Chapter 6: The School Meeting

The conference room smelled like stale coffee and printer paper.

My mother sat beside me.

She had brought no applesauce.

She had brought a folder.

I almost smiled when I saw it.

Across the table sat Greer and her parents.

Her father wore an expensive navy suit and looked annoyed rather than concerned.

Her mother kept touching Greer's shoulder.

Principal Warren sat at the head of the table.

Counselor Bennett and Mrs. Hart sat near him.

“We want to resolve this situation constructively,” Principal Warren began.

Greer's father spoke first.

“My daughter has been publicly harassed and accused of obtaining an abortion.”

I looked at Greer.

She wouldn't meet my eyes.

Principal Warren turned toward me.

“Imogen?”

I opened my folder.

“Greer photographed me outside OB-GYN without my permission and posted it with wording that caused students to claim I'd had an abortion.”

I placed printed screenshots on the table.

“She left the post up after seeing those comments.”

Greer's father frowned.

“She never explicitly said abortion.”

“Neither did I.”

Silence.

I slid my reply across the table.

“I asked Greer whether she was there for one too. If my question constitutes an accusation, then her original post does as well.”

My mother squeezed my hand under the table.

Greer's father opened his mouth.

I continued.

“Then Greer posted a hospital visitor document as proof of her story.”

Another page.

“The hospital confirmed they don't issue this form.”

Principal Warren looked toward Greer.

“Is that true?”

Greer swallowed.

“My aunt sent it to me.”

“Can your aunt verify that?”

“Probably.”

Her father interrupted.

“This is becoming ridiculous.”

My mother finally spoke.

“What's ridiculous is that my daughter had surgery and returned to school to find sexual rumors about her.”

Her voice was calm.

That frightened me more than shouting would have.

Last time, she had begged.

Today, she didn't.

Principal Warren cleared his throat.

“We've also received Imogen's report about her desk.”

“And the security footage?” I asked.

Mrs. Hart looked down.

Principal Warren said, “We're reviewing it.”

“Good.”

I took out another paper.

“I'd also like to discuss yesterday's counseling meeting.”

Counselor Bennett stiffened.

“What about it?”

I placed my phone on the table.

“I recorded it.”

His face changed.

Greer's father leaned back.

Principal Warren stared at me.

I pressed play.

Counselor Bennett's voice filled the room.

“There's no need to turn this into something bigger.”

Then mine.

“Then tell me whether I'm being disciplined.”

Then his.

“Not at this time.”

Finally:

“Imogen, I strongly suggest you stop making trouble.”

I stopped the recording.

No one spoke.

My mother turned slowly toward Counselor Bennett.

“My daughter reported harassment, and you told her to stop making trouble?”

“That's being taken out of context.”

“What context makes that appropriate?”

He had no answer.

Principal Warren rubbed his forehead.

“We'll review the counseling interaction separately.”

I nodded.

“Thank you.”

Greer suddenly slammed her palm against the table.

“Why is everyone acting like she's innocent?”

All eyes turned toward her.

Her face was red.

“She threatened me! She asked whether I was at the hospital with my dad or my uncle. She's been stalking me.”

I looked at her.

“Then show them the messages.”

Greer froze.

“What?”

“Show the whole conversation.”

I unlocked my phone.

“I'll show mine.”

Her mother whispered, “Greer?”

Greer looked trapped.

Because the full conversation contained something she didn't want her parents to see.

My question about the uncle.

Her panic.

Her threat to get me expelled.

Principal Warren held out his hand.

“Greer, if you're making a formal allegation, we need the complete messages.”

Greer's eyes flicked toward her father.

Then toward me.

“Forget it.”

She stood.

Her father grabbed her wrist.

“Sit down.”

She did.

But the damage was done.

For the first time, her parents were looking at her with suspicion.

And I knew exactly which secret she was desperate to keep from them.