Okay, next time I say anything about a deadline or any kind of story writing order, please don't believe me. I seem to have a knack of saying something and then do something else.
Anyway, thanks for all the reviews. I love them and please continue to enjoy reading my story.
You know the drill with the Disclaimer so I don't know why I even bother to keep rambling on about it every chapter.
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Chapter 12: Coming To Grips
Chuckie was nervous. He was unsure as to why the Principal wanted to see him but the fact that he had called Angelica earlier told him that it just might have something to do with what had happened earlier today. The thought of her telling the Principal that he was guilty of assault or something like that to save her own skin loomed over him. He couldn't shake that feeling off of him, no matter how much he tried and how much he didn't want to believe that she would do something like that to him after all of these weeks of her constantly apologising to him and begging for his forgiveness.
'Surely she wouldn't do something like this. She can't...can she?' He thought. He wanted to trust her, to believe that she has started to become honest and value others. Still, a part of him knew better. She could still easily turn around and drop him in the deep end. If she was going down he was sure that she was going to take him with her.
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Angelica sat nervously. She did not know how Chuckie would react to being called to the Principal's office but she knew that if she could reassure him that she wasn't going to drop him in it and prove to the Principal that she was merely defending one of her friends from assault, both of them would get off the hook...mostly as any rate.
'Come on Chuckie. Don't let me down. Please don't!' She thought as she screwed her eyes shut and turned her head to one side slightly. 'He just can't let me down. I know he can't and I know he won't.'
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Chuckie took a deep breath. He stood a few feet from the Principal's office...the one place that he had hoped he would never have to go. At least for something like this at any rate. He was nervous and tense but he knew he could not escape this. He knocked on the door.
"Come in." The Principal's voice boomed.
Chuckie gritted his teeth and opened the door. He walked in quite slowly, letting the door close quietly behind him.
"Y-you wish to see me sir?" He asked.
"Yes. Take a seat." The Principal replied calmly.
Chuckie looked over at Angelica. She looked at him straight in the eye. He could tell that she needed his help here. Quite possibly her High School fate rested in his hands and if he made the wrong choice then she could be expelled. That was something he didn't want to happen. She would be distraught, her family would be heart broken and worst of all, he would have broken the promise he made to Tommy, to make sure that nothing happened to her. Despite all she had done, he was loyal to Tommy and would not break that rule. Angelica must be saved.
"So Chuckie. I understand that you and your...companion...here were involved in a little fracas today with 3 other boys. Is this true?" He asked.
Chuckie looked over at Angelica and she nodded at him. She wanted him to tell the truth.
"Well, yes. You see, I was just walking around school to see if anything had changed while I was away. I guess I just needed to time alone to think and I came across these 3 guys who recognised me. They then threatened that if I didn't give them cash then I'd end up back in hospital with more damage than had been already done to me before." Chuckie explained.
"So, where does your friend here come into this?"
"You see, while I was thinking about what to do, Angelica must have been looking for me or just happened to see me as the next thing I knew she was telling them to leave me alone." Chuckie continued.
Angelica smiled. He was telling the truth which would prove to the Principal that she was merely defending Chuckie from harm. Hopefully this would end all chances of her getting expelled but a suspension was still possible. She didn't know what to think when her parents will find out about this.
"So, she injured you and put you in hospital and then a few weeks later she saves you from further injury." The principal seemed unconvinced with the story.
"It's true though. Believe me. When I was in hospital she came in to see me and she...well...broke down. Angelica begged me to forgive her saying how sorry she was for doing what she had done. I couldn't believe it but she was entirely genuine. I was shocked at the effect that her actions had on her." Chuckie further explained the story. The Principal frowned and looked at Angelica questioningly.
Angelica's face reddened a bit out of embarrassment. "He uh...is telling the truth. I have a huge guilty conscience since what happened those weeks ago. I defended him from injury today and I just don't want to see him hurt. I don't want to hurt him...I always done things to him all our lives and now I want an end to it. I've picked on him, insulted him, called him names and physically abused him. I can't take it anymore...I just want to forget everything I have ever done to him..." She told the Principal. She rested her head on a propped arm and slowly rubbed her forehead with her hand. She sounded defeated and she looked weak and hurt. Her blonde hair swayed slightly as she gently shook her head when she remembered all that she had done.
