By My Side - Sam/Aomaris Fanfiction

14) Taken

"Well, this was my own fault, I guess..." I thought to myself sourly. I probably shouldn't have riled Lisette up so much, but I really was sick of everything she'd put me through. Not to mention the fact she knew my deadname now, as did everyone else in the school, which she was inevitably going to use to torture me until school finally ended in a couple of months. She and I were sat in opposite corners of the waiting room outside the principal's office. She was absentmindedly picking at her fingernails without a care in the world. I was twirling my glasses between my fingers, unable to wear them as one of the lenses had been shattered at the first slap. They'd gone flying into a locker and caught on the dial. We'd each just been in the office, fighting our own causes. Lisette had gone in first, and the sound of her fake crying was so loud I was sure Mexico could hear it. She was still sniffling when the principal showed her out and beckoned me in, already looking exasperated.

"What on earth happened, Miss Anderson? Miss White claims you attacked her for no reason."
"That isn't what happened, sir," I replied. "She's been bullying me for months. I've been ignoring her like everyone keeps telling me to, but she started making fun of me with an article that was published this morning."
"Oh, yes. I read that article. Frankly, I think it's utter rubbish, but it wouldn't surprise me if students used it against you." He leaned back in his chair and sighed. "So that's why you attacked her?"
"I didn't attack her, sir. I retaliated with words and then she attacked me. I'd never physically fight someone."
"Well, Miss Anderson... As much as I would like to believe you, we have several eyewitness accounts verifying Miss White's story." I internally groaned. Of course, all of Lisette's groupies would vouch for their ringleader. "Unfortunately, I am going to have to ring your parents and you will be suspended until Wednesday. You may wait outside until your parents arrive to collect you."

I got up and left the room, walking straight past Lisette, who was sending me yet another evil glare. I sat myself down on the pavement outside the gates with an angry huff. I texted Mika, knowing she'd check her phone at lunch to see if I'd told her what had happened. The next thing I did was dial the number for the phone that sat in the foyer of the mansion. After three rings, it picked up.
"Hello?"
"Oh, hey Erik."
"Mx? Are you and your sister not in school?"
"Yeah... Or at least, she is... I got suspended."
"What on earth led to that?"
"I might have gotten into a fight..." Erik tutted playfully.
"Sam, you are a terrible influence!" He called.
"Hey! What did I do?!" I heard Sam shout back.
"Our lovely Phoenix got into a fight at school. They-"
"What?!" I heard someone wrench the phone out of Erik's hand and I wasn't surprised to hear Sam's voice next.

"Nix? What happened?" I sighed.
"Some bitch beat me up."
"Why, though?!"
"She had an article from this morning's paper. My dad turned the fact he disowned me into media attention. And also decided to portray me as completely insane."
"Oh," Sam replied shortly. "So that's what James wouldn't show me this morning."
"Huh?"
"A newspaper gets delivered every morning. James gets up early every morning, so he reads them, the fucking nerd." I snorted. "He looked pissed off at something in this morning's, but wouldn't tell any of us what it was."
"So James knows my deadname, then. Great..."
"Deadname?" Sam asked curiously.
"My old name. The one I was born with that I fucking despise."
"Oh. So, why did you get beat up?"

"I may have egged her on a bit... I'd had enough of her shit so I retaliated. Obviously, everyone told the principal it was my fault, so I'm suspended until Wednesday."
"Motherfucker..." Sam swore. "Are you alright?"
"Eh... I'm covered in bruises and my glasses are broken, but other than that I'm okay." Sam growled.
"You'd better not be lying to me."
"You'll see for yourself when I get home." My phone buzzed. "One sec." I unlocked it to read the text that had come through.
"You've only proven me right. I will not be coming to pick you up. You will have to walk home." I practically snarled.
"Speaking of which, apparently I'm walking home. Dad refused to pick me up."
"Of fucking course he did." He paused for a minute. "I can come and get you if you want?"
"What good would that do? It's still just as far."
"I have super speed, Nix."
"Oh! Right, I completely forgot..." Sam chuckled.
"Give me a few minutes. I gotta shower really quick and get dressed. I'll be there soon."
"Thank you."
"It's no problem. Bye, Nix."
"Bye."
The call ended, leaving me feeling slightly giddy. I wasn't complaining about the suspension, either. A day and a half off from school? I was really happy. I wasn't exactly going to miss anything I cared about; my creative writing classes were on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I knew my writing teacher wouldn't believe anyone saying I'd started the fight. He was the one teacher who was actually kind of decent, and he was fucking weird. I put my headphones on, only to find the sound muffled and crackling slightly. I growled, messing with them.
"I swear to God, if that bitch broke my headphones-"