Mystique Lake High School
Come on Zoe! You can do better then this!" The swimming coach said to Zoe. She looked at Zoe's time and sigh. "Okay Zoe that's enough for today."
Zoe got out of the pool. "Hey its okay, tomorrow we will do better." The coach said and hugged her.
"Were you swimming with anchors around your ankles?" Stewart asked with a smile. He was done with his laps and decided to stay and watched Zoe. The way she swims fascinates him.
Zoe ignored him and dried herself with her towel.
"Was only joking Zoe, are you okay?" He asked softly.
"Stewart?!" A girl screamed behind them. "Why are you talking to her?"
Stewart rolled his eyes and said. "I can talk to whoever I want to Zordina."
Zoe pushed passed Stewart and head for the showers.
Zordina and her click followed Zoe to the girls showers. "You stay away from him do you hear me you freak?" Zordina hissed in Zoe's face.
Zordina is one of the popular girls at Mystique Lake High. She can twist anyone around her little finger with her beautiful looks, golden hair and clear blue eyes. It was a bitter pill for her to swallow coming in second place behind Zoe where she used to set records and reign queen in the swimming pool.
Zoe ignored her and opened her locker.
Zordina slammed Zoe's locker closed. Her friends giggled.
"Please leave me alone Zordina." Zoe said and open her locker again, but Zordina's hand was on the door pushing it closed.
"Hear that girls? The little mix breed said please. Your mamma taught you well, but what else can you expect. The word please will always be in your vocabulary." Zordina said and laughed.
Zoe snapped. She smacked Zordina hard across the face.
Zordina grabbed her cheek in shock. "You hit me. You ... you .. Animal!"
"You leave my mothers name out of your filthy mouth."
Tears were streaming down Zordina's cheeks. "My mamma says that the only reason why your father is never with you is because he is ashamed of you." Zordina screamed out in rage.
Zoe hit Zordina hard on the mouth with her fist. Zordina's friends screamed. The swimming coaches came rushing in and pulled Zoe of Zordina.
...
The school called Bonnie. She had to drop the twins off at Caroline and now she is on her way to the school and to top it off it started to rain.
...
Bonne rushed to the principals office. "Hi Bonnie long time no see." The secretary said to her. Bonnie recognized the face but can't remember the name. Both of them went to Mystique Lake.
"Hi, can I go in?"
"Sure, you can go in."
Bonnie had to take a deep breath to keep herself calm. This is a first. She couldn't believe when they called her about Zoe. Her strong minded daughter who will rather walk away from conflict then to engage in it.
The principal stood up and smiled warmly at Bonnie. "Come in Bonnie you may take a seat."
Bonnie remembered principal Hector. A good man with a good heart, but fair and strict. He is part if this schools legacy. She can't imagine Mystique High without him. A big man with intelligent brown eyes.
"I'm sorry this meeting is not of a pleasant nature. Your daughter was involved in an incident that happened in the girls showers. She physically beat a girl. Now you know Bonnie our schools strict policy on violence. We can't tolerate such behaviour." Principal Hector said and smiled apologetically at Bonnie.
Bonnie cleared her throat and said. "Principal Hector my daughter will never raise her hand for anyone. Something or someone must have provoked her because I know Zoe she couldn't hurt a fly." Bonnie said and had to swallow her tears back.
"She busted another girls lip open and smacked her. I had to talk the parents out of laying charges against you and Damon. Bonnie, Zoe is not talking and I don't have any other choice but to punish her."
Bonnie looked at Zoe and took her hand. "Baby, what happened? Did that girl say something mean to you?" Bonnie asked as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
Zoe sit like a stoic figure. Staring at nothing in front of her. Saying nothing.
Principal Hector sigh and said. "Zoe your mother cares about you. We can't force you to talk, but remember you can stand up for yourself against bullies without the use of violence. You are a good student Zoe and you will make if far in this world don't allow people with their venomous words bring you down to their level. You are better then that." Principal Hector looked at Bonnie and said. "Your mother was a little spit fire and she used her sharp tongue to bring down bullies."
"The good old days." Bonnie said with a sad smile.
"The good old days." Principal Hector repeated with a warm smile. "Zoe do you accept full responsibility for your actions?"
"Y ... yes principal Hector." Zoe said in a soft voice.
Bonnie took Zoe's hand in hers and smiled through her tears at her daughter.
"I have to suspend you for a week from school and you won't be competing in the next two swimming schools championships. I'm sorry Bonnie."
Bonnie just nodded her head and smiled sadly.
...
Bonnie and Zoe drive home in silence. The rain falling softly on the windows. The radio playing softly Jimmy Cliffs song, Many Rivers To Cross. Bonnie thought back to that night when she sneaked out through Sheila's window to meet Damon at the lake. This song played when he kissed her passionately in his car. It was the night Damon professed his undying love to her. Damon's blue Chevy Camaro's cap was down. She lifted her arms up and screamed. "He loves me! Do you hear that world? He loves me!" They both laughed happy as Damon sped down the dark lonely road. How young and care free she was back then with the world at her feet and and in the arms of the love of her life.
Bonnie shook her head to snap out of the memory. "I have to pick up the twins at your aunt Carolines."
"Can you drop me off at home first, please?" Zoe asked and pull her hoodie over her head and rest her head against the window.
...