The mysteries of Queen's | AngelaAMS ¦ English Version

Chapter one

HEATHER JOHNSON

"Well... Now that you're calmer, could you explain to me why you cut off a lock of your colleague's hair?"

I fold my arms on the seat in front of the headmistress' desk.

"She started picking on me first, she brought it on herself."

The headmistress got up from her swivel chair and sat down on the corner of her desk, facing me. She tilted her head to one side and looked at me as if she didn't understand why I was behaving.

"What was so serious that you had the impulse to cut her hair?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"He spread a false rumour about my private life, plus I've been putting up with his taunts for weeks now" I said frankly. "Anyone would be tired if they were me."

"Heather, you're an excellent student. I need you to tell me what the rumour was about and what the teasing was about so I know why you reacted the way you did."

I bite the inside of my cheeks and play nervously with my hands in my lap.

"She said I was responsible for the death of a former high school student. And after seeing a punch on my arm last week, she started spreading the rumour that I get beaten up at home. Do you need to know anything else?" I smiled falsely.

Principal Briney grimaces and presses her palms together at the level of her belly.

"Thank you for your honesty, Heather. But unfortunately, your reaction leaves me with the obligation to give you a three-day suspension, meaning you won't be able to attend school for three days."

I quickly got up from my seat, furious. I looked at the headmistress, who was now also standing up.

"She was the one who invented the rumour! Sofia is not going to die because she has one less lock of hair!" I felt the heat in my cheeks rise with pent-up anger. After saying those words, the headmistress stepped back and stood behind her desk, with it separating the two of us.

I frowned, why did she walk away like that?

"You've pushed me over the edge, Heather" she picks up the landline, dials a couple of numbers and holds them to her ear. I could hear the beeps ringing. "I'm going to have to call your parents to come and talk to me about your inappropriate behaviour."

"Oh, please!" I pulled my hair out of my face, "It's just hair, hair grows! I'm sure you're taking advantage of the situation because you're friends with my parents."

"It has nothing to do with knowing your parents, my dear. They deserve and should be aware of the problems inside the school."

"So it's my fault? Sofia goes around the halls spreading rumours about me that are absolutely false, and I'm the one who gets suspended for three days?"

She redialed the number when the line went to voicemail.

"It's not about who's to blame, Heather, it's about your reaction. Sophia's parents will meet with me, while you go home and mull over what you did."

I laughed unfunnily.

"Of course, she's the victim now. Let her at least get a day's suspension!"

"Miss Johnson, that's enough. The conversation expires here."

Surrendered, I sat back in my chair. The principal smiled when my mother finally answered the phone. My parents soon arrived.

I ran my hands over my face as I heard my mother's slender heels echoing through the corridors, a clear sign that she was about to enter the office.