14. Reported

The principal naturally believed in his number one student. Besides his academic performance, he was favored by most teachers for his polite speech and behavior; he reported school violence, including Paige, a few times. He helped with any event they held; Jace even organized learning groups and improved the grades of his classmates.

"Is that true?" The principal asked Lance, scrutinizing him. Lance had two buttons of his shirt open, was not wearing his blazer, and his necktie was loosened and crooked. His hair was a bit on the longer side, but still within school regulations, where boys shouldn't have excessively long hair for a display of unity. But the look in his eyes was somewhat unnerving, though there was no visible indication of drug abuse.

Lance felt a bit helpless. Although he saw people using drugs on the street and could surely get his hands on them, he never had, and this was something he had never even considered. He would never allow himself to be controlled by an addiction.

"No." It was interesting to meet one's opponent this straightforwardly. From what he knew from Paige's story outline, that prick would be his fiend for a long time. He thought they would dance around, silently stabbing each other for a few years. But something diverged; he had to speak with Paige about this abrupt change.

The principal cleared his throat.

"Would you be willing to take a drug test? I have to inform you that we cannot force you to do it as long as the witness doesn't come forward and your guardian is not here."

Jace gripped his blazer and taunted Lance in his thoughts,

'Come on, you little junkie, let's end your journey before it starts.'

While Lance looked at Jace's eager expression, Paige's hand shot up. The principal massaged his temples.

"Paige, we are not in a classroom; what is it?" 

"Oh." She put her hand down. "Why am I here?"

Lance chuckled, feeling a bit more relaxed, somehow.

The head teacher snorted.

"You were reported to have a connection with this." He had never liked Paige; it didn't matter how good a student she was if she bullied everyone just for looking at her.

"Mmhm." She contemplated for a moment.

"Was I reported by the same person as Lance?" 

The principal looked at Jace, who paused and then nodded. 

"And what did that person say about me?" She tilted her head. 

"That you were involved with him in buying drugs." He answered, sensing that he might have been too hasty, given how laid-back they were and how composed Lance seemed. 

"So... that person was there when Lance and I, whom I met this morning for the first time, were buying drugs. Lance got high for his first day of school, and then we staged our first meeting this morning. By the way, there are witnesses who can confirm when I asked him for his name. And all this is just for the possibility that your witness would report us, while he himself wants to remain anonymous, meaning we weren't even aware that we had been seen buying drugs?" 

The headteacher suddenly took a threatening step in her direction. 

"Maybe you are high too? Who even pushes students down the stairs?" He spat. 

The principal made a calming hand gesture and sighed. 

"Paige, would you please take a drug test too?" 

"No problem. But I want to talk to that witness if we both test negative. There have to be consequences for slander." Paige replied. 

Lance silently nodded, enjoying being defended for the first time ever. Even if it could be that it happened purely by accident and she was just looking out for herself. 

The headteacher seethed. 

"Yes, pushing a student down the stairs has consequences as well." 

"Yeah." Paige, nodding blankly and appearing absolutely innocent, could not agree more. 

Lance laughed silently, and before the headteacher could explode, he was interrupted by the principal. 

"Good, go to the infirmary and take the tests. We'll know more tomorrow." 

Both teenagers stood up and walked out. 

Lance asked on the way, "Why?" 

"Jace is reborn, and I have no idea why. The system said it is in the plot, but that's not true." 

"So Jace is reborn..." He suddenly stopped in his tracks when he realized something.