I'll Fly Someday

Chapter 5

Reasons To Deny

Two security guards ran in and tore Anna away from me. Finally! I sat up and rubbed my backside. There's going to be a bruise there for sure. I tried to get up but I slumped back. I forgot that my feet fell asleep. A student rushed to me and helped me up. It was Regina.

"You two are coming with us." one of the guards said to us and collected Anna's backpack. Regina bent over to get mine and helped me out of class. It only took a few steps for my feet to wake up again but I pretended I was still in need of help. Why refuse help if it's for no charge? I tried not to lean on her much as we walked.

"Thanks." I muttered when the office came into view. I stood up straight and took my backpack from her. "I'm good." I smiled even though it hurts to try. She looked at me in surprise. Well not at me, but at my throat. She refused to make eye contact. She was about to leave, but I grabbed her arm. "Stay. We might need you as a witness."

In the office, I sat beside the principal while Anna sat with a box of tissues in her hands and two other guards beside her. Regina sat beside me. It was a wise choice. If I were to sit beside Anna, something might happen. Mr. Westling frowned at me. "Lyza, I wasn't expecting you here. Would you care to explain?" he started.

"I didn't like that way Anna was talking. I guess I said something uncalled for then she attacked me." I said simply. "Just to let you know, I didn't throw the first hit."

"She's lying, Principal Westling!" Anna cried. "That bitch is lying!"

"Watch your language." He hissed. The principal turned his chair to face her. "What's your side of the story, Anna?" he asked in an evenly calm voice. She began crying, making the whole situation seeming like it's all my fault, which I bet is the main reason why she is.

"Principal Westling, it was just terrible." she proclaimed. "I was only trying to get to know her. I asked to see her sketch. She allowed me. I examined it and said she could've done better. Next thing I knew, she punched me!" she cried, a bit of tear swelled from her eyes. I rolled my eyes. I knew this trick very well. If you lived with my mother, you would know when people tears are real or fake just by looking.

Mr. Westling looked between us to find out who was telling the truth. "Now I'm not sure who attacked who but I might need more than one person to clarify what happened." he said, glancing at Regina. She looked like she regretted coming here.

We all had to wait while Ms. Reagan came to help clarify the situation. "I was at my desk when I suddenly saw Anna attacking Lyza. I thought I was having a heartattack." Ms. Reagan proclaims. She looked at me with worried eyes. "Lyza, why did you provoke her?"

I shrugged and reached in my backpack for my voice recorder. "I only said a few words to express myself in front of her and suddenly she attacks me." I said. I placed it on the table an pushed the replay button. Everyone was quiet while it played. Regina looked hurt while Anna looked like she was about to cry.

Principal Westling turned his head to face Anna. "Anna, please explain what I just heard."

To my luck, she was clammed shut. It was a really pitiful scene. He was definitely furious, clearly, because I saw his clenched fist shaking. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you are suspended for physical and verbal bullying for a month. Your parents will be notified of this nonsense."

Anna gasped and complained, but it only made things worst. Mr. Westling sent me off with a light warning. Ms. Reagan walked by me and assured me my protection here at school. We made a quick stop by the nurse's office to get me patched up. I had a bandage on my left cheek, my collarbone, and several on my arms. When we got back to class, everyone was buzzing with curiosity, but nobody dug too deep to care. It was just another fight to entertain them. Nothing more.

I sat back down to my previous seat. I glanced the familiar crumpled piece of paper on the shelf. I sighed. My beautiful piece of art is down the waste bin. But then again it's just a piece of paper. If I could do it once, I probably could do it again.

I don't know if it's just out of pure coincidence but from the corner of my eye, Regina came over and sat beside me. She didn't say anything. Instead, she just sat there and colored her sketchpad. I suppose she's trying draw a phoenix out of crayons, which I suppose is great too. I reached for the crumbled piece of paper and unraveled it. The drawing still looked nice, but the wrinkles ruined it. I sighed. Could be worse, I thought to myself.

"That looks pretty."

I looked at Regina with surprise. She didn't look at me, but her hands were moving along really fast. "Thanks. I thought so too."

She broke into a small laugh but stopped short. "Why is it all crumbled?"

"Ask Anna."

She didn't reply back but she stopped coloring for a bit. She stared at the piece of paper, then back at me, for the first time. "Can I have it?" She asked after minutes passed.

"Go ahead," I said. I was going to throw it away later anyways, I thought to myself. I gave it to her and we spent the rest of the fifteen minutes doing whatever we were doing.

When the bell rang, Regina only smiled at me then left. I didn't care. I wasn't in the mood to make new friends anymore.

I walked around the campus. People stared at me, starting new fresh rumors. Oh yeah. I forgot to put my cap back on. Oh well. I'm used to this. I learned much more than most people my age does.

They don't know me and I don't know them.

I went and sat behind a building and rested my head against the wall. It was cool and quiet. It was until I heard footsteps, followed by rough voices and a strong smell of cigarettes. Great. Here comes company.