Chapter 3

Brayden wasn’t satisfied with just bullying me at school; he started using his family’s connections.

A week later, the principal called me into his office.

“Riley,” the principal sat across from me with a troubled expression, “Parents have submitted a joint complaint. They say you’ve been stealing, skipping class, and affecting the education of others...”

“I didn’t steal anything,” I said.

“I know, but there are twenty-three parent signatures on this letter,” the principal sighed, “They say if you stay in school, they’ll move their children to a different district.”

Twenty-three parents.

They were all part of Brayden’s father’s inner circle.

“Riley,” the principal looked at me, “The school board discussed it, and they’ve decided to offer you a choice―either transfer schools or take a one-year suspension.”

I was stunned.

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” I looked at him, “Why should I have to transfer?”

“It’s not your fault,” the principal sighed, “But the school is in a tough spot. If twenty-three students leave...”

I understood.

It wasn’t about right or wrong; it was about the bottom line.

Brayden’s family had money and power, and twenty-three parents were applying pressure that the school couldn’t handle.

And I was just a failure with no background.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, and stood up to leave.

As I walked out of the office, my legs felt like lead.

It wasn’t fear. It was the crushing weight of unfairness.

I’d been at this school for three years. I’d never hurt anyone; I’d never done anything wrong. Just because a rich brat didn’t like me, twenty-three parents put their foot down, and the school was ready to kick me out.

How was that fair?

As I reached the corner of the hallway, I overheard a conversation from the principal’s office.

“Mr. Brayden, don’t worry, I’ve already spoken with her. She’ll be transferring out.”

“Make it fast. I don’t want to see her on campus anymore.”

It was the principal’s voice, followed by Brayden’s father’s.

I stood around the corner, my hands balled into tight fists.

It turns out, the outcome had been decided from the very start.

Whether I was innocent or not didn’t matter at all. The only thing that mattered was that they had power, and I didn’t.

Walking out of the building, I saw Brayden standing at the end of the hall, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking incredibly smug.

“So, Riley, how’d it go?” he asked with a grin, “Did you get expelled?”

“No,” I said.

“It doesn’t matter, it’ll happen eventually,” Brayden walked over, whispering in my ear, “My dad said as long as you’re still at Oak Creek, he’ll keep the pressure on until you’re gone.”

He patted my shoulder like he was comforting me.

“Riley, just accept your fate. You can’t beat me.”

I looked at him and said nothing.

Accept my fate?

I never believed in that word.

I turned and walked away, my pace faster than usual.

As I left the school gates, I took one look back―the school building stood silently in the sunset, just as it always did.

Everything was just as it always was.

I gripped my backpack straps and walked toward the bus stop.

Seven hundred and thirty-two days.

If I have to endure it tomorrow, I’ll take it one day at a time.

If I have to endure it the day after, I’ll take it one day at a time.