"She seriously punched Erica in the face?" Kenji asked unbelievably while eating. Seriously? Is it that unbelievable that I can punch someone?
"Totally. She was so worried that someone might report us. She can lose her valedictorian candidacy." Alexis said, rolling her eyes. I rolled my eyes too. She said it like it's not important to me. Is she a true friend? "But I won't let that happen. I know how important that candidacy to her, right Liz?" she added. Okay, I spoke too soon. "Even though it's ridiculous." she said and laughed. There it is.
"Well, let's go. Lunch break is almost over." Mia said. The shy one in the group. We all stood up and threw our trashes. While walking to our classroom, they are talking. "Liz, can you help me? I'm flunking science." Mia said.
"Sure." I said. In our group, I'm the 'nerd'. Credits to Kenji. I'm not an actual nerd. I don't have glasses. I'm just smart. We reached our room and sat down at our respective seats. I looked around the room and it's so chaotic. The students are so loud.
"Okay class, settle down. We are still at half of our lesson, so let's finish this and move on." our history teacher said once she entered the room. While the teacher is discussing, I can't help but yawn. I'm good at names and dates so it makes me sleepy. I looked at the clock and heck...1 hour and 15 more minutes?! Ugh!
"Liz, are you sleepy?" Kenji whispered. I just nodded as an answer. Ugh, so sleepy! But I have to stay awake. "Ms. Acosta, kindly make your way to the principal's office please." the PA said.
"I'll be right back, class." Ms. Acosta said as she headed to the door. Finally! I can nap. I closed my eyes but the students won't let me nap. They're so loud. Since I can't sleep with these noisy people, I'll just read a book.
"What do you think is the reason why Ms. Acosta was called at the principal's office?" Mia suddenly asked. Ms. Acosta is our class adviser, there are no school events this month, there are no issues about her...that I know of.
"Maybe it's about one of the students." Adrian said. We all turned to face him and made an expression like we're asking 'what do you mean'. "Uhm, students like Erica, the person you gave a nosebleed?" he added while looking at me. I rolled my eyes at him. I looked at Alex.
"Don't worry, nobody saw-" Alex was cut off when the door suddenly opened.
"Garcia, Saavedra, come with me." Ms. Acosta said then went out. My eyes widened. Oh my gosh, someone reported us. I looked around. Someone is missing in our class. Zoey and Tanya, Erica's minions, are not here. Damn it!
Alex and I stood up and went outside. While walking, I asked Ms. Acosta "Did the principal ask for us? If so, why?" I'm so nervous. Are they gonna ask us about what happened?
"You'll see, Ms. Saavedra." she replied. We've arrived at the principal's office. Ms. Acosta knocked and opened the door. "They're here." she said. She opened the door widely to let us in. In the room, I saw Erica, Zoey, and Tanya. All glaring at us.
"Ms. Saavedra, Ms. Garcia, please take a seat." Mr. Jones, our principal. Alex and I took a seat. "Do you know why I asked you both here?" he asked us. We both shook our heads even though we know why we're here. "I'll go straight to the point. Ms. Johnson was sent to the infirmary earlier. Her nose bled. Ms. Roth and Ms. Wilson came to me saying that you both have something to do with it. Is it true?" the principal said. None of us spoke. I don't know about Alex, but I'm so nervous, I couldn't speak. "Ms. Garcia?"
"Mr. Jones, I need more info about this like what time did it happen." Alex said calmly. How is she so calm?
"They said it was exactly 12:30." the principal answered.
"What they are saying is not true, Mr. Jones. At 12:30, Lizzie and I just went out of the library. If they're really saying that Erica had a nosebleed at 12:30, then we're not involved." Alex said. Obviously, it's not true. We went out before 12:30, not exact.
"That's not true, Mr. Jones." Erica snapped. She's losing her cool. "Lizzie was the one who punched me. Look at the bruise on my face!" she shouted. She faced us "TELL THEM THE TRUTH!"
