Raining Tears

Chapter 4 - Mia

♡Mia♡

I rush down the hallway, my lunch bag in hand.

I really wish I could stick my fist in Hannah's face. It's Monday, she couldn't just back off? At least for today?

I walk into the lunchroom, and search the tables for my friends.
The cafeteria has long rows of mint green tables to my left. To my right is the lunch line for buying food. The place is crowded, overflowing with students.

They sit at the back corner of the lunchroom, at a small rectangular table. From here, I can see Ellie, her head in her hands. Another boy sits next to Jocelyn.

Weird.

I hurry to them, and slide down in a seat next to Ellie, who has Andy on her other side. Madelyn sits across from Andy, and Jocelyn sits next to Maddy. The other boy sits next to her, eating a bought lunch.

I put my hand on Ellie's back. "Elle, it's okay."

She lifts her head up to me, her eyes glistening with tears. I pull her close and let her sob into my shirt. I notice how Andy's, Madelyn's, and Jocelyn's shirts are also damp, if not wet.

I jut my chin the boy, looking at Jocelyn. After all, she must know him if she's sitting next to him. She mouths, "Colton."

I give her a questioning look, but she waves it off.

"Shh. Shh." I tell Elle. "It's okay. Your friends are here. Shh."

"Mia, you don't understand. She's mad at you. S-she said to keep you in check. S-she-" She breaks down into another sob, pressing her face back into my shoulder.

"It's alright. She's not gonna hurt us in any way. She can't, we're too strong for her. Know why?" I say slowly and gently.

Ellie shakes her head quickly.

"Because we have each other. Always have, always will. She can't do anything to us." I pause, and Ellie sobs again. "They're  just words, Elle. Just words. And in a couple of years, you'll be thinking, 'I don't why I got so worked up about what Hannah said, they were just words'."

That's when an announcement comes on, and Principal Krauski starts talking.

"Will Ellie Marks, Mia Stone, Madelyn Harps, Jocelyn Regins, and Hannah Strom come to the principal's office? Thank you."

We all look at one another, as does half if the cafeteria.

All I can think is, oh boy.

                    ♡     ♡     ♡     ♡ 

Madelyn's knee keeps bouncing up and down with nervous energy. Her right hand taps her long fingernails on the arm rest of her chair.

Ellie has her elbows on her knees, and head in her hands.

Jocelyn is leaning back in her chair, staring at something.

I sit straight as a statue, because that wretched Hannah is a couple chairs away from me. I really wish I could slap her right now. Or punch her. Or maybe both.

God, she's a b****. Why can't she just move away?

I look around the room to distract myself with the urge to hit Hannah growing more and more.

Outside the principal's office, where we sit and wait, is a beige wall with a door leading to the teacher's lounge to my left. In front of me is the door that has the words: Principal Krauski, on it. To my right, opens up to a very large wooden desk where Mrs.Mokin, and Mrs.Hoff sit, the secretaries, doing work. A mother stands there, a two year old clinging to her legs, waiting for some student to come down.

The door in front of me opens, and Principal Krauski pops his head out. He has white hair, and a wrinkly face with glasses framing his eyes.

"Ladies, come in." He says.

Ellie, Jocelyn, Madelyn, and I stay seated until Hannah gets up and enters the office, then we follow behind her.

The room is dark and small, with chairs currounding the back left corner of the wall, and a desk in the far right.

"Please take a seat girls." Principal Krauski says, pulling up a chair for himself.

Hannah sits away from us, and we sit next to each other.

The principal grabs a piece of paper from the pocket in his vest, and smoothes it down on his knee.

I hear Ellie and Jocelyn straighten. This must be the awful note Ellie got in homeroom.

Principal Krauski takes a turn looking at each of us, then starts to talk.

"Mrs.George found this paper in her garbage bin today." He says, showing us the paper. "And she felt that it was.... a important sign of someone being bullied. Now, she asked some of her kids from homeroom, and they said that Ellie Marks was given a paper this morning. Is that true Ellie?"

Before Elle can respond, Jocelyn says a loud "Yes."

"Alrighty then. Now-"

Hannah cut the principal off. "What does this have to do with me?"

I glower at her.

I wonder if I would get suspended if I punched her until I broke a bone.

"Because Mrs. Hannah, you know that at this school, we take bullying very seriously, and we don't tolerate it. It can affect one's academic career."

"Yeah, I know that, but like, I didn't do anything wrong. So why am I here?"

Principal Krauski stared at Hannah with amusement. "Well, Hannah, shouldn't you know why? I mean, you're the person who wrote this note afterall."

Hannah's face after that comment was priceless. It went from shock, to bemusement, to fury, before putting on an expressionless face. "How do you know it is me. There's no proof that it was me, and it wasn't."

"Mrs. Strom, I have my resources from within the school. And, after finding a note like this, I was determined to find whoever wrote it." Principal Krauski says.

Hannah crosses her arms over her chest. "It was a joke! I didn't mean to hurt Ellie's feelings! I was just trying to be funny, you know? Just a teenager joke!"

I rolled my eyed at her. She's so pathetic. Not high and mighty as everyone thinks her to be.

I look at Elle. She returns the look, her face in warning.

This is my chance. I could spill every detail and give Hannah what she deserves.

Ellie taps my knee. She shakes her head, telling me no.

I don't have to listen to her. It would be for her well being if I told Principal Krauski. But...

Ellie would be so mad at me.

And I guess that's all our problem. We bow down to Ellie's wishes so easily.

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Sorry for such a short chapter. Hoped you liked it though! I had fun writing it! But, then again, I'm having fun writing this whole book. It's just amazing creating a world with fictional characters and having them live life.

Bye! ;-)