Chapter 2

Professor McCoy from the school contacted me soon after.

"Georgina, come to my office immediately."

Anyone with half a brain could guess Lopez had reported me.

I looked up just in time to see her disheveled yet defiant expression.

She was washing her hair with one hand while holding up her phone triumphantly with the other.

Useless! She insults and attacks first, but runs to tattle when she can't handle it?

I'd been angry, but seeing the thick, chunky mixture in her hair, my anger instantly dissipated.

"Georgina, you're done for! I'm telling you, you're finished!"

As soon as I entered the office, a loud "bang" echoed.

"Georgina, are you looking to get disciplined?"

"Openly beating up a classmate in the dorm—do you even think this is a school anymore!"

Looking at the book thrown at my feet, I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice calm.

"Professor McCoy, Lopez verbally abused me and attacked me first."

He didn't even look up, delivering his verdict directly.

"Enough. Go apologize to Lopez."

"Be sincere about it, and I won't put this on your record."

"Write a five-thousand-word self-criticism. It'll be announced campus-wide."

Then he ignored me, focusing on his writing as if he'd just bestowed some great mercy upon me.

I couldn't take it and immediately argued back.

"She attacked first! Why am I the only one being punished?"

"Even if you investigate thoroughly, this was mutual assault at most!"

He adjusted his glasses, looking impatient.

"Lopez is an excellent student. Would she do something like that?"

"Look at yourself. Are you even worthy of mentioning her name?"

Good grades represent character?

My anger flared up instantly, and I raised my voice.

"Professor McCoy, you're completely biased!"

"Stop your yapping!"

Professor McCoy slammed his pen down hard on the desk, his face stern.

"You think I'm giving you face, don't you!"

"Do you know how many students I'm responsible for?"

"Three mechanical engineering classes, three automation classes, two physics classes—nearly two hundred and fifty people!"

"Regardless of what happened before, did you or did you not hit someone? If you did, you have to accept the consequences!"

I felt all the blood in my body rush to my head in that moment.

"Someone like you—you're qualified to be a teacher?"

He scoffed, his eyes full of contempt.

"Whether I'm qualified to be a teacher isn't for you to decide. I was going to leave you some dignity, but now, forget it."

"Lopez already told me everything. You, as a student, have no shame! Call your parents here. I need to have a good talk with them!"

"Do you realize how serious your behavior is?"

My eyes lit up, and I immediately cut him off.

"Call my parents? Fine, I got it. Anything else?"

Professor McCoy's face stiffened, seemingly unable to adapt to my tone.

I didn't bother wasting more words and immediately contacted my lazy, greedy aunt Mary and uncle Mueller.

"Come to school. Money opportunity. Come now."