Zero

Chapter 12: Ashton

~Ashton's Point of View~

Ms. Pluex left a little while ago. She said she's going to the bathroom to get herself together after what Thalia told her. I can't believe that Elizabeth's parents and sister are gone. It's crazy how people are here one second and then gone the next.

After awhile Principle Rhodes comes back out with a ticked off Jacob behind him. "Mr. McReynolds, please come with me." Rhodes says. I get up from my chair and walk past Jacob, who's face seems to be fixed in a permanent scowl. "How'd it go buddy?" I whisper, walking past him and patting him on the shoulder. "I hate you and your little heifer." He spits out at me. My body tenses and I close my hands into fists. "Say that again." I tell him, turning around and facing him when Principle Rhodes walks into his office.

"What's wrong? Are you gonna beat my ass like your dad does your's?" He whispers. I feel the air escape out of my lungs. I hesitate before answering. "-What are you talking about?" "Don't play dumb Reynolds. I'm not an idiot. You never let anyone come over not even Jessica when you two were together, you don't go out as often as you used to, you come to the locker room with bruises on your body and some made up crap answer when anybody asks about them. Everybody knows your dad has anger issues. Nobody knew he took it out on you." He whispers. He begins to turn away before remembering something. "Oh and you want to know what I told your little heifer? You should be honored really, I was making fun of you and she stood up for you. Guess cows have feelings to, huh?" He finishes and walks out of the office.

"Mr. McReynolds, are you okay?" Principle Rhodes asks, coming back out of his office. I unclench my fists, and look at my palms which now have little crescent shapes in them. Trying to get my breathing under control, I turn around and give Principle Rhodes a smile. "I'm fine." He smiles brightly at me. "Good. Now let's go have a look at your personal files."

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"And you promise this won't affect me being valedictorian, right?" I ask Principle Rhodes for the millionth time. He laughs and shakes his head. "I promise. Since this is your first and only disruption, you are excused." "Thank you so much." I tell him, standing up and shaking his hand. "Have a good day Mr. Reynolds." "You too." I say before closing his office door. By now Ms. Pluex is back in her chair typing, quite angrily, at her keyboard. "Are you okay Ms. Pluex?" I ask, trying to make her feel better. "No. I just got off the phone a little while ago." She says tersely. "When a student is absent from a class, an e-mail is sent to their parents letting them know their child wasn't here. The parent who I was on the phone with insists that their daughter is at school today." She says, still typing angrily. "Who's parent was it?" I ask, not really caring but still making conversation. She stops typing and takes off her glasses, rubbing the lenses on her blouse. "Elizabeth's." She spits out. "What? But I tho-." I begin before she cuts me off.

"Yes I thought they and Vanessa were dead, but it turns out that Ms. Stevenson was lying." She says putting her glasses back on and continues typing. Of course Thalia would lie about that. She probably said that so her and Elizabeth could go to some sale at Rue 21. "Well, have a good day." I tell her, walking out of the office. I hear her mumble something in return.

"Mr. McReynolds!" I turn to see Mrs. Brown, my AP English teacher, speed walking towards me with a file in her hand. "Just the boy I was looking for." She says catching up to me. "Yes?" I ask, wanting to get home before Dad. "Since you were busy with...other things." She says glancing at the office. She hands me the folder. "This is your last English assignment of the year. You are to make a video about someone you have admired during your 4 years in high school. Every senior has the same project and you will all present them at graduation." She says quickly. "Okay. Thank you." I say grabbing the folder from her hands. "Have a good day." She says turning away.