The price of rebellion

As Kamsi trailed behind Xavier, her footsteps slowed, and her eyes darted nervously around. Curious stares and sharp glares burned into her, each one questioning her presence with him. But Xavier moved through it all like a shadow, indifferent and untouchable, his posture relaxed and head high. He didn't even flinch.

"Where are we going?" she muttered, more to herself than to him.

Without warning, he halted, making her stop just short of stumbling into him. The hallway now stretched empty and silent around them, and when she looked up, her gaze locked on a door bearing the tag principal's office. Her eyes went wide, and she felt her mouth fall open.

"What are we doing here?" she whispered, trying to keep the panic from her voice.

"Quiet," he snapped, not even looking at her. "There's something I need to get," he said flatly, his tone as unruffled as his cold gaze. "You stand guard."

"Me? But why?" she protested, her voice rising a bit.

A flicker of amusement sparked in his eyes, and his lips quirked into a teasing smirk. Tilting his head back, he answered, "Thought you wanted to rebel—try something new, right?" His smirk turned wicked, and he leaned closer. "Well, here's your chance."

Kamsi's heart raced as she stared at him, speechless. This wasn't exactly the adventure she had in mind. Sneaking into the principal's office? That was way out of her league. "But—"

Her protest was cut off as Xavier pulled open the door, casting a final, cold glance her way. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held a warning that was sharp as ice. They seemed to say Do as you're told. No questions. And don't even think about getting caught.

Before she could respond, he slipped inside, letting the door close with a soft click, leaving her in the deserted hallway, her heart pounding in her chest as she nervously glanced over her shoulder, hoping no one would pass by.

Kamsi glanced down at her wristwatch, her fingers drumming nervously against her thigh. What could he possibly be looking for in there? The seconds ticked by with agonizing slowness, her heartbeat thudding louder with each one. She resisted the growing urge to sneak a peek inside, trying to calm her breath as she stood guard. Every creak of the hallway seemed magnified, each small sound jolting her as she imagined the consequences if they were caught.

Inside the office, Xavier's movements were swift and precise, but his patience was wearing thin. He sifted through one file after another, his scowl deepening as each turned out to be useless. Finally, his eyes landed on a set of papers tucked under a stack. He pulled them free, his gaze sharpening as he scanned them, a spark of triumph flickering across his face. His lips curved into a smirk as he quickly snapped photos of the documents with his phone, the quiet click of each capture punctuating the silence.

But his attention drifted to the bottom drawer. He tugged at it, only to find it locked tight. Gritting his teeth, he yanked again, harder, frustration flashing in his eyes. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, raking a hand through his hair, the tension simmering just beneath his calm facade. After a tense pause, he let out a resigned sigh, silently resolving to return once he could secure a key.

Outside, Kamsi stiffened as footsteps echoed down the hallway. Her stomach twisted when Principal Malcolm Newman strode into view, his gaze sharp and inquisitive as it landed on her. She nearly choked on her breath, an internal scream rising,Oh! Chineke,No !

"Miss Chibuike," Principal Newman greeted, his voice neutral but probing, his piercing eyes studying her with clear suspicion.

"G-Good afternoon, sir," she stammered, forcing a smile that felt painfully tight.

The principal's brow arched as he continued to assess her, his gaze drifting over her posture and the office door she stood too close to. "What exactly are you doing here, Miss Chibuike?"

Kamsi's mind went blank. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she scrambled for an excuse, her gaze flickering to the closed office door before snapping back to Principal Newman, her thoughts a frantic mess. "Um...I... uh…"

Her voice trailed off, the words dying on her lips as his expression darkened with growing suspicion.

"I came looking for you!" Kamsi blurted out, her voice a little too loud in the empty hallway.

Principal Malcolm's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Me?"

"Yes, sir." She forced a calm smile, swallowing the knot of nerves in her throat. "I was wondering if there were any... extracurricular activities that could help improve my grades. I've been struggling lately," she added, fidgeting with her fingers as she fought to keep her story straight. The lie was bitter on her tongue, but she had no choice.

Principal Malcolm tilted his head, his gaze sharpening as he studied her. "Well, now that you mention it," he began, "there is an upcoming event—the Youth Empowerment Talks. We'll need volunteers to help with tasks like serving and assisting with attendance."

"Oh," she replied, her voice barely a whisper as her heart drummed wildly. She hoped he couldn't hear it.

"It would be a wise choice," he continued, his voice thoughtful. "It's good experience for college applications, and the talks are genuinely motivating."

Kamsi nodded a little too quickly. "Thank you, sir," she managed, her forced smile stretching wider.

He gave a small nod and turned toward his office, reaching out for the doorknob, and Kamsi felt her heart sink. Oh no !

"No!" she yelped, startling herself as well as him. The intensity of her voice echoed down the hallway, and she felt her face flush. "I mean... I'll think about it, but I'm not sure I'm ready to sign up right now," she stammered, scrambling for an excuse. "Would you mind... telling me a bit more about it?" She tried her best to sound interested, though her voice wavered under the pressure.

Principal Malcolm's gaze hardened, his brow furrowing in suspicion. He paused, considering her carefully. Kamsi could practically feel his doubt pressing down on her, and she fought to keep her expression neutral, her forced smile twitching under the weight of his scrutiny.

After a moment, he cleared his throat and began to explain the event, detailing the benefits of volunteering and how students could gain valuable experience. Kamsi forced herself to nod at his every word, her mind a blur of frantic thoughts. Each second felt like an eternity as she tried to keep her focus on his words, but her thoughts kept racing back to the door behind her. Xavier you're so dead for this .

Finally, Malcolm paused, his eyes narrowing. "Miss Chibuike," he said slowly, his voice dripping with suspicion, "is there a reason you're stopping me from entering my office?"

Her heart stilled, panic flashing through her eyes. "Me?" She laughed, a high-pitched, nervous sound that echoed unnaturally in the silent hallway. "Why would I do that?" She waved her hands in a dismissive gesture, but she could feel herself trembling under his scrutiny.

Malcolm's expression hardened, his gaze now icy. "Perhaps I should be asking you."

Kamsi's breath hitched. She realized, too late, that she'd been standing directly in front of the door. Xavier I swear I'll make you pay for this !

"Step aside, Miss Chibuike," he ordered, his voice unyielding.

Kamsi's shoulders slumped in defeat, her forced smile slipping as she took a step back. She watched in horror as he gripped the doorknob, twisted it, and pushed the door open.

The office was quiet, everything seemingly undisturbed. Kamsi hadn't even realized she'd been holding her breath until it escaped in a shaky sigh of relief. She tried to keep her face neutral, but she could feel her heart still racing, her hands shaking slightly behind her back.

Principal Malcolm stepped inside, his eyes sweeping the room. The papers on his desk fluttered slightly in a faint breeze, and his frown deepened. He approached the window, his hand brushing the edge. I could have sworn I locked this before I left.he thought, but dismissed it with a shake of his head.

Meanwhile, Kamsi lingered outside, staring at the door, wondering how Xavier had managed to slip away so cleanly. Where did he go?she thought, equal parts bewildered and relieved.

"Here's the form," Principal Malcolm said, turning back to her and handing her the volunteer sheet. She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, and took it with a shaky smile.

"Thank you, sir," she murmured, bowing her head in gratitude before hurrying away. Her mind spun as she exited the hallway, thoughts a tangled mess of confusion, relief, and fury. Xavier, she seethed silently, you owe me for this .