Hello everyone. I enjoyed writing this one as it is another glimpse of Celeste's dark side in the super early stages. The dialogue was fun, especially as Gabriel appears once again :D Please review I would love to hear what you think and to help me improve in the future. xxx Also, I apologise there are gaps for time/location jumps in my original document but my laptop does not play the game on here.
The paper ball smacked into the back of my head. I heard the chorus of sniggers and spiteful laughter, that evil… adolescent and her cronies clearly enjoyed tormenting me, I have no idea why. But the one thing they had not counted on was today, I had decided, that enough was enough.
Clenching the paper ball in my fist I stood up and aimed it at her head. Sylvia ducked, her mouth open. Her 'friends' hurried to a safer location in the form of an empty table near the brown canteen doors.
"Leave me alone Sylvia. I haven't done anything to you. I'm sick of you always being horrible to me. What have I done to deserve this?" I growled as she folded her arms and responded hotly,
"Yes you did. You threw this at me." She held the paper ball up, the one she had created.
"It isn't nice is it? Do us all a favour and bugger off or actually use the canteen for its original purpose and stuff some food into that mouth of yours. It's big enough," I muttered the last bit as I tried to return my attention to my turkey sandwich that was begging for some mayonnaise, judging by its dry complexion.
"You…" I interrupted Sylvia's outburst by grabbing her wrist.
Instinctively I reached for the stainless steel knife and pressed it onto her skin, smirking.
"What are you doing?" her voice wavered.
She squirmed and tried in vain to get me off. The gleam of fear in her eyes made me feel powerful as I answered her question,
"Testing to see if you are a shape shifter. I mean you have always been so twofaced. No one can be as bitchy as you without a valid reason."
Then she started to scream foul insults at me and of course I got caught or as the American students seem to say around here; busted. Her shrieks unsurprisingly attracted the elusive lunchtime staff. It was all the more fun that one of them was my maths teacher, who I had nothing against personally, but as I hated and sucked at the subject we didn't have any rapport. No sympathy was going to be found.
So I ended up in the principal's office and I was now waiting for one of my uncles to turn up to take me home. I was hoping with everything that it would be Gabriel. If it was Cas then I was screwed. My day had been hellish so surely I was bound for some luck at some point?
The universe must have agreed with me and I relaxed as I made out his reassuring short silhouette from behind the glass panel door. Although as soon as I saw the thunder in his usually twinkling champagne coloured eyes I knew he was not going to be on my side.
"Hello Mr, um," Principal Greyman stuttered.
"Novak," he responded as he sat down next to me, I avoided eye contact by looking at the wall.
"Mr Novak forgive me. Well, I am sure you are aware of why you are here," Principal Greyman spoke bluntly.
"The lovely receptionist lady on the phone informed me about Celeste's behaviour. I must say I'm shocked," each word was dripping with disappointment and I cringed as his used my actual name.
"Yes, wielding a knife on another student is very concerning behaviour and it has very serious consequences, we-" I huffed causing him to pause, "Do you have something you wish to say Celeste?"
Briefly I made contact with the hard eyes of my uncle but I boldly said,
"Yes. I did not wield a knife on another student. I was not using it as a weapon, I simply held it against her skin. And I would greatly appreciate it if you would include me in this conversation. Has it occurred to you that I have done this for a reason?"
"Celeste," Uncle Gabriel hissed harshly.
"Miss Welsh claims you intended to cut her," Principal Greyman spoke gravely.
"Bullshit," I exploded (usually I would never swear in front of a figure of authority, regarding school) but that false accusation made my anger consume my entire body, "Sorry. But I would never hurt anyone like that."
"Then what were your intentions?" Principal Greyman asked.
"I. I was so sick of her picking on me and-" he interrupts me firmly,
"No, why did you use your knife? I'm aware you did not harm Miss Welsh, but I want to know why you did it in the first place," I open my mouth to protest, "Miss Novak stop. I do not care if she picked on you that is no excuse to then turn round and threaten her with a knife."
By this point I was getting flushed as my protestations were making no impact and I desperately fought back my tears of frustration. He was not going to stop interrogating me until I gave an answer. So I gave him the only one I could, the only one that was the truth,
"I lost control, I didn't even think. I just. Picked it up."
