The Elites

Gotta be You

"But here I am asking you for one more chance
Can we fall, one more time?
Stop the tape and rewind"

"Gotta be You" – One Direction

"I'm very annoyed that the two of you have brought your drama to school before first period has even started. I've heard from several students that you, Ms Flynn, wrote mean things on Juliet's locker, and that you, Ms Price, retaliated and told people personal information about Hope." Principal Kahn says, staring at me and Hope.

"You have no proof we were involved in anything, this is a waste of time" Hope replies, I sigh as I realize Hope's lack of respect for, well, anyone will make this hard and will most likely end in a harsher punishment. Hope doesn't look bothered at being in the principal's office, why would she?

"Ms Price, did you send around a photo that revealed Hope was adopted?" Principal Kahn turns to me, ignoring Hope. I'm not surprised he's questioning me first, I'm the quiet little orphan who is hardly ever in trouble.

"No" I lie, I was planning to tell the truth until it seemed like Hope isn't going to speak up and say anything. I know I'm being a coward, but I don't want to be punished for this, I don't want Hope's parents to know I got this sent around the whole school.

"I've never told Juliet I was adopted." Why is Hope trying to get me out of trouble? I didn't think would go and complain about me to the Principal, but now that we're here, I assumed she would want to get me in trouble.

"I can't help you with this situation if you lie to me" Principal Kahn tells Hope, but his tone isn't soft. I think he's just trying to manipulate her into telling him, besides what can he do? Everyone knows Hope is adopted, he can't magically make the entire school forget.

"I'm not lying" Hope starts fiddling with a loose thread on her school skirt, I thought Susan would buy a new uniform whenever something tiny happened. It becomes clear that Hope isn't going to look at either of us or elaborate. She's not actually lying; she didn't tell me she was adopted. Ironically, I told her.

"Hope didn't put the stuff on my locker. I know what Hope is like, sir, she might call me those names to my face, but she wouldn't do it behind my back" I reply, wondering if this will work and get us out of trouble. I'll already be in so much trouble when Melissa and William are informed about this, I can't lie to them.

"Can I go get the education my parents pay a lot of money for?" Hope asks, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. I would never speak to an adult that way, especially my principal, but Hope doesn't care. I don't know why her behavior still shocks me.

"Ms Price is excused, but, Ms Flynn, I would like you to stay" Principal Kahn decides, causing Hope to roll her eyes but she remains seated, fiddling with her blazer. What he's going to say to Hope? Is he going to ask if she's ok about people knowing she's adopted? I guess since Hope's parents donate a generous amount of money each year, he probably feels like he has to see if Hope is ok.

I get up, knowing I can't stay, and head out of the room. Principal Kahn gets up and shuts the door. I head down to my locker to grab my English books, hopefully Mr. Brown will have been told why I'm late to class.

I open the door and Mr. Brown looks up at me. "Take a seat" he tells me, and he turns back to the board. I wonder what he was told, will all my teachers think I told the whole school Hope was adopted? I need to talk to Hope, I'll try to find her at lunch.

"Are you in trouble?" Hunter whispers to me, causing Courtney to look over at us. I want to confront Courtney, but I've been in enough trouble today, Melissa won't be happy when she finds out what I did. Her and William don't tolerate things like that.

"No, Hope pointed out he couldn't prove it, he kept Hope in his office though, why would he do that?" I ask, whispering back to Hunter. He might just want to check on Hope since her parents donate so much money to the school each year.

"Hope won't tell him anything. How are you going to make it up to her?" Hunter whispers, a girl in front of us turns around and glares at her. Hunter flips her off and glances back at me. I bite my lip to keep myself from laughing, Hunter is nice but she's aware of the power she has because of her spot on the cheerleading squad.

"What do you suggest I do?" I ask, I have no idea how to fix this. I was terrible, I got angry and reacted without waiting to calm down so I could tell if I really wanted to do this. I've learnt a lesson; I will never do anything in future while I'm angry.

"Hope will understand why you thought she did it" Hunter whispers, pausing to think, I suppose, about how I can make it up to her. "She'll respect honesty, just explain you did what you did out of a place of anger and you just fell in Courtney's trap." I can't blame all of this on Courtney, she got what she wanted but she didn't force me to tell her Hope was adopted.

"Would the two of you like to participate in this class?" Mr. Brown says, snapping at us. We're saved answering by the door opening and Hope walks in, looking annoyed. Mr. Brown goes back to talking as Hope takes her seat next to me.

"Don't speak to me" Hope says, seeing me open my mouth. I sigh and shut it, I should start listening to Mr. Brown, the last thing I need right now is an email home claiming I've been interruptive in class and not paying attention.

I try to listen, but my thoughts keep on straying. Hope doesn't want to listen to what I have to say so I have to talk to somewhere she can't just leave, but where is that? School is out of the question, I don't think I'm welcome at her house, so where else can I go?

Her boxing lessons! While we were eating dinner, she mentioned that she's been doing boxing since she doesn't swim anymore. She didn't say she's not swimming because she's scared, but that must be the reason. Hope said she's been doing boxing lessons, weights, and running. I get the feeling Hope's parents expect her to look a certain way, as well as act in an appropriate manner, they're obsessed with appearances.

I shake my head, why do I keep distracting myself? I'll go to Hope's house just before her boxing lesson ends and I'll explain everything and see if we can move past this and not throw everything, we have out the window. Hunter knows what me and Hope discussed, and she's been really supportive of our relationship, and I know she'll support us when we decide to tell our parents the truth about our sexuality. I'm hoping that since Hunter supports us, maybe the adults will, too.

Hope has a boxing lesson tonight; she'll be home at seven pm, so I'll go to her house then. She also mentioned that no one will be home as her parents are away on business, Logan and Mason will be at football practice and then are going to a friend's house, and Salvatore is on a school camp this week. Before our fight, Hope wanted me to stay over since she can't crash at Ashton's.

I can't focus in any of my classes, too worried about whether Hope will forgive me. It's not only the adoption, she'll also be pissed that I gave Eleanor's diary to Melissa. I received lots of angry messages over the weekend demanding it back, but I'm sure she would have guessed it was already with Melissa. I was half expecting Hope to turn up at my house and demand it back from Melissa, which would have probably ended with Melissa ringing Susan to come and get Hope. Melissa doesn't have much patience and I know she's already not impressed with how Hope can get away with disrespecting people, especially other adults.

The one good thing about Melissa having Eleanor's diary is that it will shatter her opinion on Hope being the demon child and Eleanor being the angel child. Hope is not as terrible as Melissa makes her out to be, and Eleanor is not the perfect child who can do no wrong. Eleanor was so cruel to so many people, Melissa will realize that once she reads about all the secrets Eleanor exposed, and all the secrets she used to blackmail people into doing her bidding.

I can fix this, I'll make Hope realize how sorry I am and how much I care about her, and Melissa will realize that Hope isn't who her parents make her out to be. It will be hard, but one day I know that I will get Melissa and William to approve of me dating Hope, and I will make Hope realize that I care about her.

*Author's Note* Do you like Juliet and Hope?