The Game We Both Lost

Part 8 - Principal's Office

Shortly after the police came and arrested Colton, mom came home after Noah called to tell her what happened. She didn't bother answering questions that the officers were throwing at her, she just came to me and took me in her arms. Behind heer, I saw a glint of a smile on Noah's lips, and then he nodded almost to himself before leaving us alone.

"I was so worried about you." And still embracing me, my mother stroke my hair. "I thought I lost you too. I love you so much, Breanna. So, so much."

I didn't say anything, I couldn't. Although shakened, I was too happy to hear it from my mother. She hadn't told me how much I meant to her in such a long time, that now when I heard it, all I could do was smile through my dried tears. Noah was right when he said both Hayley and my mom love me. The only other thing I needed to know now was if he had meant it when he said I was amazing. I couldn't imagine how I would be feeling then.

When the police were done with their investigations, mom let Noah bring us to the hospital. I had to tend to my sprained wrist, and an officer suggested that I get checked if I was suffering from concussion since I had hit my head when Colton threw me against the table. 

At the hospital, while mom was busy telling the doctor how I got injured after he tended to my wrist and confirmed that I hadn't hit my head too hard to have concussion, Noah came up to me. He didn't say anything at first. He just carefully took my injured hand and caressed the wrist I'd sprained and had bandaged now. He looked almost pained as he studies the dressing, as if he was the one who had his hand hurt. For a whole of two minutes, he did nothing but that.

"I'm glad you're not severely injured." He spoke so softly I had to strain my ears to hear.

"Me too," I nodded. Pause. "And thank you, so much. For coming in and rescuing me. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there."

He smiled, not the smug or cocky one, more genuine. "Let's not think about what would have happened. You're safe now. That's all that matters." 

In the months that I'd spent with Noah Carlisle, I hadn't heard him say anything so sincere before. He was always sarcastic, but this time, he sounded like he really meant it. Like my safety was all that matters. To whom, actually? To him? My mom? I wouldn't know.

For a moment, I wanted to throw my arms around him again. But I had no reason to. As he looked at me, I could only look back at him, straining my own eyes to not fall onto his lips. Noah and I are nothing now. Just schoolmates who rarely talk to each other. 

He is everything, and I am nothing. 

When I got back to scholl on Monday, literally everyone in the school was talking about Colton going into jail. Only a few came up to me to ask, but most of them only gave me dirty looks, as if I had been the cause of his demise, which I am, but it was his very own doing. I didn't see Noah anywhere and for a second, I thought he didn't want to be here in case anyone asked me about the guy who save me, fearing that if people knew he had helped someone like me, it would hurt his reputation a great deal. But I try not to believe that.

Of course Hayley and Andrew knew everything. They had spent the night in my house and accompanying me when mom had to leave. Mom had wanted to stay home with me, but I know how work is important for the both of us, and I had insisted that she go. Andrew was quiet, for once. And I was grateful that had been willing to help.

I have no idea, though, why everyone seeme to hate me now, more so than ever. What did I ever do to them anyway? The last lesson was cancelled and I was at my locker, keeping my books when Lucy and Melissa with their group of friends came up to me. I rolled my eyes at them. Seriously? I am so tired of dealing with their shit. I wished they could just leave me alone.

Lucy's face was pink with anger and Melissa looked at me with eyes almost bulding out of her eye sockets. I assumed it must be about how I made the police arrest Colton, so when the exact words leave her trashy mouth, I couldn't believe my own ears.

"You fucking slut! You did it, didn't you? You seduced him and when Noah caught you, you said Colton was trying to hurt you! You cunt!" Lucy shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at me. She was crying, but I couldn't care less.

"Then of course you tried to seduce Noah, too. You trashy wench." Melissa contributed.

We had everyone's attention now and from the corner of my eyes I saw Hayley and Andrew step forward and they both stood beside me.

"I don't care what you want to think about me," I started, shrugging my shoulders. "I know what really happened. Noah know and so does Colton. Especially Colton."

"You lie. Everything you've ever said were lies." Lucy sobbed.

"You're a whore, dirty and filthy slut. Just like your mother." Melissa spat.

I didn't say anything. I attacked.

I lunged at her, claws first. I could feel Melissa's skin under my nails as my fingers scratched down the side of her face. She screamed in pain and I heard Lucy screamed too. Melissa fell onto the floor, blood on her pretty little face. As I step back, I tried to regain my breathing and watch Melissa on the floor, crying, her face ruined. There was a slight guilt in my chest, but she deserved it for talking about my mother like that.

Her friends crowded around her, and someone had apparently called a teacher, because soon Mr Wolsey came and asked some people to bring her to the nurse and turning to face me, he glared. With just a gesture with this head, he made me follow him.

Straight to the principal's office.

When mom arrived at the principal's office, she didn't look at me. In fact, she acted as if I wasn't even there. My heart jumped a beat. Mom had never been this upset with me before. I know was I did was despicable, but Melissa's mouth deserved it, and her face had to pay for it.

"Your daughter has to be punished for using violence in the school premises, and even causing bloodshed!" Mr Jeffrey, the Principal, was saying, incredulous.

"I'm aware, and I am so very sorry for what Breanna has done." My mother pleaded.

"Melissa Hudson's father will be enraged. Because of your daughter, Mr Hudson will have a bad impression on us." My Jeffrey continued, causing my mother to shake her head.

"And you will allow bullying to continue in this school as long as the bully is a rich person's daughter and the victim the less wealthy?" She asked, her polite voice poisonous.

Mr Jeffrey didn't know what to say for awhile. He opened his mouth to say something , but it seemed like words have escaped him. "Mrs Wade, I'm sorry to say that your daughter will be suspended from school for the whole month."

My mother got up from her seat and nodded at Mr Jeffrey, and then she said, "And I am sorry to say that I am very unimpressed with how you handle your school. My opinion do matter, does it not? And if not, is it because I'm not as rich as Mr Hudson?"

With that, my mom called me and led me out of the office, but before the door closed behind me, I could see Mr Jeffrey's reddening face, shaking his head.

Once outside, there was a loud burst of murmurs coming from thr students who I assumed had seen the incident. Neither Lucy nor Melissa was among the crowd. Mom walked straight ahead, but I was too aware of the dirty looks everyone was giving me. Then towards the entrance, I locked eyes with the eyes I've looked into so many times I actually recognized his swirling greens and calm blue. Noah stood where my mom just passed. There was something in his expression, something I have never seen before, unlike his proud and egoist self.

He was looking at me as if he longed to wrap me in his arms.