Chapter 4

Soren’s face changed.

“What nonsense are you talking about! Every expenditure from the class funds is recorded!”

I didn’t want to argue with him any longer and went straight to Hayden.

He was deep in conversation with the photographer.

Seeing me approach, he immediately became alert and stepped forward to block me.

He raised his chin.

“This area is for individual photos. No unauthorized persons allowed.”

“I paid too.” I looked Hayden in the eyes.

“Just like the other students.”

Hayden snorted and crossed his arms.

“Everett, let me make this clear. The fee only covers the group photo. Individual portraits cost extra. Got it?”

He deliberately raised his voice, drawing the attention of nearby classmates.

“We went out of our way to Photoshop you in. What more do you want?”

I clenched my fists.

“Then why do the other students all have individual portraits?”

“Because they paid extra,” Hayden rolled his eyes.

“If you’re broke, don’t embarrass yourself. Now get lost.”

A few suppressed laughs rippled through the room.

I felt my blood rush to my head.

Hayden continued in a mocking tone, speaking so only the two of us could hear, “Some people just don’t fit in. Four years of school and not a single decent group photo. Pathetic!”

“Give me back my money!”

I forced down my anger, but my voice still trembled.

“Since you already took the group photo and made me look so ugly in it, refund my money!”

Hayden widened his eyes dramatically.

“How shameless are you, Everett? Isn’t your face in the graduation photo? Photoshop isn’t free. Do you think the photographer works overtime for nothing?”

“That’s my student ID photo! And you deliberately mocked me!”

I pointed at the ridiculous bunny ears on my head in the album.

“What is this supposed to be?”

“Just a joke. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

Hayden sneered.

“You’re the only one in the class who doesn’t fit in. Can’t even take a joke.”

The surrounding snickers grew louder. I felt like a circus animal on display.

“Refund my money!” I raised my voice. “Or I’ll report you for misusing class funds!”

“Go ahead and report me!” Hayden countered.

He acted as if he had heard the world’s funniest joke.

“I want to see who would even listen to you!”

Our argument grew louder and finally caught the attention of Mr. Dean Whitlock, a teacher in our grade, and the principal, Mr. Jorn Thorne.

Mr. Whitlock frowned as he approached.

“What’s going on? I could hear you shouting from a mile away.”

Hayden’s face immediately changed.

His eyes reddened, and his voice cracked with a whine.

“Everett insists we refund the graduation photo… but the photos are already taken, and the money has been handed to the photographer…”

He hiccupped as he added, “We went out of our way to Photoshop him in, and he’s still ungrateful…”

Mr. Whitlock turned to me.

“Everett, this is your fault. Graduation photos are a group activity. How can you request a refund for personal reasons?”

I took a deep breath.

“Mr. Whitlock, they collected the money but didn’t notify me of the photo time. The group photo used my ID photo, deliberately making me look ugly.

“Besides, I know the class monitor and the committee member misappropriated class funds!”

Malicious Photoshopping was a small matter, but misusing class funds, however, was serious.

The entire room fell silent as all eyes focused on me.

Hayden’s face went pale, then flushed bright red.

“Everett! You’re slandering me! Every expenditure from the class funds is recorded!”

Mr. Whitlock looked at me sternly.

“This accusation is very serious. Do you have evidence?

“Slandering classmates carries punishment. You could fail to graduate over this!”

My palms were damp with cold sweat, but the situation had come this far. I had no choice.

“I am willing to take responsibility for everything I say!”