Chapter One Hundred and Twenty One: Paper Princess

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

Fuck, fuck, fuck! I missed homeroom and first period because of pointless conversations. Why can't anyone just answer my damn question?

I walked through the school's front door and headed toward the stairs.

Maybe, if I'm fast enough, I'll make it in time for the closing activity, or some shit. But does it really matter?

That class was helpful when I was monitoring Antwon's shitty eating habits. Since Ms. "call me sister" took him, I can't do shit.

I reached the stairwell, but when I got to the second floor, the bell rang.

Well, at least it can't— Nope; I'm not going to think or say that because, with my luck, something stupid will happen. Calm down. I just need to get to the third floor so I can go to CommonLit.

As I walked up the stairs leading to the third floor, a wave of students poured down, pushing me back.

"Come on!" I shouted at the horde of students blocking my way upstairs.

"Would you all chill out!"

Then the students stopped pushing back. The crowd narrowed, shifted to one side, and let me walk up the stairs.

Oh, well, fuck me. I would have done this weeks ago if I'd known…

None of the students moved, like they were waiting on something. Then I heard footsteps, but they came from the third floor, and they were getting closer by the second.

…

I heard someone sigh in a low groan.

I fucking know that groan.

Antwon and Christina stepped down from the flight of stairs leading to the third floor.

I can't believe she'd force the students to stand to one side of the stairwell so she could just walk down, as gracefully as she wants. Hell, why wouldn't I believe it? She is the fucking queen-to-be, after all.

"Oh, hello, sister."

…

I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the audience on standby.

Calling her sister-in-law at home is one thing, but doing it in front of other students puts a mark on me. Would she let me slide if I asked?

"Um, can we not do that right here?" I asked.

"Do what?"

"The whole relationship thing," I whispered to the best of my ability given the other students.

Christina looked me over while standing on a higher step than me. Antwon still looked like someone had taken his favorite book, or something.

"Of course you don't have to call me that," Christina said. "I won't allow such trifles to ruin my day, Sakura."

Well, fuck me. I didn't think that would go over so well.

"Thanks."

Christina glared down at me with her piercing blue eyes.

"Just thanks?" she snarled.

"Um—"

"Lower your fucking head when you speak to me!"

What the hell is going on? I didn't even do anything to her… Oh!

"Sister, what's wrong—"

"So now we're in-laws?" Christina asked.

I looked at my feet, then at the other students' feet, and noticed they were bowing their heads. So, I bowed, too.

"I-I didn't mean to offend—"

"That's enough," Christina ordered. "Since you want to crawl back to my good graces, you may do so. But not at the moment."

I peeked at her, and she was waving her hand.

What does she want me to do?

Then she touched my shoulder and gently led me into the crowd of students.

"We will discuss this further at lunch, Sakura."

Christina took Antwon by the hand and led him down the stairs. She twirled her hand as she went, and students spread out behind her, slowly following her down.

Seriously? She didn't have to push me into the fucking mob.

***

The bell rang, and I didn't make it to my second-period CommonLit class.

Now, my mom is going to yell at me. I'll just blame Christina and her fucking crew for holding me up. Screw it all. I'll just ask one of the guys in my CommonLit class what it means to be more relaxed.

I slowly pushed open the door to my class, peeking my head in just enough to find the teacher. She had her back to the class, writing something on the whiteboard.

I carefully slipped my body through the door without making any noise. Then I closed the door as gently as I opened it and made my way to my desk, weaving through other students. I set my backpack down—

"Ms. Carter, so nice of you to join us. Please come to the front of the classroom and stand by my desk. I want a full report as to why you are late."

Fuck! How did she even know I was here?

"Y-yes, ma'am."

"As for the rest of you wonderful students, please get into your breakout groups and take turns reading. Before class ends, we will discuss the narrator's claim that he is sane in The Tell-Tale Heart."

I made my way to the front of the class and positioned myself next to the teacher's desk.

…

"Ms. Carter, why are you late? Ten minutes of our class have passed. I've also checked our attendance system, and you were not here for homeroom or first period. Did you just arrive?"

"No, no. I was here, I-I was pulled to the side by Ms. Tet—by my sister-in-law's guards for a debrief, was all."

"Guards…? Oh, I wasn't aware that your brother was betrothed. Might I be so bold as to ask to whom?"

I lowered my head, causing my teacher to lean in a bit.

"He was claimed by Christina Tetsusen."

…

"I'll need a moment to confirm your story, Ms. Carter."

She picked up her phone and dialed. Her eyes were glued to me.

"Hi, Ms. Igarashi. I have a question, but I don't want to interrupt your class. Okay! I was just informed that—"

I waved my hands, gesturing for her to keep her voice down.

"Just one moment, Ms. Igarashi. Ms. Carter, if you are attempting to dissuade me from asking my question, you should have considered that before you spun a yarn. Now, I have a student who is claiming that her brother was chosen by the Queen of Iron, and if— Oh, I see. Well, thank you for informing me."

She hung up the phone and swallowed. Then she stepped toward me and started fidgeting with her fingernail.

"So, um, a guard held you up?"

I sighed.

