FACELESS

Chapter 30

AFTER

As I make my way towards the Principal, I can feel Zac's eyes on me. I force myself to not think, so that all the thoughts I have can disappear. Sometimes when I stop for a while and think, I may be the paradigm of the most unfortunate character in a TV show.

"Good morning, Abigail."

I turn my eyes up, and stare right into the Principal's eyes. From the corner of my vision, I can see Mia. But I don't want to look at her directly. At the same time, I do not want to cower under her eyes. I want her to see that I am not that powerless little girl I was last year. The girl you had the audacity to hurt, to spread rumours about.

"Morning." I reply. A hand gently grabs at my right arm. I turn my head, and Gwen smiles up at me, softly. She squeezes my arm gently, as a sort of reassurance. And somehow, it works. It does feel nice once in a while to feel like you're not alone.

'So,' she continues. 'Do you remember Mia?'

What a stupid question. I almost burst into laughter on the spot. Do I remember the girl who pushed me into the fire? The girl who single handedly ruined my life and took away the only thing that belonged to me? Of course I do. I have the temptations to stomp my feet on the Principals, to see the shock on her face; because she's still staring at me, waiting for an answer, not realising how ridiculous the question she asked was.

'Yes.' I reply, and I smile back at her.

Mia takes a step forward. And it takes all my might to not take a step back.

"Abigail, how are you?" Her sickly sweet voice. Even her voice is perfect. Though, to me it is a shrilling one. When she speaks, the pain and hatred inside of me grabs the edges of her sentences and distorts them. I imagine the tendrils of hatred digging into her eyes. Even if she means well, even if she regretted whatever she did to me. Through my eyes, whatever she does is evil and manipulative. I cannot forgive her.

Her deeds are unforgivable. Yet she has the face to stare at me right in the face...

"I'm doing fine." I bite through my tongue to reply back, and smiles back at her. The edges of my mouth twitches; even subconsciously my body is fighting against this facade I am putting on.

Silence drags. The Principal cough, and then she takes a step back on her feet. What was her motive asking me to come here?

"Mia, would you please bring up the... idea? Please?"

Mia nods, then she turns back to me. What idea? The confusion must be written on my face. Mia pauses, and then she says: "I was thinking about the medical fees I've caused."

'What about it?" I reply back. Money was never an issue for the family; my parents paid for the hospital bills and all the surgery. I'm confused on what Mia's worries are, whether if she's worried that I was going to sue her. There was no point in me starting a lawsuit with her because ultimately, it falls under the school district. In the court, the judge would sentence penalties to the school, not her. And it wasn't as if she lacked the financial means to pay my family back the financial fees.

"Just...I'm just wondering if there is anything I can do to help."

"To help?" I reply, still confused. "You mean you want to help me pay the medical fees?"

"Yes," she continues. Her eyes starts to dart to the left. "And also, that the incident remains in the school."

The thought clicks in my brain. And the rage seeps itself into the cracks in my own body. I am buzzing with anger, on the tips of my toes, numb as if I have ice on my feet.