KAYLA'S POV (Continuing):
For a second, I thought maybe I had overdone it.
Then I heard soft sniffles.
Not from my classmates.
From the principal.
I slowly peeked through my fingers.
Her eyes were watery.
Oh my God.
She was crying.
"I…" she said, dabbing at her eyes. "I have never seen a class like this before."
Behind me, Anna bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
The others nodded solemnly like devoted disciples.
"It's so beautiful to see students this loyal to their teacher," the principal continued emotionally. "You all care so much…"
Yes.
We cared deeply.
Deeply about not being caught with illegal classroom pizza.
She gave us a trembling smile. "Okay… I'm leaving. Don't worry. No one is going to replace your teacher."
We all nodded with heartbreaking sincerity.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"We appreciate your understanding, ma'am."
She turned and began walking toward the door.
And for one glorious second, I thought we had won.
We had actually done it.
We had survived.
Then Anna, who was sitting two seats away, suddenly froze.
Her eyes widened.
She reached out and shook Sevi's arm violently.
Sevi turned, confused, then followed her gaze upward.
His face went pale.
Without a word, he grabbed Theo's shoulder and shook him.
Theo looked annoyed, until he looked up.
Then his expression turned to absolute horror.
Slowly, like he was in a nightmare, he turned to me and pointed at the ceiling.
I frowned.
Then I looked up.
And my soul left my body.
The pizza slices.
The ones stuck to the ceiling.
They were sliding.
Grease was loosening them.
One slice was trembling dangerously, hanging on by what looked like sheer willpower.
My eyes widened.
"No," I whispered.
Theo shook his head frantically.
Sevi looked like he was praying.
Anna clasped her hands together like this was the final judgment.
Luke muttered, "Please don't fall. Please don't fall. Please don't fall."
Every single one of us watched in silent terror.
The principal was still walking.
Just a few more steps.
Just leave.
Please.
Please.
Please...
The slice detached.
Time slowed.
It spun once in the air like a cursed blessing from the heavens.
And then,
SPLAT.
Right.
On.
The principal's head.
The room froze.
Absolutely no one breathed.
Cheese slowly slid down the side of her hair.
A piece of pepperoni landed on her shoulder.
Her body went completely still.
Then, very slowly…
She lifted a trembling hand.
Touched the pizza.
Looked at the grease on her fingers.
And tilted her head upward.
Her eyes widened as she saw the rest of the slices stuck to the ceiling like evidence from a crime scene.
The entire classroom collectively died inside.
Then she turned around.
Her face was no longer emotional.
No longer touched.
No longer warm.
She looked furious.
Terrifyingly furious.
Her eyes locked directly on me.
Because of course they did.
"KAYLA!!!"