FLOWER

CHAPTER 11.4

School secretary stands in the way of my plans.

- I found you, great. Come with me to the principal's office. - If I understood her correctly, she said this.

- Did something happen? - She doesn't even look at me to see if I'm going to follow her. I have to run after her to not get behind. She's fast.

- Sofía accused you of stealing Asher's shirt and whistle.

Didn't she sometimes brag that she had the best grade point average in school? Somehow it has nothing to do with logical thinking.

- There are cameras at school. And on the sports field.

- Everything in due time. Your mother has already arrived at school.

They did not check the cameras, but called the parent. What a wonderful innovative solution. As if she senses my thoughts, she turns to face me. She forces a smile on his face.

- Overstatement Gonzalo Martínez-López and the director are friends. - I had never heard Sofí's father's name, but somehow I could go on without that information.

We are already in front of the office. We enter it. And there's mom and the principal. I say hello and sit down at the place indicated to me. The secretary closes the door behind her.

- Is Mrs. Zielińska aware of the crimes committed by Róża? It seems to me that you are downplaying the whole matter.

- With all due respect. My daughter supposedly fell in love with Asher. So she stole his things, put them in the girl' schoolbag. And then told her to take them out before the owner got to her.

- Your daughter has obviously been affected by remorse. You forgot to mention Asher's beatings and obscene behavior in the corridor.

- And you say that the obscene behavior mentioned is actually bullying by a stronger classmate against a weaker classmate.

- First I've heard of it.

- How is this your school? Róża immediately told us that Asher was threatening her. We didn't want to intervene with the services so we talked to his father, Connor Davis. Please ask him.

- I'll make sure to check it out. Your daughter will have to face the consequences...

- I'll ask for evidence. And that's it. Without the recordings incriminating Róża, I won't even move from there.

- Your daughter's happiness is the failure of several of our cameras. Including the one on the pitch.

- Rather, your inept excuse. Blaming everything on an innocent girl.

- So how did Róża know what Sofía had in her bag?

- Erich called me and asked me to check if Mairi or Sofía had stolen Asher's top.

- Why would they do that.

- Please ask Erich. I just asked Sofía because I have lessons with her. And she wanted to prove me wrong. And she showed me Asher's stuff instead of hers.

What a nasty, rat-like creature This principal is. My whole body is tingling. My vision blurs for a second. Something's about to hit me. Inhale and exhale.

The principal taps the phone, puts it to his ear and speaks.

- Please bring Erich to me.

And that's how there's a whole bunch of us here. Of course, me with my mother, Erich and the director. Then Sofía, Sheila, Mairi joined. Asher last. Nobody knows anything, nobody has seen anything.

- And who reported the theft anyway? - Erich asks.

- Anonymously.

- How?

- Someone threw a printed piece of paper where one of the non-working cameras is located. A cleaning lady found her.

Our senseless search for the perpetrator and, above all, talking. He is interrupted by a knock on the office door. Then the secretary enters.

- I checked Różę, she didn't even come within two meters of Sofía. She is on camera at all times.

- You didn't do that. - Sofía asks, surprised.

- As you can see.

- I'm sorry for accusing you.

I'm about to kill her with my bare hands. I give you my word. Sheila wasn't wrong about her.

- Can you see anything else?

- Not really, Sofía was passing with the largest crowd, which was bigger than her, she was barely visible there. There is no immortalized moment of where things were located anywhere. Plus, she left the camera field for a moment before getting to the classroom.

How it all works out so beautifully, the principal knows her father. so he can know which cameras are not working. And they put a cross on me because of one accusation. My skin tingles unpleasantly. I scratch my hand, even though it's not enough.

The break bell turns out to be my salvation. The principal decides to let us all go, but neither Mom nor I are apologized to by him. Most willingly, I would have taken to the hovel with her. But Mom has a client and doesn't want to give up her earnings. She promises me an apple pie to improve my mood. She reluctantly stays at school, near Sofí.

- I'm really sorry. I feel stupid now. - She seems sincere. But somehow I'm not convinced. - Maybe we can all go to that pub together that you like so much. We'll eat something and play billiards.

- Great idea. -Mairi squeaks. - The triplets will probably be there today too.

- I have to help dad after school. I promised him. I don't know how long it will take us, maybe another time.

I turn around and want to go out into the sun and fresh air. But Sofía stands in my way with a pleading look on her face.

- I'm sorry, I shouldn't take advantage of the principal's relationship with my father. To forcefully accuse you. I'm really sorry. Let's try again.

- Okay, but I really have an appointment with my dad today. We live in a hovel. And it requires a thorough renovation, which we can't afford.

I smile weakly at the girl. Although I will boil inside. You will finally leave me in peace. My patience was exhausted in the office today. I need a few moments with myself.

- Okay, then when you have time.

- I'll tell you tomorrow, I don't know how long it will take us.

- Good.

Nasturcja finds me, I can barely keep on my feet. She will embrace me in her arms, and I will embrace her too. It's good that you are here.

- Everything's all right.

- Not.

- The matter became clear.

- It is still unknown who did it.

- He must be a cunning beast if someone is so clever.

- Apparently. And I took the bait. - Sofía says.

The rest of the school day goes on as if nothing happened, and the scandal is put to rest. We want to distance ourselves from all of them, at least for a moment. So we spend the rest of the breaks alone. Nasturtium lies to everyone that she has a migraine. That's why she's absent from the girls and has to be quiet. Even she doesn't want to hear about bad Sofía, manipulated Mairi and poor wronged Sheila again. Which he guards like a tracking dog Erich. And even more so about the Davises.