All Roads Lead Home (Book #1)

Chapter 12

I always hate meeting new people; especially people who try to start fights with me. I know I'm supposed to be on my best behaviour, and I have been for the last two weeks. But when a group of girls have been trying to get under my skin since day one in this school, it's hard.

"Hey new girl. Come here for a second."

I turn around to face the voice who called me. "I have a name you know. What the hell do you even want? I have a class to get ready for. I don't have time for your shit. Got it?" I turn to walk towards my locker.

"So, I hear your dad got shot," she says as she hops off the table. "What was he doing? Smuggling drugs? Robbing a store? Huh? So what crime was he committing? I bet it was the drugs. You seem like you were around that..."

I take a threatening step towards her. "Actually, my dad got shot because he was stopping a store robbery. He was a cop and a damn good one too. Thanks a lot for bringing it back up. I just got that memory of seeing my dad in a casket out of my head," I turn to walk away again.

She scoffs. "He couldn't have been that good if he was shot," she says as she laughs, her friends joining in.

I take a few steps towards her again. I'm directly in front of her now and her friends' laughter stops mid breath. I'm a good half a foot taller than her so she's forced to look up at me now. She licks her lips when she looks right into my eyes.

"Do you know what it's like to lose the only family you have left in this world who loves you? What it's like to bury your dad before your 18th birthday? Screw you and your sick sense of twisted humour. Do me a favour and go bug someone who fucking cares about what's floating around in the pretty little head of yours."

I call her a bitch under my breath, hoping she doesn't hear me as I turn to walk away again. I don't need her starting any trouble. I just want to get through these next two weeks without any trouble and then I'll be back home.

"What did you call me?" she screeches as I take another step away. I cringe at the sound she managed to generate.

"Hey new girl, I asked you a question!" she yells as she reaches out and grabs my arm through my jacket. I whip around and grab her arm, bending it at the wrist.

"Are you going to back off? Because I have no problem breaking your wrist if you'd like. Then you can always be known as the girl who lost to the new girl," I say as I look down at her.

I can see the fear and questioning in her eyes. She's trying to decide if I can actually break her wrist or not. "Your choice Ashley. What are you going to do?" I ask as I out some more pressure on her wrist.

"I'll leave you alone. Just please don't break my wrist. I have a competition this weekend." I smirk as I release her arm. She holds it to her chest, cradling it like a bird holds its injured wing.

"Good. Now leave me alone. I'm not someone you want to mess with right now. The school counselor said I was... What were the words she used again? Oh yeah - unstable and volatile," I say as I smile at her. I turn and start walking away for the last time when I hear my name being called.

"Miss. Blaine. My office. Now!" Damn. The principal saw that whole thing.

"Yes sir. I'm coming," I say as I turn back around. Ashley's smiling at me. This should be fun.

I follow behind Principal Brown as we make our way through the groups of students towards his office.

"Take a seat," he says as he heads to a filing cabinet. Opening a drawer, he pulls a file out and sits down behind his desk. I simply nod and sit in a chair opposite his. He adjusts his tie and clears his throat before speaking again.

"Miss. Blaine, do you mind telling me what I just witnessed back in the cafeteria?"

"That was me defending myself, Principal Brown. She was verbally assaulting me and then she grabbed me. I was only doing what I was taught to do," I say as I look at him. "She has no right to..."

"Trust me, I know what Ashley can be like. It doesn't surprise me that she picked you as a target simply because you're new," he says as he picks the file up off his desk and flips through it quickly. I can only guess that it's mine. "I'm just a little surprised that I haven't had to have you in here prior to today. Why is that do you think?" he asks.

"I've only been here for two weeks sir. I'm not a violent person and I keep to myself as much as possible. I haven't done anything prior to today to warrant a visit to you. But Ashley crossed the line today with everything she was saying about my..." I stop talking suddenly and look quickly towards the window, a small tear forming in the corner of my eye. "Never mind. It doesn't matter."

"Was she talking about your father, Miss. Blaine?" he asks as he looks at a page in the file.

I nod my head in response.

"What exactly was she saying?"

"Nothing that I want to repeat if that's okay with you sir. It just brings back memories I'd rather forget," I say as I wring my fingers together.

He looks at me for a few moments, lips pursed. He sighs when he realizes I'm done talking about it. "Okay. But you realize I'll have to call your foster parents about this, right?"

"Do you have to? Can't you let me off with a warning or something?" I ask. He can't tell them. Who knows how they'll react.

"I'm sorry Miss. Blaine, but it's policy with all students who are brought in here," he says as he picks up the receiver.

"Whatever," I say as start to walk out of the office. As I reach the door of the outer office, I hear him talking to Mike. This should be a fun night back at the house.