothing,” Principal Hawkes murmured.
“None of my children are involved in this,” he continued, his voice surprisingly soothing. I found myself leaning toward him, listening. “In fact, you will forget we ever had this conversation.”
Principal Hawkes nodded.
“Ember left her lunch in her locker. It spoiled. She panicked.” I snapped out of it. “What?”
Cromwell ignored me, solely focused on her. “Nothing has happened. Ember is just sick. She will go home today. If anyone else brings this up, you will tell them it’s being handled. And you will contact me if anyone comes to you about this.”
“Yes. Of course. Yes.” Principal Hawkes blinked. Then she looked at me, a fond, almost patronizing smile on her face. “Miss McWilliams, I do hope you feel better. And please remember to not leave your lunch in your locker anymore.”
My jaw hit the floor.
Cromwell wrapped things up after that, and then we were walking out of the school and getting in his Porsche. My heart raced and palms sweated. I was screwed. And I needed to get out of here.
“I want—want to stay in school today. I have a test this afternoon,” I told him.
He spared me a glance. “You can make up the test.”
“But—”
“Who else knew about this, Ember?”
“No one,” I stuttered, eyeing the door handle. I could make a run for it. I could also touch him.
“Do not lie to me. Who else knew about this?” he demanded.
“I’m not lying.” My fingers clawed along the door. “No one else knew. I have to take a test—” Cromwell pulled out of the parking lot before I could even open the door. “Why didn’t you come to me about this?”
“I…” I couldn’t think of a lie fast enough. Telling him that I thought he or one of his freaks was behind it wouldn’t make anything better. So the next words that came out of my mouth even amazed me. “Why do you collect kids? What do you want from us?”
“I don’t want anything from you. And I’ve already answered why I bring the gifted into my household.
I will not explain it again for your amusement.”
“It’s not for my amusement! You want these kids for some bizarre reason.” Another moment in my life where I knew I needed to shut up, but couldn’t. “Just like you wanted Olivia—because they’re all gifted.
Why do you want their gifts?”
“I understand that you’re upset, but you will not question my intentions. I’ll determine who has been leaving those things in your locker whether or not you fess up to who’s been bothering you. The next time —if there is a next time anything like this occurs—you will come to me. Do you understand?”
“A—Are you going to send me away?”
“Sometimes I want to, Ember. I really do. So don’t push it.”
My fingers opened and closed in my lap. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to take you home. You will go upstairs. You’re grounded—”
“What?” I screeched. “How am I grounded? This isn’t my fault! And grounded from what? I don’t go anywhere.”
“You’re grounded, because you should’ve come to me. I could’ve stepped in before this—whatever this is—involved any of the outsiders. This is the second time you’ve let me down, Ember. I had to use my gift to manipulate someone. The last thing I need is the school administration prying around my home because they so obviously believe that one of my children has something to do with this.”
“Go figure,” I snapped.
“And trust that I will have a talk with every single one of them this evening.”
“But I didn’t tell any of them!”
Cromwell glanced in my direction. “I don’t know why you think you can lie to me.”
I didn’t, either.
Chapter 20
I kept waiting for Cromwell to change his mind, to storm into my bedroom and inform me that he’d contacted the Facility and they were coming for me. But as the hours passed and the light of the moon crept across the room, I realized I was safe for the time being.
My nerves settled down enough that I could get some semblance of sleep. I don’t know what woke me near sunrise. Maybe it’d been a nightmare. I’d dreamt of shadowy figures following me, which probably explained why my heart threw itself against my ribs.
I sat up and tossed the covers off my legs. Climbing out of bed, I took a step, and then noticed a shadow against the door. And when it moved forward, I opened my mouth to scream.
“Ember, it’s me.”
“Oh, my God,” I gasped, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Hayden said quietly.
I could barely see him. Once I felt sure I wouldn’t pass out, I stood up again. “How long have you been in here?” Watching me sleep ? Even though I didn’t say that, it hung in the air between us. Instead of creeping me out, which it should have, knowing that he was in here made me feel weird… in a good way —a confusing way.
“Not that long. I was debating if I wanted to wake you up.”
“Oh. Is… is everything okay?”
“I think that’s a question only you can answer.”
“I guess Cromwell talked to you last night.”
“You guessed correctly.”
I sighed and reached for the bedside lamp, but Hayden suddenly stood in front of me. I don’t know how he moved so fast. Up close, I could see his expression, but couldn’t gain anything from it.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the other stuff?” he demanded, his voice low.
I should’ve known he’d be mad, but I hadn’t been concerned with that last night. I started to turn, but he caught my arm. “We haven’t exactly been getting along.”
Hayden lowered his head, meeting my wide-eyed stare and holding it. “That’s not a good enough reason, Ember.”
“I know, but I didn’t want to bother you with it. Anyway, it was just hamburger meat and I did overreact.”