I'll Sing For Me

25

Steph and I walked in to the school. I had developed a habit with my piercing and my tongue, running my tongue along the back of it. Steph and I were linked in our arms when she stopped short, calling out to Tommy.

Tommy turned to us and smiled, walking closer. I let Steph leave my grip and we went towards our home room. Eventually, Dean joined us and he and I walked behind the two love birds.

I dug in to my bag, looking for the small piece of paper I placed in this morning.

"Did you end up getting in any trouble from yesterday?" Dean asked me.

I frowned, concerned for the whereabouts of the piece of paper and shook my head.

"There isn't much mum can do when it comes to Beth. She isn't her legal guardian." Steph cut in, turning around and walking backwards.

I shrugged then. "If Ally wants to punish me for fighting or getting suspended, I'll take it. She has done more for me in the past year than my parents ever have."

Steph gave me a small smile and turned around again, taking Tommy's hand. I finally found the piece of paper and fixed my bag up.

"Here." I said to Dean, holding my closed hand out to him.

Dean accepted it and saw the small piece of paper in his hand. Unfolding it, he looked from me to the paper. "What's this?" He asked me.

"My phone number." I stated as we got to the classroom. Steph and Tommy had parted ways and without a second glance to Dean, I went in to the classroom.

I took my usual seat next to Steph and before the teacher could even speak out the daily announcements, the door opened and Mr Walker, the head principal walked in.

We all went quiet, watching his eyes roam over the room before they fell on to me. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"Oh shit." I breathed out.

"Elizabeth Hooper. A word." He said calmly.

It took me a couple seconds to register that it was my name he said and I got up, taking my bag with me. I looked behind me to Steph and Dean, pulling a weird face and shrugging my shoulders before I left.

I followed Mr Walker to the admin block then to his office before he offered me a seat. I sat nervously, pulling my beanie down, waiting for whatever he had to say.

"Now, Miss Hooper. I've been going through your files. Your reports from the past few days have dropped, stating you've become disruptive in class, fighting, your grades are dropping. You have always been a well applied student ever since you started here."

My mouth opened to talk but no words would form. I knew all he said was true. I was a really good student. Then I slipped. But many things came in between me and my passion of learning. Many things that I like and want. What I crave for, normalcy.

"All this begun about a month ago. Your teachers have noticed that you were always a quiet girl, always ready to learn, eager to learn in fact until a month ago."

I frowned, trying to think of everything that happened a month ago. Many things have happened, good and bad.

"The one thing the staff have noticed is your relationship with someone."

Oh, I think I know what this is about. I went to say something but Mr Walker continued.

"A friendship with Dean Stevens is not the smartest choice to make, Miss Hooper."

I blinked blankly at him.

"Dean is a troubled student. He is very disruptive, has anger issues and not the best person to have around as he is a bad influence."

I was still dumbfounded. I took the end of my braid and played with the ends.

"I hope this change in your appearance has nothing to do with this boy. You do understand the school policy on piercings, don't you?"

I shook my head, frowning even more.

"Deans fighting is a misunderstanding, sir." I finally managed to say. "I was getting bullied." Was my soft voice.

"If you are getting bullied, then you need to see the school staff, not going to a boy to fight for you. Until last week, your record was clean."

"If you are going to reprimand me on my squeaky clean record and wanting to dust skeletons out of the closet, sir, with all respect, maybe you should start looking at the other students."

Mr Walkers face twitched and I knew I mad him cross. "Such as who?"

"I can name a few, sir. I want to go back to class."

"Not yet. Who are you talking about?"

"Lisa Cavendish, sir."

Mr Walker frowned. "No, I don't think so."

I sighed before letting out a chuckle. "Your star student, Lisa is the whole reason why I left school a few weeks ago. Her assaulting me, harassing me with her nasty words nearly killed me. I nearly committed suicide because of her! So do not sit there and state which students are good and which are bad!" I stood up. I was yelling now. "Lisa and her friends bully me, assault me, harass me all the time and Dean Stevens, the school bad boy, the school loner defended me! He was protecting me!" Was my scream before I went out the door, slamming it. I kept walking away. I wasnt going back to class however, I was seeking out Diane, the guidance officer.

I'm over all the bad people in my life getting away with their shit. I'm always the victim and I've had enough.