"Calm down, Ms. Johnson." the principal said. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Let's hear Ms. Saavedra's story." he added after he calmed Erica down. I'm. So. Nervous. Should I lie or tell them the truth? If I lie, I still have a chance to be valedictorian. Plus there are no witnesses except her minions. If I tell them the truth, I'll lose my candidacy and I'll get suspended, or worse expelled. It was an accident, anyway.
I'm so nervous, I couldn't speak. "What I said is really true, Mr. Jones. Here's the full story. Before the lunch break, Ms. Lewis mentioned the different dimensions that our ancestors went to and discovered. So when the lunch break started, Lizzie forced me to accompany her to the library. 30 minutes had passed, and I forced her to go to the cafeteria to eat. At exactly 12:30, we went out of the library. We even noticed that some of the students are gossiping about Erica having a nosebleed. In short, we have nothing to do with it." Alex said. She even boldly said the last part.
"She's lying! Lizzie really is the one who hurt me." she snapped once again. I can't let them know the truth. My parents will kill me if I get expelled.
Alex stood up and said "Mr. Jones, you've known us five since 7th grade. You know that we're a good student. We'll never do such a thing. You've also known that Erica has been picking on us since then. Now that someone attacked her, she's blaming it on us? We've been one of the best students here. Yes, I can be violent and a bitch, but I'll never do what Erica accuses us of unless someone did it first."
"Okay, I'll get to the bottom of this. You all can go back to your room." the principal said. Alex and I stood and about to go out when Erica said something. I guess she's not done yet.
"You're not gonna let them off the hook, are you?" she asked. Seriously? "No, not yet. I'm going to find out what really happened. If the two of them had nothing to do with this, there will be consequences, Ms. Johnson." Mr. Jones said.
While walking in the corridor, Alex clung to me "Whew, glad that's over. That was awesome. I had to save you since you've been working your butt off to be valedictorian. And I know that your parents will kill you if you get expelled." I smiled. We have reached our destination. Alex opened the door.
"Okay class, sit down." Ms. Acosta said. I sat down beside Mia. "Since we don't have enough time, I'll just announce your group project from Ms. Lewis. There will be 5 members in each group." she added. She announced the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd group, none of us five were there. "Now, group 4: Cadance, Kate, Adrian, Lizzie, and...Erica. Lizzie, you're the leader. Your topic is Azthia." Yes, Adrian and Kate-WHAT?! Erica?!
"WHAT?!" Erica and I said simultaneously. We looked at each other and glared. I'm in a group with her?! "This is the list that Ms. Lewis gave me. There's nothing you can do about it." she said. ARRGH!!!
"Group 5: Mia, Liam, Alex, Kenji, and Zoey. Mia, you're the leader. Your topic is Solaria" Aww...lucky. Ugh! Ms. Acosta announced the last group and their topic. "Go sit with your groups." We formed a circle with our chairs and sat down. I'm in the middle of Kate and Adrian.
"Here are the topic cards. Written in this card are the things that you'll have to research. The history, culture, clothing, etc. You're going to have a presentation next week with Ms. Lewis so prepare for some questions." Ms. Acosta announced. She distributed the cards.
"Let's divide the task. Adrian, you'll take care of the culture, Cadance, you're on clothing, I'll take on the history, Kate on trivia, and Erica..." I stopped. I got nothing for her..."You just...stand by..." I noticed she didn't like what I said. What's not to like? She has nothing to do.
"Class, I'll be right back. Class president, you're in charge." our teacher said before leaving the room. We're having a conversation about where we should make our group project. In the end, we've decided to do it at my house. I was listening to Cadance since she has a suggestion about our presentation when my eyes caught Erica.
She was glaring at me. When she realizes that I'm looking at her, she smirks. I was confused. Then the unexpected happened. She held my neck and choked me. "You may fool the principal and our adviser, but Zoey, Tanya, and I know what really happened. I'll make sure that everyone will know that Little Miss Perfect has a bad side. Watch your back, Lizzie." she said then she let go of my neck. I'm trying to catch my breath. That bitch! She got her stuff and then left the room.
What just happened?