Anger Issues

seventy one

Jessica

"Where do I start?" I spoke after seconds. "Who told you about the party?" He asked.

I gulped. I couldn't bring Kyle into the mess, too.

"A text went around," I lied. "From?" He questioned. I shrugged. "I don't remember. I deleted it," I said.

He sighed. "Tell us what happened when you two arrived at the party," he said.

"We didn't recognize anybody.." I started. Kayla stared blankly at the desk, but I could tell she was listening. After all, she was too drunk to remember anything now.

"So we started walking around, and talking to a few people," I spoke while trying to put together a story in my head. It was hard, but I managed.

"After a little bit, one of Kayla's friends arrived. We talked for a little bit, but then we all separated," I said. "And I wasn't able to see her since," I added.

"How did you get home?" He asked me. "I.. I had an Uber," I stuttered, knowing I shouldn't mention Austin.

"So, from my understanding, you two arrived together, met a friend, separated, and you left?" He asked. "I tried finding them and calling them, but it was really crowded and too loud for them to hear their phones," I explained.

The principal was about to speak, but Mrs. Rivers beat him to it.

"May I?" She asked him. He nodded. She turned to me, as I turned to her. Kayla still didn't look at either of us, yet she had tears slowly streaming down her cheeks.

My heart broke. This was all my fault.

"Kayla was extremely drunk when she got home," she said. "How?" She questioned.

I was stumped. Truly lost all my excuses on that one.

"I.." I paused. "We accepted offers," I lied.

Of all the fucking lies I could've told, I told that one. Really?

"Were you peer pressured into the situation?" Mr. P asked. "Not exactly," I slowly said.

He nodded, finishing up the writing I didn't even know he started.

"I've received a file of the video," he said. Kayla's attention was immediately grabbed. She looked up and shook her head.

"By who?" She asked. That was the first time since the video, that I heard her voice.

"I can't say who gave it to me," he shook his head. "What video?" Mrs. Rivers asked.

I leaned back into the chair. There was no way out of this one.

"Please don't," Kayla softly said. "What is this video?" Mrs. Rivers impatiently questioned.

Mr. P shot a sympathetic glare at Kayla, before turning his computer screen towards Mrs. Rivers.

The video played, and showed exactly what we had already seen.

Kayla covered her face and started silently crying even harder. Mrs. Rivers was at complete shock. She looked angry, confused, and so much more, all at once.

When the video ended, he turned the screen away. Nothing was said from the three of us.

"Mrs. Rivers, we want you to know that this school is completely accepting of anyone," he stated, looking at the both of them.

"Why are you telling me this?" Mrs. Rivers asked. I looked at her questionably.

"I just wanted to make sure you knew that no negativity will be tolerated against your daughter, or anyone else," he said.

"There won't be. You don't need to lecture her on her sexual orientation," Mrs. Rivers argued.

This was really happening.. Kayla was right.

"Mom," Kayla tried speaking, but couldn't finish.

"She was drunk. It doesn't count," she argued. "Mrs. Rivers, I think it's up to Kayla to decide-" "Kayla knows what she knows. She's not and never was anything but straight. Drunk actions are not justifiable," she said.

Kayla bit her lip, saying nothing. Even I was at a loss of words. I wanted to stick up for her but I genuinely had no words to say.

There was a long pause. "Kayla.." Mr. P looked at her.

She wiped her eyes and cleared her throat.

"She's right," she nodded. "I was too drunk."

"Kayla.." I softly said.

"I was drunk, Jess," she turned to me, speaking harshly. She continued with the same tone. "That's all it was."