"Yup, and then my sister-in-law got angry, or something, and made me bow in the hallway."

"Okay, that's fine, Ms. Carter. Please find your seat and begin working on your assignment. Your tardy will be excused."

…

"O-okay."

"You may join your breakout group, Ms. Carter."

I lowered my head.

"Ugh, hey, can I ask you something first?"

"Yes," she said.

"What does it mean, um, when a boy has been relaxed?" I whispered.

…

When I looked up, her face was red, like she had a sunburn. Then she covered her face with her hand and leaned in.

"Ms. Carter," she whispered. "I am your teacher and will not discuss such debaucherous things with you. Now, go take your seat, Ms. Carter, and start working with your breakout group."

"Yes, ma'am," I squeaked out and hurried to my seat.

Damn it! Why couldn't she just tell me? Why was her face so fucking red?

I walked over to my breakout group.

I could probably ask Touma Watanabe, but he was the only boy in the group and one of four in the class. If my question freaked him out the same way it spooked the teacher, I'm fucked. He'll tell all the other boys that I'm some kind of weirdo. Not to mention—

"What are you doing, Carter?" one of my female classmates asked.

"I was going to sit next to Watanabe," I said.

"Yeah, well, this seat is taken, so sit somewhere else," she said.

Well, I expected that.

"Come on. I just need to ask a question. Then you can have it back. I swear."

She looked me over with disgust.

Oh, fuck off. I'm not trying to claim him, and if you had the ovaries to, I wouldn't bother.

She scoffed and then stood up.

"Make it quick."

She got up, and I sat down.

Watanabe only glanced at me.

Well, hello to you, too. Okay, I need to figure out what kind of boy he is: is he attention-seeking, flirtatious, rude, or shy?

"Good morning, Watanabe," I said.

Watanabe sighed.

…

"Well, I wanted—"

I looked at the CommonLit teacher, who was watching me with her arms crossed.

At least her face isn't red anymore.

"I wanted to ask," I whispered, and the other three girls leaned in. "Hey," I said, loud enough for my breakout group to hear me. "I ain't no paper princess. If I were going to claim him, I wouldn't whisper it like a scared bitch."

The other girls looked at each other, then sat back in their chairs. Watanabe, however, finally gave me his attention.

"So, you have no interest in placing a claim to my name?"

"Placing a claim to my name." So, that's what kind of boy he is.

"You're a noble, aren't you?"

Watanabe nodded.

"Well, I honestly don't care. I just wanted to ask you a question, but I don't want to ask if you're going to get all weird. I don't… I don't need the teacher breathing down my neck."

"So, you're really not going to try… You're a sister, aren't you?"

I nodded.

He leaned forward and drew a circle on my leg. The other girls groaned.

"Maybe I'll change your mind. Ask your question, Carter."

Oh, I want to smack that fucking hand, you arrogant brat!

I touched the back of his hand and moved it from my leg. Then, I motioned him toward me.

He leaned in, giving me his ear.

"Don't blush, scream, or panic," I whispered. "What does it mean when a boy is relaxed?"

He sat back and then leaned forward, looking me in the face.

…

I looked at the other girls in the group, who looked like they would rip me to pieces if we were alone.

"What… what are you doing?"

"Oh, my goddess. You really don't know what it means?"

I sighed, and Watanabe blushed.

"You're so pure," Watanabe said.

…

"Okay, I'm moving," I said.

I started to stand up when Watanabe grabbed my arm and pulled me down.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Are you trying to get me jumped?

"I don't want you to go. Besides, I have not answered your question."

"Well, answer it so I can give the seat back to your suitors," I said.

"Let's make a deal. I'll tell you what it means to put your mind at ease. In return, you have to claim me," he whispered.

…

"Why the fuck would I do that?" I whispered back. "Are you really mad that I said I didn't want you, or do you just want to see me get my ass kicked?"

He smiled and placed his head against my arm. Chills ran down my spine.

Fuck! I can tell they're looking at me.

"Stop that," I whispered.

"No. Do you know how suffocating it is to be placed on a mark in each classroom with no reprieve? I would like some air, Carter. The same air your presence bequeathed to your brother. So, entertain the idea that you claimed me, and I'll tell you what you want to hear."

"That's tough, but that's life," I said.

"Fine. But consider our reputations for a moment. I've touched you, and you've touched me. I've even laid my head against your arm… I'm still lying against you."

Fuck me. Why is this happening? I just wanted some information.

He poked my arm.

I stood up and startled my breakout group.

I felt the life drain from my body.

Then I pointed at Watanabe and took a deep breath.

"I, Sakura fucking Carter, claim this brat of a boy, Touma Watanabe," I said. "As my own," I whispered.

The girls in my group glowered at me. But before the rest of the class could figure out what happened, I stomped my way out of the room.

"Ah, Ms. Carter, where are you going?" the CommonLit instructor asked.

I paused in the doorway.

When I turned around, Watanabe was right behind me.

"I'm fucking skipping class! It's what I should have done from the beginning."

I left the room, and that asshole followed me.

"Hey, wait up. Don't you want me to answer your question now?"

"Go piss on it."