Collateral Damage

- THIRTY EIGHT -

I bided farewell to Matilda as I practically skipped back towards the cafeteria. I don't understand how she could ever accept me, I guess she is more like Dimitri than I originally thought. I glanced up at the statue of Saint Vladimir's as I walked past it, it's so crazy to think that 17 years ago this place was just an oversized castle and now it is a more modern place. It's like the academy is its own little town.

I walked into the kitchen of the cafeteria to find Christian sitting at a table playing cards with Adrian. I sat between them, "Having fun?" I said.

"You're in a good mood today," Christian said, looking at me and I smiled a true smile.

"Well I'm not surprised have you seen Janine's face? I asked her about it and she said that Rose hit her, not once but twice."

"It's been a long time coming," I laughed, "And then I went and spoke to Tilly."

"How did that go?" Adrian asked, blowing out a puff of smoke from his cigarette. I didn't think you were allowed to smoke on the premises but then when did Adrian ever play by the rules?

"Not bad, she told me that she wanted to try and make things work. I guess it's understandable considering I haven't really been a mother. But she is more willing than I ever was to be a part of my mother's life."

"She'll come around," Christian said, smiling at me.

"Yeah she is a good kid," Adrian agreed, "How's things with Dimitri?" Adrian asked, turning the conversation on its head.

"We haven't spoken since we got back, but I guess we are friends," I said, taking a drink from Christian's glass. I don't trust Adrian's.

"That's good," Christian said.

"Yeah," I agreed standing from the seat, "I'm going to go. It looks like you two are having fun so I'll leave you to it."

I walked out the door, not really wanting the discussion about Dimitri to change my good mood. So I decided to go Lissa's to tell her all about today's events.

I tapped on the front door a few times as I waited for her to answer the door. I was met with the blue eyes of Charlotte. I had forgotten how icy they were. "Hi," I said, giving her an awkward smile, "Is your mother home?" I asked.

"No, sorry," she said, her voice was pretty like Lissa's, "She's in a meeting."

Oh right. I forgot she was the principal.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, "Don't you have class." She shrugged her shoulders brushing off my question. I frowned at her reaction. I stared at her for a second before recognising the look, it's the same expression Lissa used to have when Mia used to bully her. "Are you okay?" I asked giving her a concerned look. I remembered her telling me about the girl who was picking on her.

"Yeah, I guess," she said, looking at her feet and then back to me.

There is no way I'm going to let this go. "Want to go for a walk? We can go to mine and I can show you embarrassing photos of your mother?" I asked, just wanting to get her out of the house.

"Okay," she smiled and we began our pursuit back to my apartment. "So how long have you known my mother?" she eventually asked.

"Most of my life, since I was about 5," I said smiling at the memory.

She nodded her head along with me, "And Tilly is your daughter," there we go, I knew that was coming.

"Yes," I said, my smile falling, "She is my daughter. I had her when I was eighteen."

She nodded again, "Tilly and I are really good friends. She lived with us until Andrew was born then she got a shared dorm with people her own age. She is everyone's friend, everyone loves her."

"I'm glad you two are friends Char," I said, replied smiling down at her genuinely.

"Me too," she muttered, her sentence was cut short as she glanced over towards a group of girls giggling and laughing. They must have been around Charlotte's age.

"Are they the girls that have been giving you a hard time?" I asked, looking down at her. She nodded her head and I shook my head. "Just keep walking," I said, encouraging her to ignore them. They laughed harder as we continued to walk, I stopped in my tracks and looked down on her. She watched her shoes intently. "Wait here," I said as I walked towards the girls.

"They stepped aside revealing who must be the leader of the herd. "What is your problem?" I said stopping in front of the blonde headed girl. A rush of de ja vu ran over me as I took in her stance.

"Nothing," she shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest and giving me the fakest smile, "What's the point of bullying someone? Giggling at them from across the school? It doesn't make you funny, it makes you look pathetic. What a sad life it must be when the only thing you are good at, is saying meaningless things. You know, underneath your caked on makeup and designer Barbie clothes is a little girl afraid of not fitting in. You are fake and so are your little shadows. You say they are your friends but I'm sure they would dump you if they knew how you really were deep down. It's not that hard to be nice."

"What? Are you standing up for her? She is a 'nobody' in this school and she should know it."

"She," I said matter of factly, "Is twice the person you are. How about you leave her alone. Bullying is not a reflection of your personality hunny its' a reflection of your lack of. The next time you go to say something hurtful, mean or in any-way disrespectful, I hope you choke on the shit you talk.

Her smile fell as I walked back towards Charlotte, "What did you say to them?" she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders, "It doesn't really matter. Now, how about those photo's?"