Removing the Mask Read Online Free PDF Page A

a point to be in them!
    Miss Brake and Mr Alden break away from each other, expressions turning horrified when they see me. Mr Alden’s the first one to catch his composure.
    “Kenzie can you come in and shut the door please.”
    Nodding, I ease the door shut behind me before clearing my throat. “It’s McKenzie, not Kenzie.”
    He only nods although I don’t think he even heard what I said. Eyes locked with Miss Brake’s.
    “Can we pretend this never happened? I didn’t see anything because you guys weren’t doing anything sorta thing?” I say speeding things up, because clearly this is where this conversation is going to end up.
    The relief on both their faces is e vident and I nod. “Cool…I’m going to uh, go…any place other than this room.” Turning, I speed walk out the room and down the hall straight to the girl’s loo before they can say another word.
    As soon as I know I’m alone, I sit up on one of the sinks staring at the floor. My hand reaches for my phone, I need to tell someone. But as I stare at the screen, I don’t know who to text. I know I won’t get a reply from Poppy, she hasn’t responded to any of my emails or text for the last month. The entire time she’s been in New York.
    My eyes land on a familiar name and contact picture.  Maybe…
    Me: u r nvr goin 2 believe me
    Jimmy: try me ;)
    Me: I just wlkd in on my teachers xxx
    I wait for a reply but just when I think I’m not going to get one, my phone makes the sound of a gun going off.
    Jimmy: just 2 make things clear u mean snoggin?
    Me: yep.>.<
    Jimmy: Oh ma  damnitg2gbutwetxtlatr?
    Taking a second to decipher his text, I quickly send him my reply before stuffing my pocket. Now what?
     
    ***
    Tossing two pieces of gum in to my mouth, I lower my hand just as the teacher looks my way. He’s the worst teacher in this entire school. He looks like something out of a cartoon and smells of something out of the sewer. He has no sense of personal space what-so-ever and gets stark raving mad about absolutely nothing. That’s exactly why I put a pin in his chair. I’m just waiting for him to sit on it.
    Coming round, he hands a sheet to every student. With me being at the very back in the very corner, I’m last. Stepping forward, he slides a sheet on my desk. His BO assaults my senses without mercy and I bluntly cover my nose and mouth with the sleeve of my shirt making him frown.
    “Everything alright Kenzie?” His gorgonzola cheese resembling breathe brings a lump to my throat. Never have I met someone who has such a highly fermenting odour. It’s sickening. 
    “McKenzie and no, just feeling a little queasy.” I say swallowing thickly.
    “Don’t throw up in my classroom.” Glowering at his back, I wish I’d stuck a bigger pin in his chair. I wish the smell would go with him but it stays in the air like natural pollution. Then again nothing about him is natural.
    “Complete the sheet and then we’ll move on.” His towering form moves toward the desk before lowering onto the chair. He jumps up with a very bad word slipping from his lips. His whole body starts twitching, the sign that he’s losing it . 
    Giggles and sniggering erupts around the room but quieten when his gaze reaches them. When he looks at me and sees my triumphant grin, he glares before gesturing to the door.
    “Get out my classroom.” His voice booms so loud I have no doubt the people next door heard him.  
    I spend the rest of the afternoon dodging teachers and listening to music, anything other than going to the head’s office and class. I don’t even consider going home, knowing what’s waiting for me there.
    I want to text Jimmy, but he’s probably in class and he’s always been the one to work hard. I wish I was like him.  
    Mum doesn’t speak to me when I get home, or the next morning as I’m getting ready to go to school. I find myself hurrying dad up so we can leave. If I thought things were strained with mum before, it’s nothing