Mrs. Johnson’s jaw clenched. Her eyes narrowed.
Inwardly, she didn’t hesitate. Catherine had been on the honor board last semester, awarded for her conduct, and even granted a student stipend last year for her outstanding performance. Meanwhile, Lenox was the top-ranked student of the graduating class, consistently volunteering at school events and known for keeping a level head.
Matthew, on the other hand, was an outsider. Everyone knew he was a Lindberg, some distant relative, here only because of a sponsorship arranged by Lenox’s father. She didn’t know the full story, but to her, it was obvious. Matthew had done something, and Lenox, as usual, was just trying to keep the peace.
"If you don’t apologize," she said, "I’ll be forced to take you to the office, and you will not be allowed to sit the next exam."
Matthew snorted. "Didn’t know you could threaten an innocent student like that. Is that school policy now?"
Mrs. Johnson’s face flushed. "Apologize! Now."
Matthew didn’t blink. "Or what?"
Before she could respond, Lenox quickly stepped forward. "Mrs. Johnson, really, it’s okay. It’s not a problem. Please, let’s just move on."
Matthew turned toward him, eyes narrowing.
"Why are you acting like I pushed you?" he asked. "You fell. That’s on you. But now you’re standing here making it sound like I actually shoved you to the ground."
Matthew tilted his head. "Did you hit your head somewhere or what?"
"Matthew," Lenox’s expression darkened with frustration. This wasn’t like him. In the past, Matthew would’ve just taken the punishment without argument and let it go. No pushback. No scene. Just quiet compliance.
"What are you doing?" he muttered under his breath, low enough for only Matthew to hear. "Why are you trying to drag both of us into this mess?"
"What do you mean, drag you into a mess?" Matthew’s voice was loud enough to draw stares. "You and I both know I didn’t push you."
Lenox gritted his teeth, but he couldn’t say a word.
"Why don’t you tell them that you fell? Wouldn’t that clear my name? Or is it possible that you want me to miss the next exam? Is that your plan, Lenox?"
Before Lenox could respond, Catherine stepped in again. "Seriously, Matthew. Stop being difficult. Just apologize and take responsibility. Or skip the next exam, it’s up to you. But just acting like a jerk just because you got rejected?"
Matthew stared at her. His hands curled into fists at his sides. That ghost girl had already ruined his day, and now this? He snorted.
A jerk? That’s what they wanted him to be? Fine. He could give them exactly that, he thought inwardly.
But before he could speak, the bell rang.
The next exam was about to start.
Still, Matthew refused to apologize.
"You are not allowed to leave this place unless you apologize! I don’t care if you miss your exams," Mrs. Johnson said.
Hearing this, Catherine couldn’t help but smirk.
"Is that so?" Matthew asked before he pulled out his phone and started texting someone.
"You actually dared to use your phone without—"
Matthew’s gaze locked onto Lenox.
Lenox stared back, unsettled. He had no idea what was going on with Matthew, but part of him couldn’t believe that Matthew was standing his ground. In front of a teacher, no less!
The old Matthew wouldn’t have done this.
He would’ve avoided conflict. He never would’ve put Catherine in a difficult position.
He would’ve backed down, taken the blame, and let it go.
He was different. More direct. Unflinching. Harder to ignore. And Lenox hated the fact that he was slowly losing control of the situation.
"I—" Lenox opened his mouth. What was Matthew doing exactly? Why dig in so deep over something that could be fixed with a single apology?
"Mrs. Johnson," Lenox finally said. "I think there’s a misunderstanding. Matthew didn’t actually push me."
"But I saw him!" Catherine shot back.
"No. You didn’t," Lenox said. His eyes locked on hers, silently pleading with her to get it. To stop.
Catherine frowned, clearly not convinced. But Lenox wasn’t done.
"If we keep this up, we’re all going to miss the exam," he said quickly. Then he stepped forward and grabbed Catherine’s wrist. Then he whispered. "Matthew’s not going to apologize. You can see that. He’s not budging because he wanted to drag us down. If we keep arguing, Mrs. Johnson’s going to drag this out even longer."
Catherine hesitated, her expression tightening. Lenox gave her a small shake of the head, as if telling her that this wasn’t worth it.
"We’re wasting time," he said.
For a moment, she didn’t move. But then, slowly, she pulled her arm back and nodded. She wasn’t happy, but she understood. Not for Matthew’s sake, but it was only because the exam mattered more right now.
Then she stepped forward and tapped Mrs. Johnson’s arm.
"Mrs. Johnson, the next exam is about to start. If it’s alright, I think we should go. This is taking too long."
Mrs. Johnson turned toward her, visibly weighing her options. She opened her mouth to respond.
But before she could say anything, Matthew spoke up.
"Wait. You’re letting them go?" Matthew asked, eyebrows raised. "Aren’t you going to check the cameras first? What if I didn’t push him? Wouldn’t that make this whole thing unfair?"
Mrs. Johnson’s lips pressed together. Her eyes flicked briefly to the hallway behind them, then to Lenox, then back to Matthew.
Matthew didn’t back down. "I’m sure the principal would love to hear that a student got threatened with a failed exam based on someone’s word. Without proof. What would happen to the research grants then?"
Mrs. Johnson said nothing at first. But the moment Lenox shifted his weight, her focus returned to him.
The Lindberg name carried weight, and Lenox had always been cooperative. Well-mannered. The kind of student who gave her no trouble. Building rapport with someone like that might come in handy, especially with the committee reviewing faculty grants next quarter.
But she couldn’t show favoritism. Not with so many students watching.
She turned back to Matthew.
"Fine. You can go," she said. "But don’t think this is over. Expect to be summoned. Anytime."
Matthew didn’t respond. He just gave her a nod and stepped back.
In response, Mrs. Johnson snorted before she turned on her heel. She walked quickly down the hall toward the administration wing.
This was the perfect chance, she thought. She’d been looking for an opportunity to approach the principal about those new program proposals. And if she could angle herself closer to the Lindbergs in the process, all the better.
Mrs. Johnson arrived at the administration wing with brisk steps, smoothing the front of her blouse as she approached the main desk. The secretary immediately looked up from her keyboard.
"Mrs. Johnson?" she asked.
"I need to report an incident involving Mr. Lindberg," Mrs. Johnson said. "The Heir of the Lindberg Family."