Chapter 4

Tracy was a class officer. She'd lost three thousand bucks, money meant for the class book fees.

I asked for the security footage. The teacher sighed. "Sorry, system's down. Been under maintenance all week."

Tracy looked at me, eyes glistening. "It's okay, Yara. If you just admit what you did, I can help pay it back. And... please don't hang out with Emilio anymore. What if something scandalous happens..."

The room fell silent. My biological mom burst in first. She didn't even ask questions. She charged at me and kicked me square in the chest.

"You filthy slut! It's bad enough you're throwing yourself at boys, and now you're corrupting your sister too?"

Tracy flinched back, looking perfectly innocent. "Did I say something wrong? But I really did see Yara and Emilio in the woods yesterday..."

My mom shrieked, "Don't be afraid, Tracy! She's trash. Her dad doesn't care, so today I will teach this bastard a lesson!"

I stood up, laughing hysterically. "Yeah, I'm trash. I'm the bastard. I've got a mom who gave birth to me but didn't raise me. Might as well be dead!"

"What did you say? You cursed me, you little whore!"

My mom lunged again just as the office door slammed open. Ella stepped inside and pulled me behind her like a lioness defending her cub.

"I'm Yara's legal guardian. You want to scream at someone, scream at me. What kind of grown-ass woman only knows how to beat up children? Not afraid of karma?"

"Oh yeah? Let's talk about karma then! What about the money Yara stole?"

Ella crouched beside me and brushed a hand over my cheek. "Sweetheart, is it true?"

I shook my head. My mom lost it again. "She's lying! She's just like her father, garbage in, garbage out!"

"Where's the proof?" Ella asked.

"I saw it with my own eyes!" Tracy jumped in.

Ella's gaze pinned her to the wall. "Really? So whatever you say must be true? Then I could say you stole it. How would that feel? "You're smart, Tracy. But too much scheming isn't clever. Don't assume everyone around you is stupid."

Then she turned to my mom. "And you. I could sue you for beating up my girl without any evidence! Besides, you teachers just stood there watching while a child was assaulted. What the hell are you even here for?"

The homeroom teacher gave a fake smile, trying to defuse the situation. "Well, there's no proof either way, so maybe we just... drop it?"

"I have proof," I said calmly.

Free Point

I released the video and watched my mother's face cycle from pale to crimson, like a balloon filled too tight, just waiting to pop.