Friends Don't Kiss, Do They?

Chapter 22

If I had a choice of not having to attend school on Monday, I would. At first Mom thought I should go back on Tuesday, wanting to make sure I was well-rested before going back, but figured attending school will be good for me. I wasn't sure how in what way it would be good for me considering Samantha will do anything to ruin my day. But I guess she saw how happy I was after shopping for formal dresses with my friends yesterday that she figured I would be alright to attend school.

I hadn't been on Facebook for three days, so I had no idea what nasty insults and rumours Samantha has posted about me. As I walked into the school grounds I felt like the wicked witch may have said things, but I wasn't too sure. My classmates were aware of me fainting in homeroom, but none of them knew the reason why, and I knew Samantha would have come up with her own story like she always does.

I don't see her in the morning, and I'm glad. I do see Matt. We made eye contact across the grounds, but we don't say anything or come near each other.

The morning was slow as Math was the first subject of the day for me. But luckily I was able to get out of class when I was called to the principal's office. My first thought was I was probably in trouble for something, but had no idea what for. I have never been called to the principal's office for anything before.

Mr Maxwell smiles at me as I enter his office. "Good morning, Hailey." He gestures towards the chair in front of his desk. "Take a seat."

I obey his request and take a seat. "Am I in trouble for something?"

He shakes his head. "No, you're not, Hailey. I just called you into my office to ask you a few questions about something that apparently has been going on for a long time."

A strange feeling appears in the bit of my stomach.

"Your mother called this morning to inform me that you had been a victim of bullying by Samantha Miller," he continues on. "Mrs O'Hare has also spoken to me about some of the things that have been happening these past weeks due to the things Samantha has been doing, but has been unaware about it until Saturday when you approached her on the weekend."

I had a sudden nausea and I felt like I was going to throw up at any moment. Why had Mom approached my principal about this? Samantha is going to kill me.

"Am I in trouble for approaching Mrs O'Hare after school hours?" I ask, concerned.

He shakes his head. He opens the draw beside him and pulls out a notepad, setting it on the table. He picks up a pen that's sitting on his desk. "No, no, Hailey. You aren't in trouble for that at all. It's a good thing you have told someone." He scribbles something on his notepad. "Do you want to tell me what has been happening, Hailey?"

I sit there staring at him, unsure what to say. At the back of my mind a voice tells me to keep silent and don't tell. I know he is the principal, and he may be able to put a stop to what Samantha has been doing, but I'm sure she will find a way to torture me. She will probably also find a way to get out of this.

Repeating the things she has done is not something I wanted to discuss. I much rather forget them than remember them.

"Hailey? Do you want to tell me what has been happening?"

"If I tell you, Samantha will do something horrible to me."

"Like what?"

I shrug. "I don't know. Whatever she wants to do to me."

"Well, I can assure you, Hailey, that Samantha will be hold a countable for her actions. Since there is only a week until you graduate, I'm not sure yet what punishment I will be giving her."