They didn’t make it far.
The principal was already waiting by the door.
After the concert, we all ended up in his office.
Emily calmly explained what had happened.
The gum.
The threatening note.
The names of the girls responsible. What had seemed mysterious only hours earlier finally had names and consequences.
Later, I found Linda standing beside her car.
“I was jealous of you,” I admitted.
Linda looked surprised.
“For years.”
Her expression softened.
“I never wanted to replace you, Rachel.”
I looked away.
Linda continued quietly.
“I was just sitting in the chair that kept being left empty.”
That hurt because it was true.
Emily appeared near the school entrance, carrying her choir folder.
When she saw me, she stopped.
“You came.”
Two words.
They hurt more than any accusation could have.
“I should have been coming all along.”
Emily looked down.
“Grandma said you told your boss no.”
