The Fallen Angel

15.Mazed

Isabella Pov

In the aftermath of the party from last week, I found myself lost in my thoughts, unable to engage in conversation with anyone. A heavy weight settled in my heart, leaving me silent and withdrawn. Sighs escaped me repeatedly, a silent expression of the burden weighing heavily on my mind.

The teacher called out each name for a badminton program, addressing the girls specifically. "Please give me your names," she requested, emphasizing that participation was mandatory for all.

"Isabelle, Isabelle," the teacher's repeated calls caught my attention, and my desk mate signaled to me, urging me to stand up. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to participate," I apologized to the teacher. Without missing a beat, she responded, "Fine, you can do the cheerleading for the baseball team." However, a sudden change of heart compelled me to speak up. "Actually, I think badminton would be a better fit for me," I stated, remembering that Hazel was in charge of the cheerleading squad.

As the teacher nodded and smiled, she addressed the guys, saying, "Ensure everyone participates and supports their respective teams. We'll announce the teams at the end of the day." With her departure, the classroom buzzed with excitement and anticipation, as both juniors and seniors eagerly discussed and speculated about the upcoming teams.

Walking through the hallway, the chatter about the hot couples filled the air, each word feeling like a dagger to my heart. Despite the turmoil inside, I remained silent, my emotions carefully concealed. Standing next to my locker, I searched for Aria, realizing I had been ignoring her for the past week.

Taking my science book out of the locker, I noticed a strawberry drink sitting on top. A smile graced my lips, knowing it must be from Aria.

Before I could close the locker, Hazel and Emelia suddenly appeared behind me, blocking my path and shutting the locker forcefully. I sighed in frustration, not expecting Emelia's presence since she was a good friend. "What are you doing with her, Emy?" I asked, puzzled. Hazel grinned and retorted, "Is there a problem with you?" Glancing at Emelia, I noticed the bracelet she wore, a token given to the hot girls who joined Hazel's team. It dawned on me that she was now with Hazel.

Hazel brought her face closer to mine, her gaze piercing. "Do you have a crush on my boyfriend?" she asked. Memories of Adrian flooded my mind, leaving me feeling saddened, but I remained silent, attempting to walk away. However, Emelia blocked my path and pressed the question again. "Answer me," she demanded. Looking up at her, I responded, "If you already know the answer, why bother asking? Didn't you invite me to the party just because you knew?"

She forcefully snatched the strawberry drink from my hand and splashed it across my face, eliciting gasps from the crowd. "How dare you, bitch," she spat, her words and actions cutting deep. Offended, I pushed her back, retorting, "Mind your words." In retaliation, she grabbed my hair from behind, causing me to struggle. Desperate to defend myself, I pulled her hair in return, and soon we were locked in a heated altercation in the middle of the hallway. The onlookers cheered and recorded the spectacle, while amidst the chaos, I taunted, "Protect your beloved boyfriend, because I might win him over soon." Her grip on my hair tightened, intensifying the struggle between us.

She pushed me forcefully to the ground, hurling insults my way, and then sat on top of me, her hands still tangled in my hair. My head began to spin as she delivered a punch to my face. To my horror, Emelia joined forces with her, assisting Hazel in her attack. Soon, Hazel's other friends joined in, raining down blows upon me. As the assault continued, Hazel shoved me against the locker with a resounding bang. Despite my weakened state, I fought back against her and her friends, refusing to give up. However, I was overpowered, and Hazel mercilessly struck my head against the locker twice.

With her arm pressing tightly against my neck, making it difficult to breathe, I whispered through strained breaths, "Don't worry about him too much. He doesn't like you anyway." Before I could catch another breath, she banged my head and shoved me down.

Before she could kick me off with her red heels, the principal arrived, and the crowd's disappointment was audible as they missed the spectacle. With authority in his voice, he commanded, "Go to your classes now, and you two! To my office." Hazel attempted to shift the blame onto me, but the principal was not willing to listen to her excuses.

Sitting in the office, the principal's disappointment was palpable as he addressed us sternly. "You two are the worst," he shouted, his frustration evident. Directing his attention to Hazel, he questioned, "Hazel, are you a thug or what?" Hazel seethed with anger, but the principal's gaze shifted to me, noticing my injuries and the blood. As he momentarily looked away, I couldn't help but smile at her, further enraging her. "You bitch," she spat out in fury. The principal intervened immediately, reprimanding her for her lack of manners. "Hazel, where are your manners? Bring your parents here tomorrow," he instructed firmly. Despite her attempts to interrupt, the principal was too incensed by her attitude to let her get away with it.

She stormed out of the office in anger, slamming the door behind her. The principal turned his attention back to me and instructed, "Get yourself treated." I nodded slightly, my hair disheveled from the altercation. His next words caught me off guard. "After that, you're on detention," he declared firmly. My eyes widened in disbelief as I attempted to protest, "But I was the victim." However, he was not interested in hearing my side of the story. "Mr. Andrew will be in charge of you. Now, get out," he commanded, leaving me feeling disappointed as I walked out of the office.

"Are you alright?" he inquired with a chuckle, "Looks like you've been through a war. You're a bit of a mess," he remarked, unable to contain his laughter, which grated on my nerves.

"Thanks for the concern. Just leave me be," I retorted sharply, striding away. However, I stopped abruptly as he dropped a subtle hint, "That was quite the kiss, wasn't it?"

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