Page 127 of I'm Gonna Get You Back
Principal West draws up to his full height and looks at me with barely disguised contempt. “I sure did. And, young lady, it wasnotwhat we discussed.”
I suppress my eye roll at “young lady” and say, “You asked me to make a video about the Legacy Program, and I did.” My voice is clear and strong, not even a hint of a shake despite the increase of my pulse.
He reddens. “It was supposed to be exciting.Positive. Look what it’s done to all of you. This was—heavily skewed.”
“I thought it was really well-balanced,” Reid says.
“Me too. I loved it,” Delaney says, linking her arm with mine. “It’s like what Reid said, it showed it how it is, not how we allactlike it is.”
“That’s all well and good, Ms. Whitlock, but she made our program look—” Principal West adjusts his tie, his gaze darting between Reid and Coach Rousseau. “Well, it wasn’t flattering.”
“To say the least,” Reid’s dad agrees.
“You know what?” Reid scoffs. “You havenoidea how flattering it was.”He lifts his chin and appeals to his dad, ignoring West. “Clara could’ve revealed so much more about me; that despite my knee being fucked, I keep training anyway. That I’m not just failing a few classes, I’m on academic probation. She probably could’ve shown that I haven’t slept inmonths. I have no doubt she has footage to support all that.”
I swallow. He’s right.
“But she did none of those things. She was protecting me while still telling the truth. It was flattering as hell.”
Both Principal West and Coach are shocked silent, and the people around us are all looking at one another like they can’t wait to talk about this later.
Everyone except my mom and our friends, who are looking at Reid with various shades of concern and worry. Especially Mitchell.
Which is exactly why I didn’t reveal any of those things in such black-and-white terms in the doc. Not the way Logan tried to with his account. Everyone’s story is more complex than that.
West shakes his head quickly. “But competition is healthy. This program keeps the students motivated. So many of you would be adrift without a solid trajectory,” he insists. “It—it—”
“It sucks, Dad,” Josh says.
“Joshua.”
“After everything you’ve heard tonight—you’re either not listening or are in denial.” Josh shoves his hands in his pockets and holds his dad’s eyes, a silent conversation occurring between them before Josh says, “Just look around.”
West does. I’m not sure what he sees, but he grows quiet. Starts to fumble with the keys in his pocket, the tie around his neck again.
“Well. Let’s put this away for now. I have benefactors to face and a committee to update. I think it’s time we call it a night.”
He and Josh walk to the other side of the Lodge speaking in low voices. Logan tries to slink off, but Nicole and Amaya bound after him, their faces furious. They’re obviously not going to let him get away that easily, and I’m glad of it. We may not like one another, but their anger is more than justified.
The focused interest drains from the larger group, and the awkward energy drives the rest of the crowd to gather their things, including Coach Andrews as he pulls on his coat to leave. Reid’s dad follows him out, talking rapidly.
My mom lingers and wraps her arms around me.
“Thanks, Mom,” I say into her shoulder.
“What a night, huh? I’ve wanted to tell Ryan West off since ninth grade.” She giggles.
I relax in her arms, under the awning of her laugh, and let myself absorb the love she pours into me when she can.
“And believe me, your movie was beautiful,” she says. “I know it’s going to be incredible when you finish it.”
I smile and squeeze her harder. Finally having done something she can be proud of.
“I’m sorry for the way this program treated you and ruined your plan,” I say.
Mom’s eyebrows meet, her expression thoughtful. “I know it’s hard to imagine at your age, but my plan wasn’t perfect. You’re all well aware by now that Legacy and this town make it seem like there’s only one right way to do things.” She pauses and looks at me, warmth in her eyes. “But how could my own way be wrong when it gave me you?”
My whole heart swells.
