I nod as Principle Elbridge nudges me the rest of the way through the door so she can close it.
The woman is Hispanic and there’s none of the sympathy I’ve seen in Professor Duncan and Principal Elbridge’s eyes in her big dark ones. For a second I think maybe I’m here for some other reason. Until she says, “I’m Detective Diaz. I have a few questions for you.” She looks at the principal. “Can we have your office for a moment?”
Principal Elbridge blinks, confused. “I don’t think—”
“I’m sure Blaire appreciates your concern,” she interrupts, “but I think her interests are best served if we chat alone.”
Her eyes narrow at the woman before she turns her attention to me. “Blaire? Are you comfortable with this?”
I feel my armor go up, even though Detective Diaz doesn’t look at me like I’m clueless. “Yeah.”
“I will be just outside the door,” she says. “You can walk out at any point.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She gives me a long look, then slips out the door.
“Would you like to sit?” the detective asks.
Blood thunders in my ears as I move to one of the chairs near the desk and sit.
She lowers herself into the seat next to me. “Let me cut right to the chase, Blaire. We’ve received a report of sexual contact between you and one of the teaching staff at Sierra State.”
Fuck. It could only have been Professor Duncan.
I shake my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her gaze turns more assessing, scouring my face. “I’m just trying to get to the truth here, Blaire. A police report was filed. We’re legally bound to investigate any report such as this involving a minor.”
There’s a rush of adrenaline to my bloodstream when I see Caiden’s way out. If I deny it, it’s Professor Duncan’s word against mine. “Your report is wrong.”
“So, you deny having sexual intercourse with Caiden Brenner in the Sierra State library?”
“We’re just friends. That’s all.” I hardly hear my words through the rush of blood in my ears.
She gives me a slow nod and pulls a small spiral notebook out from a black bag on the corner of Principal Elbridge’s desk. “You know,” she says without lifting her eyes from what she’s writing, “I was seventeen once too. I understand you can’t always control who you have feelings for.” She lowers her notebook and her eyes raise to mine. “All I really want is to know that you’re okay.”
There’s no judgment in her statement. I look at her more closely. She’s younger than my parents, maybe in her late thirties. She doesn’t come across as a hard-ass cop, but more like someone who really wants to help. I picture myself telling her the truth. She seems like someone who wouldn’t flip out and overreact. She might get Caiden and me. But just as I’m opening my mouth I realize that if I say it, I can never take it back. If I’m wrong about her, she’ll send Caiden to jail.
“He’s just a friend.”
She looks down at the notebook. “He’s a teaching assistant for one of your classes?”
I nod.
“Have you ever done anything together outside of school?”
I think about the poetry slams he’s been to. It wouldn’t be too hard for her to find out we’ve been seen together. But no one there would have seen us kiss, or even touch, really, except for the shoulder rub that Eva saw me give him the first time he came, back in January. “He’s into poetry, so he’s come to a few of my poetry slams. Nothing else.”
She gives me a slow nod. “Is there anything else you think I should know, Blaire?”
I shrug, trying to come off casual. “No.”
The passing bell rings and she stands. “All right, then, I’ll let you get back to class.”
I gain my feet and am surprised to find my legs a little unsteady.
She holds out a card to me. “If there’s anything I can do for you, or you think of anything else you want to tell me that might help with the investigation, just give me a call.”
My stomach cramps. That doesn’t sound like she’s letting it drop. “Nothing happened.” I say, taking it from her hand.
She nods. “Thanks for your time.”
I walk quickly through the outer office toward the bustling hall. Principal Elbridge is behind the counter on the phone. I hear her call after me but I don’t slow down. I keep my head down and weave my way through the throng and out the front doors. Once outside, it’s suddenly quiet. I slow down and focus on breathing as I move toward the student lot, because my fingers and toes are starting to tingle.
“Yo! Bitch!” I hear from behind me just as I clear the gate into the lot.
Shit. Zoey. I slow and turn as she comes jogging up behind me.
“Jessica said you got called out of class,” she pants as she catches up. “What up?”
I start heading to my car. “Just something to do with my transcript for Berkeley.”