Don't go into the woods.

Chapter VI

    The bell rang signaling the end of the day. I grabbed all my things in a bunch and made a beeline for the door. I just wanted to get out of this hell-hole called a "school". As I came up on the doors leading to the student parking lot, Principal Holmes was walking straight towards me.

I stopped in my tracks as she raised her hand to call out to me.

"Brekklynn? May we have a word in my office for a second?" She motioned her hand towards her office as I only made sure to nod my head. 'I hated conversing with adults'. A million different scenarios raced in my head on what she wanted to talk about. My heart was sinking with every step we took as we made our way down the uninviting corridor.

Then it hit me like a truck.. 'I know exactly what she wants to talk about'.

She motioned for me to sit down in one of the seats placed right in front of her desk. 'For direct eye contact.. smart.' I thought. I sat down and the seat creaked with every movement. I studied her office. Everything was gray and bland. 'The luxurious life of a principal, huh?' My thoughts were interrupted by Principal Holmes placing her hands on her desk. She sighed, " So I suppose you're already aware on why I wanted to talk to you?"

I just stared at her blankly. "What did she expect me to say?"

"Okay.. well Ms. Mackle sent me your essay and said it raised some concerns with herself and your fellow classmates." She said it almost as if she was asking, rather than telling me.

"She said write about whatever, then decides to get upset when I write about whatever. What a way to contradict yourself." I scoffed, That last part was more to myself then Principal Holmes.

"Understandable. Look. I didn't call you in here to scold you, Brekklynn. I'd be lying if i said it wasn't good."

I was taken aback. "Oh.. thank you." I said not knowing how else to react. I was unsure of what was really going on and where this conversation was leading to.

"As my duty of being your Principal, I have to follow through with all claims and accusations, no matter the cause. But, between me and you Brekklynn, I think Ms. Mackle is pretty goddamn phony. Don't let her get to you." Her eyes widened. "Oh! Excuse my French." She quickly put her hand to her lips, embarrassed. She then smiled softly "Don't tell the other students."

I nodded my head. I was slowly trying to process what she had just told me. "O-okay.." was all I was able to manage. I glanced down at my watch..

2:45 p.m.

I was supposed to meet Cass at 2:30. "So, if thats all and I'm not in any trouble whatsoever, then I gotta go." I immediately realized how rude I sounded. "Not to be like a huge dick or anything, I just really have to go." I explained.

She stood up and walked over to the bookcase with her back facing me. "Of course." Her hand was trailing a line on the books, but she suddenly stopped. "Before you go Brekklynn.. Have you had any trauma in your lifetime? Let's say, you had something extremely traumatizing happen to you sometime in your life. Did you maybe use that as motivation to help write your story?" She looked over her shoulder directly in my eyes. She was trying to read me. Unfortunately for her, I wasn't giving anything up.

"No." I said firmly. I could feel her energy from across the room as the silence grew thick like the comforter your grandma hand knitted you for the winter.

She grabbed a pamphlet off the shelf. " This is for you." She stuck it out to me. "You have the gift of writing Brekklynn. I'm a huge fan of horror, gore, suspense and every little thing that comes with it. Your story really had me on edge. I felt like I was reading Steven King's Work. Ever heard of him?" Before I even had a chance to say anything, she continued, "You know, we could really use you in our writing competition this year. Your work could get us very far, maybe even first place in the district this year. You should consider entering." Her eyes widened as she grinned.

Steven King? Really? She's definitely bluffing. No way in hell my story was that good.' "Sure, I'll think about it." I said. My mind was still on the fact that she asked about my trauma. That really bothered me. I got up from the chair and started for the door before she could say anything else.

"Have a wonderful afternoon, hun!" She called out from the office.

I ignored her and kept speed walking.

'What a fucking joke.'

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    "Brek! You should totally go for it!!" Cass said practically rupturing my ear drums.

"Cass. We're literally right next to each other. You don't have to yell.." I rubbed my ears.

"I'm just saying girl. This must be your calling. Who gives a shit about Mackle. She just can't see your worth, and thats okay because not everybody is meant to. She's just an obstacle trying to stop you. So don't let her stop you!" She exclaimed and made a turn into our favorite restaurant.

I sighed. 'I'm glad someone is excited' I rolled my eyes. "I don't know. It just seems like a ton of responsibility. If you want me to be real with you, I just don't feel like getting distracted from what really matters. I have other stuff that needs my attention." I felt my eyebrow twitch. It's a thing I automatically do when I lie.

"Lie again". She called me out. "What do you need to focus on?" She asked glaring at me.

'Damn. She knows me all too well sometimes.' I turned to her and rolled my eyes. "I mean... school? That's pretty important, right? I already told you plenty of times before that I'm 95 percent sure I have ADHD."

She gave me a straight face. "Okay. Fine, I just don't want to do it." 'Something feels off about it.. I just cant place it'

"Exactly Brek. All I'm saying is nothing is stopping you, and it's and amazing opportunity that you shouldn't pass up. Your ass is capable of this!" She hit me softly in the arm. "Even Principal Holmes said is was great! And she compared you to Steven Holmes?! I'm actually jealous. I always envied your writing skills. I mean, we're talking a scholarship if you win this. That's in the school alone. Imagine the actual district competition-" she abruptly stops. "Did you even read the pamphlet?" She narrowed her eyes at me.

I opened the car door. "No, but I'm hungry. So let's eat.'

'This conversation ain't over. I'm just saying you should think about. Dont worry though, I'll keep nagging ya ass about it." She winked and got out the car.