Bully

Flashback: Chapter 0

(ONE WEEK BEFORE CEDORA HIILS)

"Distribution of Intimate images or videos. Do you know what this offense is punishable to, Mr. Carrow?"

To my left, my father shifted in his seat. He was confused. I really, really should have warned him at home, but no matter how many times I tried, I couldn't gather the courage to.

"A maximum of five years in prison, or two years less and a five thousand dollar fine."

On the other side of me, Ian blew out a rough exhale. He was gripping the armrest of his chair so tight that his knuckles were turning white.

"What does this have to do with anything?" My father demanded aggressively.

My principal, Mrs. Clarice, gave me a long look before a deep sigh. "Your daughter and Mr. Ian Khan were...subject to the making of...pornographic videos, featuring themselves."

All the muscles in my body harden as my father freezes then slowly turns to look at me and although I can't see him, I can just imagine the picture that plays out on his face. Shame, embarrassment, and disgust.

My gaze was on the other side of the room, past Ian to where the girl with blonde ringlets for hair sat perfectly calm and poised with her hands in her lap as if all of this wasn't her fault.

As if her mother senses my gaze, she scowls at me, then looks to Mrs. Clarice. "Whatever situation Isa and Ian have landed themselves in has nothing to do with my daughter. Leave Callista out of this."

"Actually." Mrs. Clarice says reluctantly. "We already found the evidence of your daughter transporting the video from Ian's phone to hers and then distributing it across multiple platforms."

"You went through my daughter's phone?" Was the response of Callista's mom. "Without legal permission?"

"I don't think you want to get legalties involved in this, Mrs. Ramone. Callista is the main one at fault here, she may be the only one liable to punishment, if the Carrows decide to press charges, that is."

Suddenly everyone was looking at me. Even my boyfriend who had not looked at me once for the past two weeks. I hated all of them. I hated Ian, I hated Callista and I especially hated myself for having ever trusted either one of them.

"No." I still said, despite everything. "No charges."

..

My father and I spent the car ride home in uncomfortable silence. I savoured the peace while I could and as soon as we got home I fled up the stairs to my room. I knew what was coming and I really didn't need it. It came anyway.

First I endured the lecturing.

"But I told you Isa, didn't I?" My father had said. "I told you what I thought about that boy and I told you that you are too young for a relationship but you didn't listen to me. You never listen to me and look what you landed yourself into."

Then, the Anger.

"But are you insane that you would really do something like this? Have you got no self-respect? Did you even know how disgusted I felt sitting there in the office and having to hear what you've caused me? I've never had to deal with something like this with any of your siblings. Of course, something always has to be different with you."

Then my breaking point.

"I'm so ashamed to call you my daughter."

In the end, the meeting with the principal only made my remaining days in Georgia worse. School was the same. I was constantly ridiculed and taunted for the leaked video. I even got my position revoked from the Student Council. Ian was now dating Callista - the girl who had spread the video and the girl who also happened to be my ex-best friend.

The only difference was that now, home was no longer an escape. My father could barely look at me without physically recoiling and my brothers were acting weird around me - well except my little brother Rafael, who didn't understand what was going on.

Things continued to rotate in this miserable, draining cycle until this one day after school when I had stepped into the living room surprised to see my aunt who I had not seen in about ten years, sitting alongside my dad.

"Isa, sit down." My father had said. "Your aunt I have something important we want to discuss with you."

I sat on one of the couches. My aunt smiled politely and looked to my father who opened his mouth to speak. "We think it would be best for you to spend your senior year with your aunt, in Manhattan."

I wasn't surprised. I had expected some sort of proactive measure from my father. I just hadn't expected it to be in the form of moving into my aunt's luxurious mansion in Upper East Manhattan.

"We think a fresh start is what you need at a time like this. What do you think, Isa?" My aunt says.

I shrugged. I didn't mind. I didn't care. Wherever I spent my senior year didn't matter to me, although maybe Manhattan would be better than here. I could make myself invisible. Unnoticed.

"It seems like a great opportunity. Thankyou."

"It's the most prestigious school in America." My aunt continues, "The one you always used to ask me about. Normally, admittance at this time of the year is unheard of but I was able to make special adjustments just for you."

I pick at the lint of my faded sweater. "That's great Karina."

My aunt and my father share a look. They seem a bit skeptical at my easy acceptance of it all.

I rise from my chair, heading back to my room but then pause as I pass Karina. She startingly resembled my mother with her thick, dark hair and wide eyes. "The name of the school." I said. "What was it again?"

My aunt looked up at me with a smile and there was a light of anticipation in her eyes as she did so.

"Cedora Hills."