"Miss Novak please step outside for a moment and do not leave the school premises without your uncle," Principal Greyman addressed me with a tone that said do not mess with me, you're in my kingdom.
Hanging my head I headed for the door but not before uncle Gabriel grabbed my arm and forced me to look at him,
"No running off," he held my gaze for what seemed like an eternity before releasing me.
"Mr Novak. I think Celeste would benefit from anger management. I am fully aware her childhood has not been the most stable, but she needs to speak to a counsellor. Her rage could end up getting her in even more trouble later on down the line. She is academically able and a hard worker, it would be such a shame for her potential to be wasted. Until there is some form of improvement in her behaviour she will not be permitted in my school. We have a zero tolerance for violence. Until further notice she is on suspension, school work will be sent to your address for her to do at home. Any questions?" Principal Greyman barely paused for breath.
Gabriel acknowledge that if you boiled down all of his fancy academic jargon it basically meant Celeste was just another statistic to the school; a troubled teen who would pass her exams due to her dedication and hard work, thus basking the school in glory, who would take all the credit for her grades. However, as soon as problems started to arise they no longer wanted to be associated with her; lest she tarnish their reputation.
"One of us will pick up the work. It will be easier, our line of work means we move around a lot. No I have no questions. Only to apologise for her behaviour," Gabriel spoke with no emotion as he stood up and left the office.
Inside the impala I sat in silence in the back. It seemed like hours but eventually Gabriel started to speak to me in a firm tone,
"What the hell were you thinking Celeste? Using a knife on Sylvia. I know she gives your grief but that is taking it way too far. I'm surprised at you."
"I don't care," I petulantly replied.
"Well you should. The boys are going to be thrilled. I'm very disappointed in you," Gabriel glared at me through the front mirror and I averted my eyes.
Those words hit me hard. I hated disappointing anyone. And I hadn't meant to react to Sylvia in that way, but I couldn't hold back my anger anymore.
"This is so unfair. She bullies me constantly, but the teachers never notice. None of them ever believe me. And now you are blaming me for what I did."
"Of course I'm blaming you because your actions alone have led you to being expelled. I don't care what type of knife it was, I would still be just as angry if it was made of plastic. It was still wrong," Gabriel scolded as they continued on the long road.
"Well you guys leave me with no way of defending myself. I can't use my powers, the teachers are useless. So what am I meant to do?" I growled as I folded my arms across my chest.
"Be a model student for starters. And to walk away. It is that simple and I know you know that you have the will power to do that Celeste. So why did you fall for the bait?" Gabriel questioned, his tone softening ever so subtly.
"There was no bait. I just had enough of her and her little pack. They had been winding me up all day," I sighed as I glanced out of the window.
"If things were that bad you know you could have told us right?"
"Pfft. Yeah, like Dean wouldn't take the mick out of me. And Sam wouldn't accuse me of being a snitch. Uncle Cas would say that I was the one to provoke Sylvia and you, well you would think the whole situation was a joke," I scoffed and jolted forward as Gabriel swerved the impala onto the side of the road and turned round to face me.
"Let's get one thing clear. I do give a damn about you and I find nothing funny about this situation, okay. Yeah I laugh at a lot of things, but if you actually explained to me how you felt of course I would take it seriously. Consider it a compliment of your strength Celeste, when you want to you are an expert at concealing your emotions."
"More like I'm invisble to you all," I said sulkily as tears began to fall from my dark eyes.
"You sure come up with a lot of crap, don't ya? Why the hell would you say something like that? We love you. Sure things get crazy, but if you feel like that then part of this incident is on us. So I apologise. But that does not mean you are of the hook. You hear me young lady. You are grounded indefinitely," Gabriel stated as he returned to the road.
As soon as I entered the bunker I could tell by the hard eyes that met me they knew I was in trouble. A big hint was that Gabriel had a hand firmly on my arm and was propelling me towards the corridor as if I was under arrest.
Once outside my bedroom I walked in without a word. Once I heard Gabriel's footsteps walk away I threw myself onto my bed and released all of my pent up emotion. I knew what I had done was wrong. But I was afraid of what was happening to me. I was afraid of losing everyone I loved if I couldn't regain control. It wasn't my actions that were upsetting me, it was the person who had committed them.