Life Within The Halls

Chapter 5: "What's Gonna Happen Next?"

LIFE WITHIN THE HALLS

Sandra

Wednesday, February 11th, 8:20 a.m.

I'd only been at Hill Academy for three days, but I was already drowning in drama. From Hannah's sudden death to Daniel's unexplained disappearance and his equally mysterious return, it was like a rollercoaster ride that left me wondering: what was going to happen next?

As I waded through the throngs of students going into the main entrance, Jayden Scott, wearing a nose mask, fell into step beside me.

He was the second person I had seen wearing a nose mask on campus that morning, aside from Daniel. It was as if they were preparing for a pandemic—or just hiding their faces. Hilarious!

"You dared slap me yesterday," Jayden growled, "Do you even know what you've gotten yourself into? Do you have any idea who I am?"

"I'll slap you again if you keep following me like a stalker with that nose mask," I snapped, my eyes flashing with irritation, as I shooed him away with a dismissive wave of my hand.

"You're clueless with all your women empowerment vibes, huh?" he retorted, tossing his nose mask into a nearby trash can. "I'm fuckin' popular, forgotten? If I had taken it off earlier, the girls would've flocked to me."

He followed closely behind me, matching my brisk pace as we ascended the stairs to Principal Wilson's office on the second floor. I had gotten an email summoning me to his office, which was why I was there. But Jayden? What was his business?

I turned halfway, my arms crossed. "That's not my problem. Don't you have a class to attend, Mr. Popular?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, I have a class... in the principal's office, thanks to you," he said, his eyes darting away from me as he tried to look through the glass door.

I grasped the doorknob. "Keep quiet and leave me alone, I didn't report you to the principal."

Jayden pushed the door open, his eyes blazing with anger. "You're kidding me." He pointed at Victoria, who sat ramrod straight in one of the chairs. "Did you really report me to Principal Wilson? I told you a million times, I'm not the one who edited and posted that 'chicken head' video of you! AnonymousX did."

The principal's office had a large wooden desk and four sofas. A nameplate on the desk read 'Principal Wilson'. The walls were decorated with awards and photos, showcasing the school's achievements and memories.

Victoria got up from her seat. "What are you talking about, Jayden? I didn't do anything."

"Don't lie to me!"

"My God, why are you two even here? Ain't you supposed to be in class?" she asked him and I.

"I got an email to come here," I replied. "But I don't know why he," I turned to Jayden, "is here."

"Well, you're not the only one who got the email," Jayden said. "I got it too."

"That can't be true. I can't be called here with you two," Victoria said defensively. "You two must have done something bad and I'm being wrongfully accused of being a part of it."

"Are you some kind of a god or what?" Jayden quipped, his tone sarcastic. "I didn't do anything... unless you or Sandra reported me."

"I didn't report you!" Victoria and I squealed simultaneously, our voices overlapping in the room.

Principal Wilson walked in with Chloe, who was holding a pile of books and a laptop in her arms.

"Sorry for the delay," he apologized to us, "I was helping my daughter out with something."