Return To Paradise

1

"listen up everyone. This will be your last year to go on this three week international trip before all of your subjects are selective for your future. I understand not all of you will want to go but those who do, please sign up. There will be a max placing of fifteen" "we all know miss geek won't go. Scared of a bit of sun" brielle ignored those who put her down including her own sister. 'they have never cared about me. She has always had the best life. I just want to end mine' "that is enough Claudia. You will not be going" "I DIDN'T SAY.." "only those who are respectful and responsible will be able to sign up. You don't fit those categories" "HOW DARE YOU.." "OUT OF MY CLASS IMMEDIATELY. ITS NOT FUN BEING BULLIED IS IT. GO" Claudia looked at all of her friends. Seeing none of them willing to stand up for her, she rushed out of class with embarrassment. "Miss Arlington, My office" "he clearly.." "I stated. My office. IMMEDIATELY" Claudia rushed in and sat down. Keeping her back straight, Claudia thought about her friends. 'they didn't even stand up for me' Claudia continued to sit on the black leather chair while her principal sat behind his black desk and dialled her father's number. 'i can't even blame brielle for this. Dad is going to be so angry' Claudia sat still while worry ran through her. She knows her father can be a very hard man. She has just pulled him from work due to her actions. A knock sounding on the door, Claudia swallowed hard. "Enter" mister arlington entered with a stern expression. "mister arlington, as explained on the phone, Your daughter has mistreated another student in class. That being Brielle.." Shaun clenched his hand "not only that, she had yelled and disrespected her teacher" "how did Claudia disrespect her own sister?. Her sister is in a lower class" "I'm sorry?" Shaun took a long deep breath "Brielle was moved back up classes mister arlington. Two in the last year. Her schooling is impeccable" "this makes no sense. Claudia has been bringing home the high grades. Why hasn't she moved up?" "Mister arlington, Claudia's averaging high sixties.." "he's lying" "BE QUIET. YOU ARE IN ENOUGH TROUBLE. Can you prove this?" "Of course. I will bring up both students files" Claudia's eyes watered 'i'm in even more trouble now' principal meninst opened both girls files while Shaun's patience was thinning. "Mister arlington, Claudia's file" principal meninst turned the screen of his computer around for Shaun to view. 'Average sixty seven percent. How is this possible when Claudia was coming home with scores of ninety five?' "I'd like to see brielles" "yes sir..." "Why was Claudia coming home with scores of average ninety five?" "That I can't answer. At this rate, if she continues to decline, she may not pass this year" regret filled Shaun while reading brielles file. 'i have treated her so harshly when in fact she has been the good child. Things I have said..' Shaun moved back. "Thank you for bringing the truth to light" "in future all scores will be handed out with their names printed. This has opened my eyes to how some people can behave" "mine too. That is a step in the right direction".
"Mister arlington, while you are here. Every year we have an international trip.." "I'm aware. Claudia has gone every year" "Claudia will not be attending.." "ITS UNFAIR.." "BE QUIET" Claudia dropped her head in shame "I would like to hand out a spot for Brielle" Shaun nodded "if that's what she wishes to do. Due to past events I have stopped her. I don't reward unless it's earned. It seems one of my children has fooled me. Much like their mother" hearing that, Claudias eyes watered again. 'i'm in so much trouble' "I will speak with Brielle about this when she arrives home. Thank you for today. I will be taking claudia with me. Any school work that has not been done, she can do until it's completed" 'my life is over'. "Thank you and you are welcome. You can collect her work from her class. I will sign her out" "have a good day" "you too sir".
Shaun looked at Claudia "MOVE" Claudia rushed to stand up and walked out with Shaun. "da.." "quiet. We will speak out of these walls" 'he won't even let me plead a case'.
Entering Claudia's home room, Shaun looked around. 'why is my daughter alone?' "mister arlington. How can I help you?" "I will be taking claudia with me. Her actions will have consequences. I apologise about her behaviour. If it happens again, I want to know immediately" "of course. In my classroom everyone is to show respect" "as it should be. Claudia will not be attending this yearly trip. I would like all of Claudia's work that has not been completed" 'oh god help her' "of course" mister Sawyer grabbed out a large file "this is everything from this year" "and how much of it is from today?" "Two sheets" Shauns chest raised as his anger soared "I see. This will be done" 'i can't believe this. She hasn't completed her work?' Her friends kept their eyes away from her as all of them felt disgusted. 'i thought she was flying through school' 'she has lied to all of us'.
"Thank you. Have a good day" "you too. Move" Claudia kept her eyes on her friends just wanting help but to her disappointment they wouldn't look her way or speak up.
Exiting the school grounds, Shaun looked at Claudia with anger "GET IN THE CAR" "SHE.." "I SAID GET IN THE CAR. HOW DARE YOU SPEAK BACK TO ME" Claudia got in the back seat and slammed the door. "YOU WILL CLEAN THIS CAR. I FIND ONE SPECK OF DIRT, YOU WILL START AGAIN. YOUR CONNIVING WAYS STOP NOW. YOU HAVE CONSTANTLY LIED TO ME. TAKEN YOUR SISTERS SCORES, HAVENT FINISHED THIS.." Shaun threw the file at Claudia's chest. Claudia choked as she grabbed the file. "YOU ARE A DISGRACE. SO MUCH LIKE YOUR MOTHER. YOU MADE ME LOOK LIKE A FOOL. THIS WONT STAND. YOUR LUXURIOUS LIFE IS OVER".
While Claudia sat in her father's pristine office with a large pile of school work in front of her, Brielle sat quietly in class just waiting for the bell to sound. 'He won't let me go anyway. What's the point of trying. I get given all of these hand me downs, am not allowed to go anywhere. My friends all pushed me away due to her and all I receive is bullying from everyone. Why can't I just have one good thing?. What have I done wrong?. I have always wanted to go to Cambodia. Their ways of living should be looked up at not downgraded. So many have so little. I can survive there. I have researched so much in regards to living off of the land. These students have everything. I work as hard as I can on my grades. I don't care if others call me a nerd. I just want to get out of here. The harder I study, the further I go. All Claudia has done is bring me down and makes my life a living hell'. The bell sounding, Brielle picked up her school bag and waited for everyone else to leave. "Brielle. I'd like to speak with you" 'what have I done now?' "yes mister meninst" following her principal, Brielle ignored all of the sly comments about her. "THIS IS ENOUGH. YOU ARE NOT IN PRESCHOOL. DO ALL OF YOU WANT DETENTION?" "No sir" 'we don't even know her and they continue to bully her. These girls.. why do they bully her?'.
Entering the principals office, Brielle lowered her bag beside the black leather chair and sat down. "Brielle, you aren't in trouble. Speaking with your father it has come to both of our attention that Claudia has been using your hard earned scores" Brielle slightly lowered her head "in future that won't be able to happen. I will be printing all scores with your names on them" Brielle looked at her principal with her bright deep blue eyes. "There's hope in those eyes" "yes sir" "why have you not spoken up?" Brielle sighed "sir I have tried many times. I gave up" "you have been pushed aside?" Brielle nodded "the only ones that believe in me are my teachers. Even my friends turned against me" "then they aren't true friends" Brielle showed a small smile "I came to realise that, sir" "put some thought into that trip, okay" "thank you".