Stolen Moments

I know I’m in trouble when the intercom system announces that I’m expected to make my way to the Principal’s office immediately. Kate and I glance at each other and I shake my head, indicating that I have no idea what this might be about.

I walk towards the Principal’s office with slow steps, dreading the inevitable. The pranks Carter and I pull on each other have gotten me detention before, but I’ve never once had to go to the Principal’s office. Besides, I haven’t done anything, so that can only mean one thing. Carter got me into trouble.

I walk in to find Carter and Helen both sitting in front of the Principal’s desk. Our neighborhood police officer, Officer Oliver, is standing behind them and I’m suddenly terrified. What even happened?

“Emilia,” Officer Oliver says. I’ve volunteered to help the police force with neighborhood initiatives before, and I’ve always liked Officer Oliver. He’s the very picture of a sweet old man, yet he’s the last person I want to see standing here. My stomach is in knots as I walk towards Helen. She looks just as confused as I do.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“We called your father, but he said Mrs. Clarke would act as your guardian in his absence,” the Principal tells me. I nod. I don’t think my dad has come to school even once this year, so that hardly surprises me.

Officer Oliver clears his throat and we all turn to look at him. “We got a report that a student was dealing drugs, Miss Parker. Would you please allow us to check your locker?”

“What?” I whisper, my heart racing, a frown creasing my face.

Carter groans and buries his face in his hands. “How many times do I need to tell you? It’s just a prank. There are no drugs.”

Officer Oliver nods, his expression carefully blank. “Miss Parker,” he says. I nod and lead him to my locker in silence. What the hell did Carter do? My heart is beating wildly as I unlock my locker. The door opens and a translucent bag falls to the floor. Officer Oliver picks it up and holds it up for me to see.

“What is this, Miss Parker?”

I look at Carter with wide eyes, but he looks frustrated.

“For God’s sake,” he snaps. Helen grabs his arm and stares him down, her eyes filled with worry and disbelief.

“Just open it and smell it, please,” Carter says. Officer Oliver raises his brow and does as Carter asks. His lips tug up at the edges ever so slightly before his usual expressionless look replaces it. He hands the bag to Helen and shakes his head. She frowns as she raises the bag to her nose and inhales. She looks both relieved and furious when she realizes what it is.

“Oregano,” she snaps.

Officer Oliver smiles and looks down at his feet before facing us again. “We reviewed the video surveillance, and it looks like your son put this in Miss Parker’s locker.” He turns towards us with a stern expression. “No more of this, kids. The next time I’m called in over a prank, I’ll be taking both of you with me to the station. I’ll let you think about your actions in a holding cell. Trust me, you don’t want that.”

Helen nods and slaps Carter’s arm.

He looks annoyed but nods too. “Yes, sir,” he says.

Officer Oliver shakes his head and walks away, looking irked.

I exhale in relief and glare at Carter. “Oregano, really?”

He shrugs and smiles at me, but his smile drops off his face when the Principal turns towards us. “I am sick and tired of the nonsense you two get up to. You’re both suspended for a week,” he says, red in the face.

Helen gasps and shakes her head. “Oh no, Principal. It was just a joke. Surely you can just give them detention for a week?”

He glares at Helen and huffs. “Detention? They’re already in detention every week. If she wasn’t one of my top students and he wasn’t a promising football star, I’d be expelling them both! Now get out of here.” He storms away and leaves us standing with Helen. I’d take the Principal’s anger over hers any day.

“You two are both grounded. One week in your rooms. No phone, no laptop, no TV. No nothing!” she yells.

She walks away and Carter and I look at each other, both of us annoyed. “I can’t believe you!” I shout. I push against his chest and follow Helen.

Carter chuckles. I can’t believe he finds this amusing. We’re freaking suspended and grounded. I stop and turn back to face him.

“The police were involved, Carter. It isn’t funny!” I yell, my cheeks burning.

Carter grins and looks away. “It was only Officer Oliver and he adores you. And it’s a little funny,” he says. “Besides, I never meant for the police to get involved. I just wanted to shock you a little.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, they did get involved. Who the hell called them if it wasn’t you?”

Carter hesitates, his expression darkening. “The only one that saw me put the bag in your locker was Jennifer. I clearly told her it was just a joke, though.”

I walk up to him and push him again. “Jennifer? Jennifer? My cheering squad Jennifer? Why would she even do that?” I ask in disbelief. Carter looks away and my heart suddenly sinks.

“You… did you sleep with her?” I ask. “Is this some sort of revenge thing?”

He holds up his hands and looks at me with wide eyes. “No, Emilia. Shit. Do you think I sleep with fucking everyone?”

I glare at him. “You asshole. You definitely slept with her. Why else would she do this? The police never would’ve gotten involved if you weren’t such a massive slut. You disgust me!”

My heart feels unsettled and my stomach twists. I knew he’d been messing around with the cheering squad, but until today at least I didn’t know who he did or didn’t sleep with. I can’t believe it was Jennifer, of all people.

Carter looks hurt and for a moment I feel bad, but then I think of him with Jennifer and the mental image just fuels my fury.

“You think you’re so cool because you sleep around with all the girls, but you’re not. You’re really not, Carter. Just because you’re a guy doesn’t mean you’re not an effing slut. You’re just so freaking gross!”

I storm away and leave him staring after me. Somehow, I’m more upset about Jennifer than the prank he pulled on me.