heard what happened to Sasha in Calc. I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt.”
“No one’s going to get hurt. I didn’t know how much she had, okay? She was squirreling the pills away because normally we, Hutch, would keep tabs on how much they were taking. I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention. It got away from me.” Matt swallowed hard.
“You know, I looked it up. It is possible to die from an Adderall overdose. Someone could get seriously hurt here. And, if I was you, I’d be worried that ‘It got away from me’ wouldn’t really hold up in court.”
“I know, okay?” Matt yelled. He banged his hand on the chair. “Not like it matters anymore. Bodhi and I are done. He’s in jail probably ratting me out. Everyone here’s going to hate me for dropping the ball. It’s done.” He chewed at a cuticle on his thumb. “You know, if this gets out, people are going to think it was you.”
“Me? But, I’ve had nothing to do with you and Bodhi. That’s your thing.”
“Yeah well, people are talking. This little position hasn’t made you a lot of fans.”
Devon felt queasy again. “What are you talking about?”
“What do you think? No one trusts you anymore, Devon. Word is you’re telling Robins everything that happens in here. So, I’m going to go. They can’t require me to be here for this bullshit.” Matt brushed his stringy hair out of his face, wincing when his hand swiped his black eye.
“But.…” Devon started. But nothing, he was right. It was better if he didn’t tell her anything. “Matt, who said I was telling Robins anything?”
“Why would I tell you that?”
“Just curious.”
“If I was you, I’d drop this counseling thing completely. Stop talking to me, to Isla. We don’t need you poking your head in our lives, okay?”
“Wait, did Isla tell you to say that? Did she tell you that I’m telling Robins everything? That’s not the truth, Matt. I swear it isn’t.” She knew she sounded as if she were begging, but she couldn’t help it. She was. “Let’s keep talking.”
Matt was already opening the door. “I can’t tell you anything else,” he said over his shoulder.
HEADMASTER WYLER PACED ACROSS the gravel circle at the bottom of the amphitheater. A vast semi-circle of stone steps and wooden benches sunk into bright green grass, the amphitheater was used whenever the weather was good enough for the school to conduct their daily assemblies outside—about 80 percent of the school year. But why this special assembly had been called out of the blue had everyone guessing. Wyler silently watched students file into their seats.
Devon saw Presley and Pete squeeze onto a bench near the top. Their arms were intertwined, as if sitting next to each other wasn’t close enough. Devon was glad she hadn’t chosen a seat yet. They would be completely annoying to be near right now.
“How’d it go this morning?” Raven asked, popping up next to Devon.
“I turned it on and chilled. After that, who knows, right?” She spotted Grant taking a seat on a middle bench with Raj. Grant nodded to Devon, beckoning her over. “Wanna sit down?” She asked Raven. Raven followed her and they sat down next to Grant and Raj.
“Ten bucks says it’s a new drug rule,” Raj Kahn leaned in and whispered to Grant and Devon. His eyes landed on Raven. “Raj,” he said, extending a hand to shake Raven’s. She smiled, shaking hands.
“Raven,” she said.
“Raven has a boyfriend, Raj,” Devon said. “Watch yourself.”
“I’ll consider myself warned then,” Raj said with a smile.
“You been in session?” Grant whispered in Devon’s ear. He directed his eyes at Raven. She shook her head, no. “Just a friend,” she whispered back. Whose brother I am trying to investigate. Raven was spinning her bracelets on her arm again, lost in thought.
Grant wrapped an arm around Devon’s shoulder as Headmaster Wyler cleared his throat and tapped the microphone. “As you are all well aware, our community has suffered a terrible tragedy already in this short school term,” he began. “We, as the faculty appointed by your parents are here to protect you.” Raj slapped Grant’s arm. Other students mumbled and shifted in their seats. Wyler continued. “But, with that in mind, we felt as if we could all use a little break. A way of looking forward.” He smiled. “So we’re going to have a Pop-Up Party. No sports this afternoon. The party will start at six P.M. Dinner will be served