I bit down on my apple as I ran down the steps, gliding through the kitchen in a blinded rush. Jaime had left early to make up a test or something and since I didn’t have him badgering me every five minutes, I was late. Prepared to run all the way to school, I swung the front door open and ran out, crashing into someone’s hard chest and knocking the apple out of my mouth. My eyes slowly looked up at the shadow standing above me and I rubbed my pained jaw.

“Good morning to you too,” Tony laughed.

“H-Hey,” I blushed. Here I was, a late mess that had an apple hanging out her mouth and backpack hanging haphazardly off my slim shoulder.

“Jaime said he was going to school early so I figured I’d give you a ride,” he smirked, twirling his keys around his fingers.

I adjusted my backpack and gazed sadly at my ruined breakfast, “Sure, It’d save me a lot of energy.”

He nodded and tossed his hands in his pockets, walking over to his car. I followed close behind.
He opened the passenger’s side of the door for me and I smiled greatly at him. He simply smiled back at me and jogged over to the driver’s side. Once he was in and his seatbelt was buckled, he turned on the car and cranked up the radio. A band I wasn’t familiar with began to play and I stared at the window comfortably.

“So what’s on the agenda today? Anything important due?” Tony asked, his eyes on the road. Tony, Vic and I all had Spanish and History together.

“Spanish homework is due today. She assigned like, three pages,” I smirked, knowing he’d forgotten.

“Shit,” he mumbled.

I laughed, “You didn’t do it? Can’t say I’m shocked.”

“Oh shut up,” he smiled playfully. “And just a heads up, the principal is going to call you today.”

“What? Why? How do you know?”

A look of pure disgust twisted his face, “Tinsley found me at the skate-park and was gloating about how she’d ruin your ‘spotless behavioral record’ and blame the entire fight on you. Tinsley is going to say that you initiated the fight, meaning you can’t avoid punishment by saying it was
self-defense.”

“Bullshit!” I snapped. I get that the girl was heartbroken but lying to make someone as miserable as you is low and downright pathetic.

‘That bitch.’

I don’t think I can get out of this one.

‘Yes you can. We both know she approached you first.

But I swung first!

‘How many times has she sent jocks to jump you? Take her down with you. She’s been bullying
you for how many years?’

“That’s it!” I realized.

Tony glanced over at me, “What?”

“If she insists on bringing me down, I’ll drag her down with me,” I smirked confidently.

Tony shook his head, “You don’t understand; she’s got connections. Her family gives the school a lot of money and they’ll completely ignore anything you say if they write them a big enough check.”

“I will not go down for this one without her getting any sort of punishment,” I persisted. “I don’t
care how much money she has, she’s not getting away with being a total bitch for years and lying about it.”

Tony sighed, “No matter what, I’ll support you.” His ghosted over mine and he gave it a slight squeeze before returning it to the wheel. I smiled at his supportive gesture and stared out of my window, mentally preparing my case.

---

“Phoenix Slade, to the Principal’s office. Phoenix Slade,” the intercom buzzed. As expected, everyone shot me curious glances as I gathered my things and calmly walked out of the room and to the office. The hall was pretty quiet but I noticed a familiar figure that was at the end of it. I quickly recognized it as Vic and smiled, “Hey.”

“Hey,” he greeted, smoothly putting his arm around my shoulders and switching to the direction I was originally headed.

I glanced down at his bathroom pass, “Pretty sure there’s no bathroom down the way you were coming.”

“I know, I just could stand another one of Mr. Furgs ‘glory day’ stories,” he pouted. “I heard your name on the intercom, what’s going on?”

My face dropped, “Tinsley is blaming the entire fight on me, saying I approached and harassed her.”

“Bullshit,” Vic whisper-shouted.

“That what I said!” I immediately agreed, throwing my head back.

“Hey,” he called, noticing my stressed expression, “Don’t worry… Don’t the halls have video-cameras or something..?”

My head snapped up and I gaped up at him. We stopped walking and he looked confusedly at me till I took his face in my hands and kissed him right on his lips. I pulled away and noticed a very flustered Vic, his cheeks the reddest I’ve ever seen them.

“Victor Vincent Fuentes! You’re such a genius!” I squealed, squeezing him in my arms.

“I s-should b-be a genius m-more oft-ten,” he stuttered, still staring at me with his lips slightly parted.

I smirked, “Yep, then you’d get a lot more of those.”

His eyes widened, “R-Really?”

I laughed, “Go to class, Vic.”

He turned to leave but glanced back at me several times. I sighed and skipped to the office.

---

“Mr. Richardson will see you now,” the timid secretary called, nodding at me. I gave her a weak smile before walking into the principal’s office.

“Hello Miss. Slade, take a seat,” the older man gestured towards the uncomfortable looking chair directly in front of his desk. Irrelevant pictures of his family and tiny trinkets from his country-wide travels cluttered his desk. He was a tall, husky man with a thick beard, and bald head. Every wrinkle on his face was most likely due to the troublesome teenagers he’s had deal with the past few years. Shutting off my wandering thoughts, I took a seat in said chair. His eyes were hard but unbiased; his gaze was heavy and his posture was set.

“I’m going to skip the traditional small talk,” he said sternly, ending the tense silence. “Miss. Rae says that you’ve been harassing her and I have no choice but to deal with you.”

“But Mr-”

“I do not tolerate bullying in my hallways. No one will pester and beat up any of my students and go unpunished.”

I looked down, feeling defeated and like there was no way I could win this one. Tinsley plead her case and the rich, golden-child’s word would always be taken over the nobody. This man knew that I couldn’t fight him because no one would fight for me. A surge of anger rattled me and possessed me to stand, pushing the chair back in the process.

“Check the tapes,” I ordered calmly.

His face was shocked but quickly hardened back into its stoic expression, “You will not demand things in my of-”

“Check the damn tapes!” I demanded, outraged he wouldn’t hear me out.

He stared at me as if attempting to intimidate me, “I will do no such thing.”

“Why not? May as well confirm what Tinsley is saying,” I reasoned bitterly.

His eyes bored into mine but he didn’t say anything.

“While you’re at it,” I scoffed, “Play all the tapes from past four years.”

“Why would I-”

“Because her pompous ass has ‘harrassed’ me for as long as I can remember!” I shouted, cutting him off in the same manner he did to me.

His nerve began to waver and he looked slightly nervous, “She didn’t say that.”

“Of course she didn’t. She’d be the last to ‘confess her sins’,” I spat. “Call me back once you decide your students come before that huge check she wrote you,” I called, my back already turned to the corrupt man and making my way to the main exit. I’m done laying down and letting her win, she will pay for everything she’s ever done to me—in more ways than one. But for now? I’m skipping. I’ll take the detention for something I actually did over a bunch of bullshit being wrongfully pinned on me by a spoiled princess with a broken-heart.

‘And that,’ Phe chuckled, ‘Is how you grow a back-bone.’

Notes

HUGE CHARECTER DEVELOPMENT!~ That shell is coming a'tumbling down(; Comment, Rate, Subscribe, Vote and all that jazz~~

TOTD: Thoughts on Nix's new attitude towards Tinsley? Do you think she was too tolerant before? Comment!