Tina has to leave for training with the track team. We share a teary kiss and she shivers with rage.
"That ugly, old hag… I'm going to show her what it happens when you get between me and…"
But she leaves it at that. I need to make up a strategy to help her, but the truth is that Miss Jimenez just holds me by my balls.
Maybe I can just sit it out for a bit?
I'll have to check if Tina can just get away from school. Maybe I can use my leverage on Miss Jimenez to help Tina out of this? She sneaks out of school while I try to keep Miss Jimenez calm and distracted.
That's why, between classes, I make up an emergency and sneak out of the class into the bathroom. On my way there I catch Claire peeking out of a corner and our gazes cross for a moment as her face grows flushed. She opens her mouth to scream at me but I just scram, running away even as her cries follow me.
Great, now I really need to hide.
I enter the boy's nearest bathroom and choose the second-last stall. As luck would have it, it is also completely spotless. They must have finished cleaning it ten minutes ago, straight after recess. I sit on it, trying to keep my feet away from the door. There. Now I just need to hold my breath.
But then I hear the bathroom's door swing open and someone come in. Oh, no, it's someone wearing heels. Claire usually wears designer heels, so she must have come here.
I can hear her knock on the stalls, checking if any of them are empty. She creaks each of the doors open and I can hear her taking a few moments to peek inside.
What can I do? She is going to find me, no matter what… and then there will be hell to pay! Claire is one of the most influential girls at school. If she wants me, she can have someone slash the wheels of Tina's bike or just bully her until she relents…
And I am not sure I can play the mommy card like Miss Jimenez .
She reaches the stall next to mine.
And then she knocks on my door.
I shudder, and even stop breathing for a while.
She knocks again. Nothing.
She moves to the next one, opening the door.
And then I hear her heels leaving the bathroom and closing the door behind herself.
I let out a long breath. I'm fine.
Finally.
I still wait a few minutes to get out of here, just in case she's still out there.
There's a tiny window Tina can use. I smile.
"Now I just have to tell Miss Jimenez."
"Tell me what?"