Chapter 133

Mr. Blair was actually going to stand up for Shirley?
Eleanor could hardly believe it. Everyone always said Mr. Blair was distant and cold, too busy with important things to ever get involved in anyone else’s problems.
“Let’s get started,” Anthony said, tilting his chin up. He caught a glimpse of Charlotte’s cool, calm face and couldn’t help but smirk a little. His voice was deep and steady, carrying a weight that made people take notice. “Try to wrap this up in ten minutes.”
“Okay, right away.” Eleanor didn’t dare waste another second. She looked over at Shirley, her voice gentle and reassuring. “Shirley, just tell us what happened. Be honest.”
Shirley’s eyes were red and puffy. She glanced nervously at Charlotte, feeling a strange mix of comfort and gratitude just from her presence. She took a shaky breath and spoke up. “Dennis has been bullying me for a long time. He threatened me, told me if I talked to the teachers, he’d get people to kick me out of school… and then… he’d make sure I paid for it.”
After Shirley finished, a teacher from the school board started playing a video. The footage was a series of clips showing Dennis tormenting Shirley in different places. He ripped up her books, threw away her backpack, locked her in the girls’ bathroom, even got other people to dump dirty water on her from the roof.
The last clip was the worst. Dennis had cornered Shirley in a quiet part of the school and took markers to her face and clothes, covering her in messy streaks of color. His voice in the video was crystal clear. “If you tell anyone, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this school!”
Each video was worse than the last. Who would have guessed that Shirley had been living in this nightmare for three whole years? If one of her classmates hadn’t reported it, Dennis might still be getting away with it.
“We have all the proof we need. Dennis, do you have anything to say for yourself?” The staff member’s face was stone cold.
Dennis’s hands were clenched tight, his lips trembling hard. He couldn’t get a single word out.
“In that case, Mr. Baker, what’s the school’s policy in situations like this?”
Mr. Baker stood up, looking more serious than ever. He’d never thought something like this would happen at Vanguard High. If this got out, it would be a huge scandal.
“According to our rules, Dennis will be expelled.”
The words hung in the air. Henry Dean shut his eyes for a moment, then said in a heavy voice, “We’ll withdraw him from school.”
Before anyone could react, Dennis dropped to his knees in front of Shirley, tears streaming down his face Shirley I know messed up. I’ll do anything, just please don’t let them kick me out. I still want to take my exams.”
Shirley was startled by the scene. She instinctively moved closer to Charlotte, her voice small and uncertain. “Charlotte
Charlotte finally looked up, her eyes sharp and clear as she stared down at Dennis on the floor. Her lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.
“You’re only sorry because you’re
about to be expelled. You don’t
actually think you did anything
wrong.” Her voice was smooth but
icy, so much so that even the
teachers
went sitent You’re
eighteen, right?”
Dennis looked up at her, panic written all over his face.
“At eighteen, assault is a crime. You can be held responsible by law.”
Henry Dean’s face went pale. Was she really going to call the police? If she did, Dennis’s future was done for.
“I failed as a parent. I know this is
my fault too.” Henry Dean bent low, his voice desperate. “He’s only eighteen. If he goes to jail, his life over.”
“Shirley, I’m begging you. Please, just give him one more chance. I promise I’ll make
sure nothing like this ever happens again.”
For someone who always acted so high and mighty at school, Henry now looked completely defeated, almost pitiful.