Precious

You Can't Get What You Want Part 3

The rest of my Thursday was filled with planning and anxiety with Nikki. But no stress compared to the amount I had due to the events which occurred on Friday.

While I had asked to change her schedule to mine, in the three days I had given her to do so, she had not yet accomplished her mission. This made me concerned she wasn't as adept as I had originally suspected, but she swore it was because the front desk was giving her a hard time. She asked me to help her change her schedule on that Friday morning. So, that was what I was on my way to do right before class.

I entered the office and waiting by the tiny little desk in the front office. Was that Nikki I heard arguing with the principal?

"I don't see why you would need to change your classes to match all of Estella's." I heard Principal Jean's faint voice in the background. "I honestly don't believe it would benefit her academically in any way to have you there. And besides, this is school, not a summer camp at Ocean Reef." Principal Jean said.

"But, principal Jean! I-"

"No buts! Do you have any idea how many girls have come in here and have asked to change their schedules to hers? It's ridiculous. She's a regular student just like everyone else, and just because she happens to be very popular doesn't mean I'm just going to let everyone change their schedules to-" I walked in and interrupted Mrs. Jean to save Nikki's ass.

"I'm sorry to barge in but I overheard my name being called and thought you were talking about me, I'll just go now." I said, knowing the principal would beg me to stay.

"No, Estella, stay. Nikki was just leaving anyways." Principal Jean said, putting Nikki's schedule down.

"I couldn't help but overhear that Nikki wanted to transfer her classes to mine?" I pretended to wonder.

"That's correct." She said.

"Well, I talked to her about this originally and I think coming back here would be so much easier if I had just one friend in every class." I said as convincing as I could.

"Yes, you make a fair point Estella. But what about Natalia? Wasn't she a very good friend of yours as well?" My principal reminded me.

"Yes, but Natalia and I are no longer friends and I find myself being-" I tried to collect my thoughts to give the most convincing argument possible, "assaulted by some of the students, who are complete strangers to me, with questions – I think they feel bad for me since I don't have any friends in any of my classes." I looked at the floor and took on the role of a kicked puppy. "I feel like that would be less of a problem if I had at least one friend in all my classes that already knew me, because people would no longer feel obliged to ask me questions out of - pity." I took a breath and waited for her reaction.

"I see." Her lips formed a tight line and her highs seemed to shine a bit in the light – tears? I could only hope...

But just in case that hadn't made her sure of what she was supposed to decide there was always another route...

"I want Nikki in all of my classes, and I think my parents would back me up on this, one hundred percent." I smiled. "Are my parents still donating your million-dollar salary?"

She remained silent and in my impatience I kept speaking.

"You get the first check in October, right?" I paused and looked up at the ceiling as I remembered the details of the agreement my parents made with RGC to let me back in, after Natalia caused a shit show for me in middle school. RGC originally refused to let me back in, but my mother had to pander after Principal Jean so I could return. It was embarrassing.  "Two-hundred grand? In five parts? Something like that. Anyways, if you let Nikki change her schedule, I'm sure they could send you your first check sooner. But, of course Principal Jean, it's your call." I smiled as sincerely as one would possibly be able to after directly threatening their principal.