"Yes.." Tiffany's mother added quickly, emboldened. "We can take this higher if we need to."
Ms. Carmichael finally smiled. But it wasn't warm.
"You're welcome to," she said. "Or you can take your daughters home right now, if you prefer."
Both women blinked, caught off guard.
"Academically," Ms. Carmichael continued, unfazed, "Madison and Tiffany are barely passing. They spend more time worrying about appearances, gossip, and other people's lives than they do studying. That lack of focus shows."
Madison's mother bristled. "That is completely inappropriate—"
"—And perhaps," Ms. Carmichael went on, voice steady, "that insecurity is why they target students like Lacey. Students who perform better, who mind their work, who don't need to tear others down to feel relevant."
The words landed hard.
From outside the office, faint raised voices could be heard, enough for Lacey to stiffen where she stood beside Lance.
