"Mr. Vespelli, those detectives were just trying to pressure me into telling them something that wasn't true." I lowered my voice slightly. "James never did anything inappropriate with me. Maybe the detectives pressured those other girls too."
"James did do something inappropriate. He engaged in a sexual relationship with you. And possibly three other girls."
"He didn't." I wanted to cry. I tried to keep my voice even. "And if the detectives didn't pressure those girls, then they just lied because they saw an easy way out of taking a class. Don't you see that? They must have known they'd get As if they made up stories like that. That's clearly what they were doing."
"We can't prove that."
"Well check their grades."
"I already did. None of them were doing well in James' class. But that doesn't mean that they made it up."
"Yes it does."
"Penny, I understand that this news is upsetting in more ways than one." His voice was calmer. Almost soothing. "I know that you're probably upset that you have to retake the class. But the incomplete won't mean anything on your transcript. Recruiters won't look for that. As for the accusations, there's nothing I can do. I'm trying to stop the investigation since we've already decided to cancel classes. This should be over soon. And if you'reupset about what the investigators found, maybe you should talk to James about it."
He thought James was guilty. Did everyone think James was guilty? I looked at Tyler. He was almost done with his bagel. I felt like he could hear the conversation. I turned my head to the side slightly, in hopes that he couldn't hear.
"Mr. Vespelli, I know they're lying. James and I have already talked about it."
"Then ignore it. Try not to let it bother you."
I was mad. I shouldn't have to try to not let it bother me. They should be figuring out the truth. I was sick of everyone spreading rumors about James. No wonder he was so closed off. Everyone was awful to him. "I don't want you to stop the investigation. I want you to find the truth. You can't publish this in the paper yet. I'm telling you that it isn't true."
"Penny, I'm sorry. I just want this to go away as fast as possible. The university needs it to go away."
"You're rewarding students for lying. They should be getting in trouble, not rewarded."
"I need to call James. Have a good day, Penny." The line went dead.
"You've got to be kidding me." I tossed my phone down on the table.
I could feel Tyler's eyes on me. I didn't know what to say to him. James was going to freak out when Mr. Vespelli called him. I couldn't believe the university was going to stop the investigation. If they weren't going to find the truth, what was the point of starting the investigation in the first place?
"So...what's up?" Tyler eventually asked.
I took a huge bite of my bagel to stall. I didn't want to have this conversation with Tyler. Clearly he thought that James was a bad guy. And I didn't want to hear anyone else tell me that. "Good news," I said. "You got an A."
"What?"
"Everyone in James' classes gets an A."
"Really?"
"Mhm. You're welcome."
Tyler laughed. "Thanks. But I'm pretty sure I could have gotten an A without you sleeping with our professor."
I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say to that. So I just laughed awkwardly. "Maybe."
Tyler shrugged. "So if we all get As, why do you seem so upset? It's kind of awesome."
"I don't get an A. I'm getting an incomplete."
"Why? You didn't do anything wrong."
"I did. I slept with my professor. And apparently I didn't cooperate in their investigation or something. I don't know. Those detectives were assholes. It doesn't matter anyway. I don't really care." I took another huge bite of my bagel. Cream cheese seemed to make me feel better.
"Are you okay?"
