"Found it!" she exclaimed, holding up the playbook. The grin slid off my face as my chest tightened.
Principal Lee took the book from her hands, flipping it open.
"It's not it seems," I said attempting to sound calm.
"Mr. Hewitt, don't insult me," he said in his deadly tone. "Taking another team's playbook? Do you understand the magnitude of this?"
The playbook was from Riverdale, our rivals. If word of this spread, it could ruin everything – the school, the team, and my father's reputation.
Coach Daniels tried to defend me, but Principal Lee cut him off. "If this is what your boys have been doing under your nose, maybe I should look more closely at your training."
The coach apologized to her, and Principal Lee turned to her. "Miss Porter, what you did today was commendable. What would you like in return?"
She asked to join Class Elite.
She wouldn't last.
Class Elite was only for the very best. The top of the top. It wasn't something you begged to join; it was something you earned.
I hadn't joined because I wanted to. The class was built because of me. It was my escape from the noise, the stupidity, the constant distractions of clowns and troublemakers.
Summer school was different. You ended up there because you failed hard… or maybe because you'd been sick.
I wanted to believe she'd been sick, because there was no way someone who actually failed was going to survive the complexity of Class Elite. Students who lagged behind were swapped out every week.
And here she was, trying to slip in through the back door. Using this moment to ride her way up. Classic.
"A summer school student in Class Elite? That's funny. Good luck passing the newbie exams," I muttered.
Principal Lee's mouth twitched, but he smoothed it over with that fake administrator calm. "Mr. Hewitt," he said, turning back to me. "You do realize this means you are out until further notice."
"You're kicking out your best player?" I bit out.
"Not from the team. From games." His tone was final. "Consider this mercy. If not for your father's contributions, you'd be off the team entirely."
My fists curled tight at my sides. Mercy? This was what he called mercy?
I forced a smile. "If you think your team is capable of winning without me, be my guest."
"At least I know they won't be accused of stealing rival teams' playbooks," Principal Lee shot back, his words landed harder than I expected.
His mocking, judging eyes locked onto mine, heavy and loud, like he needed to prove dominance and to remind me where I stood.
Since when did he talk to me like that?
He turned to Porter and then twisted the knife. "As for you, Miss Porter. You will have what you asked for. Welcome to Class Elite. But one condition." His eyes found me again. "Mr. Hewitt here will tutor you. Personally."
I stared at him in disbelief. "You can't be serious."
"I am," Principal Lee said simply. "If you don't want this matter going to your father, you'll do it."
The silence after his words was unbearable. She stood there, calm and almost blushing. A small smile played on her lips, and I hated it.
I hate her.
After Principal Lee left the locker room, Kai rushed to her, pinning her to the lockers. "You think you're smart," he said. "But I see through you."
I didn't want to be involved in whatever was happening, so I turned and walked out, ignoring her desperate gaze.
For just a second, our eyes met, and I saw a plea not to leave her alone with Kai. But I ignored it. I had to.