An Accidental Murder

Chapter 34

The walk to the Ms. Yang's office was the worst... Though I'm sure it wasn't the case, I felt like everyone I passed was staring at me and talking about what happened.  I was so humiliated and also very apprehensive about what would happen when that door closed behind me in her office.

Ms. Yang was generally a pretty chill principal, but the stern look on her face told me how unhappy she was.  She gestured for me to take a seat, which I did.  I sat back in the seat as far away from her as I could with my head down so I didn't have to look at the disapproval so evident on her face.  She took a seat in the chair behind her desk and I could feel her looking at me, but she didn't immediately speak.

"Amber, would you like to talk about what happened outside?" She asked me in her strong Hmong accent.

"No," I told her, shaking my head.

"Other students saw what happened, so I can ask, but I think it better that I hear from you."

"Well, I don't want to talk about it."

"I'm going to have to contact your parents about this.  Perhaps you want to tell them what happened?"

"No, I don't want to talk to them either," I told her flatly.

Though I wasn't looking directly at her, I could see her shift in her seat and lean forward to get closer to me. This made me even more uncomfortable, so I took out my cell phone and checked for texts, but of course there weren't any.  I'd been completely shunned by everyone who'd claimed to be my friend.

"Alright then," she said, following a deep sigh.  She proceeded to type something into the computer and picked up the phone.  "Dial the number for your parents, Amber."

Though my head was still mostly looking downward, I shot her a steely glance.  I refused to move and she wasn't about to make me dial the number.  If she was going to call my parents, she'd have to do it herself.

"Amber, I am extremely disappointed in your behavior at this time. Dial the number for your parents immediately or you will face bigger consequences for your insubordination."

I don't know why, but what she said made me chuckle out loud. "You have the computer, you can find the number in there, right?"

"Very well.  Have it your way."  She stood up and walked to the door opening it just enough to peek her head out.  "Julie, please get Amber's parents on the phone and transfer the call to my office.  Thank you." She closed the door and returned to her seat, arms crossed and face angry.  This also made me chuckle because I'd never seen Ms. Yang look so angry and quite honestly, even with her angry expression, her face came off as slightly amusing.

"I'm not sure how anything about this situation could be humorous, Miss Olson."

"I'm not sure what the big deal is, Ms. Yang.  I had a fight with my boyfriend.  I didn't kill anyone, I didn't draw any blood."

Miss Olson, school rules strictly prohibit any kind of violence whether playing or otherwise.  You were fighting enough to cause a scene and disrupt the learning of others."

I rolled my eyes at her.  "With all due respect, Ms. Yang, no one was learning at that time.  They were all coming back from lunch.  Unless they're babies and are learning to walk, I think they'll all be fine."

"Additionally, your behavior has made other members of the school community feel unsafe."

"Oh my God! Are you ser -"

"Furthermore, you caused property damage to a vehicle."

"A vehicle which isn't yours and which can easily be fixed.  It's not like I can't afford to pay for it," I scoffed.

"Amber, based on your behavior, I feel I have no choice but to suspend you."

My jaw dropped.  I looked at Ms. Yang in disbelief and stood up away from my seat. 

"This is bullshit!  You can't suspend me!  Are you for real right now?!" I asked, angry tears forming in my eyes.

Ms. Yang stood to look me in the eye. "You should probably go get your things, Amber.  When I get your parents on the phone I'll be telling them to come pick you up for the day. I'll also have Ms. Blake contact your teachers and ask them to prepare some work for you to do over the next few days."

"Don't I get like a warning or something before you just suspend me?  I mean, Marcus Grant was fighting Brian Hayes the  other day and he was right back in class an hour later!  How is this fair?!"

Ms. Blake stuck her head in the door at that moment, "Ms. Yang, Amber's father is on the phone for you."

"Thank you, Julie.  Go ahead and forward it to me please."  Her hand reached for the phone as she signaled for me to leave.  I wasn't sure what would be worse, sitting in the room listening to the conversation she had with my dad or waiting for my father to pick me up and blindside me with his version of events.  After deciding that neither option was ideal, I chose to leave the room and deal with the consequences from my dad when the time came.  No matter what happened, I was going to hear it, so no need hearing it twice.

I was beginning to feel like my back was against the wall.  I didn't see how things could get any worse than they already were, but everyday there was a new twist to complicate everything and make my life hell. My father was going to be livid, and I couldn't believe I'd sworn at Ms. Yang...I was out of control.   I owed her an apology, I knew that, but I wasn't giving her one.  All the other kids in our school who do crazy stuff and never get in trouble...I do one dumb thing and I get suspended?!  Suspended!  The nerve of that vile woman.  

On top of that, I know Ms. Yang had told me to go get my assignments from my teachers, but there was no way I'd be humiliating myself by doing that! What was she going to do to me anyway if I didn't get it done?  Suspend me again?  Fantastic. I threw my brush on top of the books in my backpack and zipped it up in a huff.  It was then that I thought about Ryan and wondered if he'd get in trouble too.  Oh, he was probably so mad at me! Well good!  I smiled to myself thinking about how great it felt to kick his Audi so hard and see the look on his face afterward when he saw the big dent in the door- oh the horror!  Frikking jerk got what he deserved. 

I creeped my way back to the office, slowing down as I glimpsed my dad through the window.  Suddenly all the boldness I was feeling melted away like butter.  Though his back was toward me and I couldn't see his face, I could tell by his posture that he was pissed and my stomach instantly knotted up. I was doomed.