Welcome to my World

Chapter 4

*Annabelle's perspective*

Well, turns out when Mr. Jerk slammed me into the wall, I hit harder than I thought. So when I walked into the cafeteria, everyone pointed and stared and of course I had no clue what was wrong with me. I thought maybe my hair was in a big, tangled mess or something like that. But no, when I went to the bathroom to see what was wrong I discovered I had blood dripping down my forehead and a big, developing bruise on my arm. I didn't even notice the pain until now.

As soon as I saw the blood and the deep purple bruise, I realized quite how injured I was. I was close to crying it hurt so bad, but I didn't want people to notice me. I'd rather go unnoticed than be known as the crying-beat up girl.

I cleaned up the blood as best I could and quickly walked toward the office to call my mom. I pulled the door open with my uninjured arm and walked in.

"Oh my goodness! Annie, what happened to you?" the secretary, Mrs. Lohe, said. She was one of my mom's best friends in high school yet she can't be bothered to learn my real name. At least she's close.

"Nothing. I just want to call my mom." I say, my voice trembling from trying to keep the tears in.

"No, honey, I have to file an injury report so you have to tell me what happened. Who did this to you?"

"A person."

"You've got to give me more information than that!" she says. I can tell that she's getting frustrated.

"Shawn Cadowe," I mumbled.

"Won La Low? I've never heard that name."

"Shawn Cadowe," I say, finally giving in. I don't want to be a snitch but I'm going to have to tell her eventually.

"Oh, that makes more sense," she laughs. I smile weakly.

"I'm going to have to call both your's and Shawn's parents. Ok?" she says.

"Oh, please don't," I whine. I know whining is for small children but desperate times call for desperate measures.

"I have to, Annie. It's part of my job." Oh no, this is not gonna be good. Shawn is going to get in trouble and it's all my fault.

"Ok, but can I call my mom?"

"Sure. The phone is right over there," she says as she points at a big hunk of plastic. My goodness, is our school stuck in the nineties or what?

I dial my mom's phone number at her work downtown. The phone rings and rings until she finally picks up on the last ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey mom," I say, so relieved that I can talk to her.

"What's wrong?" she says. It's almost as if she can sense the recent tears in my voice.

"I just got hurt a little. Can you come pick me up?"

"Oh, sweetie, I'm in the middle of a big project at work and I can't really leave now. I'm so sorry." Oh man, here come the water works again.

"It's ok," I say, my lower lip trembling from trying to hold back the tears.

"I'm really sorry," she says again.

"It's ok."

"Bye, I'll see you later."

"Bye mom," I say, trying to hold it together long enough to hang up the phone. As soon as the phone is in place, I feel tears streaming down my face. I need to compose myself. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

Once I have the water works under control, I turn around to go back to class. As I head towards the door, I pass a pretty, middle-aged lady standing at Mrs. Lohe's desk.

Mrs. Lohe steps out of the back room and into the main office.

"Oh, Annie! I'm not done with you!" she practically shouts right as I push the door open to leave. Oh, what could she need now? I go and sit down on one of the many chairs and wait.

She gets back to work on what I'm assuming is my injury form. The woman standing at the desk clears her throat to get Mrs. Lohe's attention.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, Mrs. Cadowe. I didn't see you there," she says, finally realizing the woman is here.

"It's no problem," she says in a very elegant-sounding voice.

"Well, you can come with me to the back room and I'll tell you what happened. Miss Smith, can you wait right there for a second? We will talk to you in a moment," she says as she leads Mrs. Cadowe into the meeting room.

"Ok," I mutter- like I have any choice.

I sit there fiddling with my backpack while I wait. After a few minutes, Mrs. Lohe comes through the door.

"Annie, would you mind talking to Mrs. Cadowe and I?" she asks.

"Do I have any choice?" I say sarcastically.

Mrs. Lohe looks taken aback, "Uhm, I guess not?" I follow her into the large meeting room that's usually used for staff meetings.

"Hello, I am sorry we didn't get acquainted earlier. Annabelle is it?" Mrs. Cadowe stands up to greet me, holding out a hand.

I am somewhat appalled by the elegance in her whole persona. It takes me a few seconds to take it all in and I finally take her hand and shake it.

"Uh...yes, I'm Annabelle," I say, failing to come anywhere close to looking like I have a decent IQ. "Yes, ma'am. I am Annabelle Smith," I say correcting myself.

"Nice to meet you. I am sorry about what happened. I hope Shawn didn't hurt you too bad. Oh, I am Susan Cadowe."

"I'm really fine, Mrs. Cadowe. Please I don't want anyone to get in trouble or anything. I'm really ok."

"Well, tell me what happened."

"Nothing really. It was my fault. I was accidentally walking on the wrong side of the hall and he tried to move me out of the way," I lie. "I just hit my head and arm on the wall. It's not his fault."

"Now I know that's not true. I know how Shawn is."

"Well I'm fine. I'm ok. It doesn't matter to me anymore."

"Well if it doesn't matter then just tell me."

I sigh. I really have no choice with anything nowadays. I really need to find a way to get out of these things.

I end up telling her the whole story. Oh no. She does not look happy.

"Um, did I do something wrong?" I say. I very afraid because this is the most composed woman I've ever seen and she's not looking so composed...

"Oh no not at all. Just wait until my son gets in here."

"Oh, please I don't want to be know as the snitch of the school." She ignores that last statement.

"Lucy, will you call Shawn to the office?" she asks Mrs. Lohe. I hear her press the intercom button and I hear her voice over the loudspeaker.

This can't be good. I slip out of the back room and go back to my original seat. I try to read some of my book but I'm really worried about this situation.

I glance up and see Shawn Cadowe enter the office. This is about to be really bad! He catches me looking at him and gives me a strange look. I bet he thinks I like him. He doesn't need another thing- no matter how small- to boost his ego.

I see Mrs. Cadowe walk out of the meeting room. Oh no! She starts yelling at Shawn. I take that as my cue to leave.

Right as I walk out the door, I see what I was dreading. A death glare. From Shawn.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys!

So this is my story so far. There's not much to say about it. I'm not sure how good it's coming because I'm kind of biased:)

So I love comments and votes and when you get other people to read it! I especially would love it if you would suggest anything that would make it better.

You guys are amazing! Keep reading!!

~Emma:)