Control

Expelled

Ellie's POV:

I sat with my arms crossed, staring at the floor. My parents were standing behind me, and in the chair next to me was Bailey, whose parents were also standing behind him. Principal Witherburies was sitting in his seat behind his desk. He had just explained to our parents what he had seen - after he had called the ambulance to make sure Bailey was okay. The ambulance had also checked me and said that my lip needed stitches and that my jaw was swollen, but I refused to let them touch me. Bailey's parents looked livid, whereas mine looked weary but not surprised. 

"Well? What are you going to do about this?" Mrs Laposay demanded "This girl should be punished severely. My boy could have been extremely injured!" I refrained from rolling my eyes. He had a bruise on his arm and a red mark down the side of his leg. He was going to be fine. 

"Oh, please! His injuries aren't even that bad! Don't you blame my daughter for that! Your boy has had it out for my daughter since she first came to this school, if you're gonna blame anyone it should be him!" my mother snapped. Mrs Laposay went to say something, but Principal Witherburies spoke first.

"Ladies, I understand you are both upset. Your children have both gotten into a fight with each other and caused one another substantial injuries. They will both be punished as I see fit."

"My boy-" Mrs Laposay started to say. I looked up finally.

"Bailey punched me in the jaw hard enough for me to fall to the ground, and tried to punch me again while I was on the floor," I told them. Everyone turned to Bailey.

"Bailey, is this true?" our Principal asked. His eyes darted around the room.

"No ... ugh, fine, yes. But she's the Freak! Everyone knows it, and she did this to me! She should be locked up in an asylum or something! No one should have anything like her, magic doesn't even exist! She's a curse, she's evil, she comes from the Devil himself!" Bailey exclaimed. His parents exchanged looks.

"My son is right. Her situation is completely unheard of and unnatural. She is dangerous, and her - her curse shouldn't be inflicted on the other students." Mr Laposay said. 

"Ellie, could you please wait outside?" Principal Wetherburies asked.

"Bailey gets to stay," I said quietly. It wasn't a question, but a statement. The Principal didn't respond but stared at the ground.

"El, wait outside please," my mother said.

"But mum-" I started.

"Ellie." my father said firmly, "We said to wait outside. Now go, please." I felt tears of frustration build up in my eyes but walked out. I was extremely glad for one thing. I never showed anyone my face, which meant they couldn't see me cry. They couldn't see my strange eyes leak the tears. I walked out of the room and slid down the wall. Kids from older years walked past me, whispering to each other.

"Look, look, it's her."

"If you speak to her I'll give you a pound."

"No way, bro! Too scary. She'd probably kill me or something." With that, they laughed and continued walking. I tried to listen to the conversation inside. 

"She's just an eleven-year-old girl. Stop SPEAKING about her as if she's a MONSTER!" I heard my father say.

Stop speaking about her as if she's a monster.

As if she's a monster.

She's a monster.

Monster. Monster. Monster.

The words echoed around my head so much I became dizzy. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind, and continued listening.

"The girl is clearly a danger! She cannot stay here, it would be a hazard to everyone's health!" Mrs Laposay said.

The principal sighed "I am quite aware of that, which is why we must bring this discussion to an end. Bailey, two weeks of lunchtime detention." Bailey went to argue.

"But sir-"

"Now that that has been cleared, Mrs and Mr Laposay and Bailey, you may leave. Rest assured something will be done in Miss Bayards' case." he said, "Mr Bayards, if you could collect your daughter for me." My father came out to me.

"Cmon, Ellie. Principal Witherburies wants to talk to you," he said softly. I nodded and stood up, following him inside where the Laposays had all stood up already. I tugged at my hoodie anxiously, afraid it might have moved and revealed my face a bit.

"Why does she always wear that stupid hoodie? Even in the summer she wears it! No one at this school has ever seen her face before!" Bailey exclaimed.

"I'm afraid I must agree with Mr Bailey's question. Why does she always wear that black jumper?" the Principal asked. 

"To cover her face and eyes, so others don't see her. She's a bit self-conscious. She does take it off outside of school .... sometimes." my mother said. 

"Bet she has freaky eyes," Bailey muttered.

"That's enough," Principal Witherburies said sharply "I would now like to talk to the Bayards family, please." The Laposays all nodded and left the room. I sat in one of the chairs, and my mother took the other. My father stood behind my mother. I stared at the ground again, and took a piece of gum from my pocket, plopping it in my mouth. I chewed on it quietly, waiting for someone to say something. I had blown and popped three bubbles before someone finally said something.

"Mr and Mrs Bayards, we all know how this is going to end," the Principal said. To my surprise, my parents didn't fight or beg or cry like they had at my four previous schools. They both simply nodded. 

"We know. There is another school that she has been accepted to, for kids like her. But thank you for having her here as long as you did." my mother said.

"Wait, what? I don't understand what's happening," I said. 

Principal Witherburies sighed "I'm sorry, Ellie. Based on the events that have occured today, it is my duty to inform you that as of tomorrow, you have officially been expelled from King's Cross Academy."