Chapter 5: The Teacher’s Verdict

Natalie’s shrill voice made my ears ring. I winced, fighting the urge to cover them. The crowd shifted, uncomfortable.

I sneered, “What are you even talking about? Your problems have nothing to do with me.”

In my last life, you ruined my future. If you hadn’t been so selfish, how could things have gone so wrong? My mom died just to prove my innocence.

Thinking of it all, I felt nothing for Natalie now. If anything, I wanted to laugh at the irony.

She tried to fight me, but her blows were weak. I barely felt them.

Before things got worse, Ms. Parker arrived. Her heels clicked on the linoleum as the crowd parted. She didn’t raise her voice, but everyone froze.

“The SATs are about to start—what are you doing here?”

Students scattered at her command. Ms. Parker was a force—glasses flashing, authority radiating from her. She scolded everyone for wasting time, then told them to learn from me. I caught a few surprised looks.

A troublemaker pointed at me. “This whole thing was caused by Caleb, Ms. Parker. Don’t cover for him!”

Ms. Parker raised an eyebrow, then told me and Natalie to go to the office. I followed, relieved—better the office than more humiliation.

She was the only one who tried to talk my mom down from the rooftop last time. She posted my mom’s blood-written letter online and helped find evidence to clear my name. She was the closest thing I had to an ally.

Natalie screamed, “You old hag, you’re just covering for Caleb, that creep! He got into Northwestern, and you’re just protecting him!”

Those who disliked me looked on, some with pity, some with ridicule. I sighed, wondering how I’d ended up here again.

Ms. Parker’s eyes hardened. “Natalie, I don’t cover for Caleb because of his grades. If he does something wrong, he’ll be punished.”

Natalie pointed at her red cheeks. “He slapped me twice! A guy hitting a weak girl—do you know how much that hurt?”

I didn’t deny it. “When you tore up my book, you didn’t look weak at all.”

Ms. Parker took in the mess and the slap marks. “Both of you, to the office.”

Her presence was overwhelming, even after another lifetime. No wonder so many students feared her. She quickly put Natalie in her place.

Natalie glared at me and stormed out. In the office, I explained what happened. Ms. Parker frowned. “Caleb, you should help classmates in trouble…but I can’t force you. At least you should have called the police.”

Natalie grew smug. “My life is ruined, all because of you!”

I shrugged. “But Ms. Parker, I really didn’t see or hear anything yesterday. If I didn’t, how could I help? And look at Natalie’s attitude—if I’d saved her, she might’ve blamed me for being late, or even tried to frame me.”

Natalie snapped, “You creep! You think I’m as inhuman as you?”

You’re worse, I thought, but kept it to myself.

Ms. Parker looked Natalie in the eye. “In that case, let’s call the police.” She picked up the phone, ready to dial.