Chapter 2: My Last Name
“Mr. Elijah Brooks.””
Principal Whitaker said my father’s name like he was announcing someone at a state dinner.
Madison went completely still.
Chloe whispered, “No way.””
Brianna lowered her phone.
Dad didn't look at any of them.
He came directly to me.
His eyes traveled over my face, shoulders, arms, then down toward the contents of my backpack scattered across the pavement.
“Are you hurt?””
“No.””
“Did anyone touch you?””
I hesitated.
Madison immediately spoke.
“This is being completely exaggerated.””
Dad finally looked at her.
Not angrily.
That would have been easier.
He simply looked at her.
Madison swallowed.
Dad turned back to me.
“Nia?””
“She grabbed my backpack.””
His jaw tightened.
“And the test?””
I pointed toward the torn pieces.
He crouched.
My father—whose photograph had appeared on business magazines I deliberately kept hidden from classmates—crouched in the parking lot and picked up every piece himself.
One fragment showed my name.
Another showed the red 100.
He fitted them together in his hands.
“What happened?””
Madison crossed her arms.
“She humiliated me first.””
Dad stood.
“How?””
“She corrected our teacher.””
I almost laughed.
Dad didn't.
“And that humiliated you?””
Madison's cheeks reddened.
“You don't understand.””
“I’m trying to.””
“She always acts like she's smarter than everybody.””
Dad glanced at me.
“Did you tear Madison's test?””
“No.””
“Dump her belongings onto the pavement?””
“No.””
“Record her?””
“No.””
He faced Madison again.
“Then I'm struggling to identify the part where my daughter attacked you.””
Principal Whitaker stepped forward.
“Mr. Brooks, perhaps we should continue this conversation inside.””
Dad looked toward Chloe and Brianna.
“Are those phones recording?””
Both girls lowered them immediately.
Chloe stammered, “We were just—”
“Good.””
Dad nodded.
“Don't delete anything.””
The color drained from Chloe’s face.
Principal Whitaker cleared his throat.
“We'll investigate thoroughly.””
Dad's gaze moved to him.
“Will you?””
“Absolutely.””
“Because my daughter says this isn't the first incident.””
I looked up sharply.
I had never told him that.
Dad noticed.
Neither of us said anything.
Principal Whitaker adjusted his collar.
“I wasn't aware there had been previous incidents.””
“That makes two of us.””
His disappointment hit me harder than anger would have.
Madison suddenly laughed nervously.
“This is ridiculous. My dad is going to lose his mind when he hears about this.””
Dad looked at her.
“Who is your father?””
“Richard Carter.””
For the first time, Dad showed recognition.
Madison saw it.
Her confidence returned instantly.
“Yes. That Richard Carter.””
Dad nodded once.
“I know Richard.””
Madison smiled.
“Then you know this is just some stupid misunderstanding.””
“No.””
Dad handed the torn test to Principal Whitaker.
“I know it's going to become a very interesting conversation.””
We walked toward the administration building.
Students were staring from every direction.
I hated it.
For three years, I had worked to become Nia instead of Elijah Brooks's daughter.
Now the secret was dissolving with every step.
Inside Principal Whitaker's office, Dad sat beside me while Madison, Chloe, and Brianna occupied the opposite couch.
Their parents had been called.
Madison kept looking at me like I had personally deceived her.
Finally she couldn't stand it.
“You lied.””
I blinked.
“About what?””
“Being poor.””
“I never said I was poor.””
“You ride the bus.””
“Yes.””
“You don't have a car.””
“I'm sixteen.””
“You wear clothes from normal stores.””
I stared at her.
“So?””
Madison looked genuinely offended.
“You let everyone think you had nothing.””
Dad leaned back.
“And would having money have changed how you treated her?””
Nobody answered.
That silence said everything.
Twenty minutes later, the door flew open.
Richard Carter entered first.
Tall. Expensive suit. Red face.
“Madison!””
She jumped up.
“Dad, thank God.””
He crossed the room.
But he didn't go to her.
He went directly to my father.
“Elijah.””
Dad remained seated.
“Richard.””
Mr. Carter's eyes moved toward me.
Then toward the torn test on Principal Whitaker's desk.
His face changed.
“What happened?””
Madison hurried forward.
“She started it.””
Mr. Carter looked at his daughter.
“How?””
“She embarrassed me in math.””
“With a hundred?”” Dad asked.
Richard stared at Madison.
“You tore up her test because she got a higher grade?””
“It wasn't like that.””
“What was it like?””
Madison opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then Chloe's mother arrived.
Then Brianna's father.
Within minutes, the room felt too small.
Principal Whitaker asked everyone to sit.
“We have video evidence,” he said.
Chloe's face snapped upward.
“What?””
Principal Whitaker pointed toward the ceiling.
“The east parking lot is covered by security cameras.””
Madison's father closed his eyes.
But Dad said something unexpected.
“I'd like to see the girls' recordings too.””
“They're private,” Brianna said quickly.
Her father stared at her.
“Give me your phone.””
“Dad—”
“Now.””
The girls exchanged panicked looks.
That was when I understood.
They weren't worried about today's recording.
They were worried about something else.
Chloe suddenly grabbed her phone against her chest.
Dad noticed.
“So there are other videos.””
“No,” Chloe said too quickly.
Principal Whitaker leaned forward.
“Chloe?””
She looked at Madison.
Madison glared back.
“Don't.””
That one word changed the room.
Mr. Carter slowly turned toward his daughter.
“Don't what?””
Madison's face went white.
Chloe started crying.
“I told you we should've deleted the group.””
Principal Whitaker stood.
“What group?””
Nobody answered.
Then Brianna's father took her phone from her hand.
He unlocked it.
Scrolled.
His expression hardened.
Finally, he placed the phone on the desk.
On the screen was a private group chat.
Its name was only two words.
May you like
*Scholarship Cleanup.*
And my photograph was the group's profile picture.
