Breaking Free

Chapter 12

"Taylor Evans," the secretary in the principles office calls. Amelia is walking out now with here parents, giving me the coldest stare I've ever seen as she cradles the spot on her hair where I tore out her soft brown hair.

I stand nervously, and walk into the principles office.

Mrs. Wilkes, our principal, has to be one of the scariest women I have ever seen. Her dark brown hair is pulled into a tight bun that rest on the top of her hair. She has thin black glasses which her sharp green eyes seem to cut through as she stairs at me. She is sitting behind a desk, but it's obvious that she is tall and thin. She means business, clothed in a black skirt suit that goes just above her knees. If she didn't choose this job, she could easily have been a model. Yet the air around her seems more dignified than that.

"Sit," she orders, her voice cutting through the still air.

I do as she says, and look up at her with fearful eyes. I can't deal with this today- I feel as if I might erupt into tears at any moment.

"Let's cut right to the chase," she sharply states, crossing her legs under her desk. "As the principal if this school, I have certain rules I must follow. Therefore, you are suspended until next Monday, when you can return to school."

"But, miss-" I interrupt, before being cut off.

"However," she continues. "Off the record- and if you say anything about this, I will deny it- although it was wrong what you did, I'm glad you did it. That girl needs to be put in her place, and till you arrived, everyone here was too afraid to do it."

I can't believe she's actually saying these things. I chuckle, and offer a right smile. As soon as this exchange has ended, Mrs. Stone bursts through the door.

"Taylor Hayley Evans, what in the world is wrong with you," she snaps, giving me a fierce stare. "After being in jail you would think that you'd have some respect for the rules."

"I'm so sorry, it's just- she brought up

Charcoal and I sn-sn-snapped," I sniffle, feeling tears start to spill over. Mrs. Stones gaze softens, and she pulls me into a hug.

"You shouldn't be so impulsive," she mumbles into my hair.

"I know- but I can't help it. It must be in my genes or something- doing stupid things," I chuckle through my tears. For some reason, this causes her to stiffen, although she quickly recovers herself.

"Well, Mrs. Evans-" the principal starts.

"Mrs Stone," I correct

"Mrs Stone- as I told Taylor, she is suspended from school until Monday. I'l have Joy Smith deliver her homework to your house so that Taylor doesn't fall behind"

"Yes Mrs. Wilkes," she mutters. "Pleasure to meet you, although I'm not too find of the circumstances."

"And you as well."

We leave, and start to head to the parking lot. We run into Jake in the hallway, who I pull aside to talk for a moment, while Mrs. Stone stands off to the side.

"Hey, thanks for pulling me off of her before I did any more damage," I awkwardly thank.

"No problem- although I would have liked to see her get that plastic nose broken," he laughs.

"Jake that's awful," I gasp, playfully smacking his arm. "I'd ruin my sweatshirt with her blood- it's not the nicest shirt, but it is comfy."

We laugh for a minute, before I bid him goodbye.

When I get back to Mrs. Stone, she eyes me suspiciously.

"Who was he," she questions.

"That's just Jake. He's one of my friends," I blithely reply.

"Taylor- I think he might think of you as more than just a 'friend,'" she warns.

"What? Oh no- if anything, he likes Joy. I know she likes him," I laugh.

"All the more reason to be careful. Just- don't be too- flirty with him," she sputters. This is quite possibly one of the most awkward conversations I've ever had.

We climb into the car, and start to drive home in silence.

------------------

"Turn that off, they never have anything positive," I scold at Carter when he turns on the news.

He ignores me, causing me to roll my eyes. I sit beside him on the couch, snuggling into his side. Mr and Mrs Stone are sitting on the love seat across from us. Mrs. Stone has a glass if red wine in her hand, which she is sipping carefully.

'Breaking News,' a woman in the silver screen says. 'Clint Harris, the culprit behind a string of gruesome murders in Oakville over ten years ago, has escaped from the county jail. If you see this man, he is extremely dangerous and you should contact law enforcement ASAP. He claims to seek revenge in the anonymous couple who turned him in after witnessing one of his murders.'

As the woman says this, a picture of a man with the blackest eyes I've ever seem flashes across the screen.

"Oh god- this can't be happening," Mr. Stone whispers, his eyes glazed over in fear.

"We have to tell her- we can't hide this anymore," Mrs. Stone replies, her eyes fixed on me.

"Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on," I shout, my voice shakey. Carter tightens his grip on me as the room goes silence.

After a long lapse in conversation, Mrs. Stone opens her mouth to speak.

"You were never supposed to find out this way," she mutters, before she meets my eyes- and I know she's about to tell me everything.

A/N

Pictures of Flame, Ezhno, Taylor and Carter on side!