Mistaken - Book One Of The Closecall Series - (PUBLISHED ON AMAZON!)

Ch.4 Personal Torture

     "Time for school Caitlin."
     Caitlin opened her eyes and instantly shielded her face from the brightness of the light coming from her ceiling. Her eyes burned from lack of sleep as she looked at her dad standing in the doorway. She'd lay awake for hours last night, her brain just wouldn't shut down. After she'd finally fallen asleep, she'd tossed and turned all night, her dreams haunted by yesterdays events. And it had all been for nothing because she still hadn't decided if she should tell her dad or not, even now the thoughts of not telling him nagged at her brain, but why upset him over nothing? It was nothing, right?
       "Wakey, wakey, sleepy head," he said as he flipped the light switch up and down causing the light above to flicker.
      "I'm up I'm up," she said waving her arm in surrender.
       "You know the rule. Put your feet on the floor and I'll go away."
      "Fine, fine. Just stop torturing me with that light or I think I'm gonna scream," she said throwing her legs over the edge of the bed and standing up.

     "What time did you go to bed? You have bags under your eyes."
      "Nine I think? I just didn't sleep well thinking about an upcoming volleyball game. Nothing a little makeup and coffee can't fix."
      "Whatever you say darlin, just try not to fall asleep in class," he said with his face wrinkled in a look of concern.
     "I won't," she stated with more certainty than she felt.
     Caitlin excited the car with her hands wrapped around a half empty cup of coffee, her second cup. She slowly trudged towards the cafeteria where she hoped to get a small nap before classes started. As soon as she pushed the doors open she knew that wasn't gonna happen, Megan and the principle waited for her. 
     "Hello Caitlin, we've been waiting for you," the principal said with a stern expression.
     "Why?" she responded lazily, too tired to be bother with confusion, or concern, or to really even care. She was keeping secrets from her father, what could the principle possibly have to say that'd be worse than that?
     "We'll talk in my office."
     Caitlin and Megan quietly sat down across from Principle Rose and waited as she typed on the keypad of her computer.
     "What is this?" she asked turning her computer screen towards them.

      Megan and I looked up at the screen. Seeing she had our attention, she hit a button on the keypad. We watched as a video started to play. It was us and a bunch of other kids in the hallway yesterday before our last class. 
     "Maybe not what it looks like?" Megan answered.
     "Really? What does it look like?"
     "I-I don't know." Megan stammered nervously and looked to me for help, I continued to sit there quietly.
      "It looks like, y'all jumped into the middle of a fight," she answered for us.
     "We-we were just trying to brake it up," she stated franticly.
     "Is that what you're supposed to do?" she asked sternly.
      "Um... I don't know."
      "Well for future reference, the answer is no. You're supposed to report it to a teacher. You are both to sit in ISS for the rest of the day. Go to your classes, gather your work, and report there. Now," she said looking at us expectantly. 
      "And girls," she stopped us on our way out. "Don't let this happen again."
      "Yes mam," we responded in unison, before continuing on our way.
     "Thanks for the help," Me accused once we were back in the hallway.
     "Sorry," I said blankly.
     "Are you okay? Is it your parents?"
     "No, I'm fine, just tired."
     "Okay."

They went to their classes and then to ISS, just like they were told. ISS, well this sucked. Now she'd have pretty much the whole day to think, wasn't that just great. They signed in, found their cubicles, and started their work.
      Today when Megan asked if she was walking home the answer was simple, no.The look on  Megan's face told her she was hoping they'd talk about what was bothering her, but instead Caitlin gave her more silence. If she couldn't tell her dad, she didn't want to tell anyone. The bus stopped at her driveway and she happily got off, she even forgot to wave bye to Megan in her haste. Finally a little bit of time to herself, but all she wanted to do was sleep. She was totally exhausted from the all out war going on in her brain, she laid down on the couch and took a nap. 
    When Caitlin woke up about an hour later, she could hear the news playing. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the exact same picture of the truck that had been floating in her mind all evening. The truck shed seen yesterday afternoon.