Chuckie was dumbfounded as was the Principal. Chuckie knew she was sorry for assaulting him but he didn't believe for a second that she wanted to stop ALL of the insults and so on. She really was changing...well maturing really. Her transformation seemed impossibly and inhumanely fast...it was as if she was not just human at all. But something more, a creature that had caused pain and now wanted to be forgiven for it. To do anything to be redeemed...a yearning for peace and love...a lust for calmness and serenity in her life.
The Principal couldn't believe this. He knew that Angelica was a bit of a trouble maker (she had been warned about her behaviour a couple of time in her first year) and now she wanted to become some kind of angel. Although she did seem genuine in what she says, the web of lies that she is known for compels him to think otherwise. I guess that is what happens when you try to change. Very few will believe you with the reputation you have.
"Go back to class Chuckie." The Principal said.
Chuckie looked at Angelica one last time before he got up and left the room. He walked back to class and sat in his seat still thinking about what Angelica has said.
"Hey Chuckie. What did the boss want to see you about?" A voice asked him.
Chuckie turned his head slightly to see Max looking at him.
"Hmm?"
"What did the Principal wanna see you about?" He whispered.
"Oh...nothing important." Chuckie whispered back.
"Yeah right. What did he say?"
Chuckie knew that Max wouldn't relent until he knew but he didn't really want to say anything. He sighed.
"I'll tell you when I know more about what will happen. Alright?" Chuckie decided that a compromise would be best.
"To who?"
"Angelica."
"Oh...the sexy blonde girl who you have known all your life and yet you haven't asked her out despite the fact that she obviously has a crush on you and is disgraced at this school because she assaulted you." Max taunted Chuckie.
"She doesn't like me like that." Chuckie said, but deep down this information was food for thought. That would explain why she used to pick on him. She had a crush on him yet she didn't want anyone to know so she covered it up by making fun of him. "Why would you think that she wants me?" Chuckie asked. He was curious now.
Max smiled. "Like I told you weeks ago. I have an older sister who has done this type of thing...well not the assaulting part...but the insulting part to get a certain guy's attention." He replied.
'Could she really have a crush on me? It that possible?' Chuckie thought. It's times like these that he wished he had Kimi or Tommy to talk to right now because they would be able to help him. But he knew Kimi wouldn't want anything to do with Angelica while Tommy would just tell him not to go anywhere with the information he has.
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At the end of the day, Chuckie walked over to Angelica's car and waited for her. He hadn't been able to think or anything other than the fact that she might well have a crush on him. He folded his arms and leaned to one side, transferring his weight onto one leg while he thought. He had been thinking for a few minutes when he heard footsteps approaching. The general pace of the person was slow and he looked up to see an upset Angelica walking to towards him. She looked up at him. Her face was mixed with emotions while her eyes said a thousand words. Something had happened.
"What happened?" He asked.
Angelica just shook her head slightly and walked closer to him. A tear ran down her face and she suddenly threw her arms around him and started to cry uncontrollably. Chuckie didn't say anything and just put his arms around her waist and held her while she cried. He gently rocked her back and forth and he felt her grip on him tighten as he rested her head on his shoulder. They stood like that for around 10 minutes. A number of students had gone by and looked at them. They didn't say anything or do anything...they just didn't seem to care.
Angelica lifter her head off his shoulder and looked at him. A weak smile formed on her face as she ran a hand through his messy hair and down the back of his neck. He was like a rock for her to cling to now.
"What happened?" He asked in a low voice.
"A lot." She replied. She released her grip on him and he moved his arms away from her waist. "They came, they heard the story, I've been suspended by the Principal and then mum and dad had a right go at me. They said I shouldn't have gotten involved and I shouted at them and told them that I wouldn't be able to take seeing you hurt again...they just didn't care no matter what I told them." She explained.
Chuckie's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe it.
"I don't want to go home. I can't go home at the moment." She whispered.
"You need some company?" He asked.
She looked at him and smiled. "Yeah, but why?"
"You need it." Chuckie said.
"No, why are you offering to be with me after all I've done? No-one would comfort me after all of this." She pointed.
"Well, truth be told, I made a promise to Tommy and I'm not going to back down on it now. You need to talk to someone and you need to be comforted. Besides, I'm not a cruel natured person. I'd be there for you all the time." Chuckie told her.
"Thanks Chuckie."
To Be Continued...
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Man, I've had a real writing spurt today. The vast majority of this chapter was written just now and I'm pleased with the length and the quality of it. I've decided to make this story top priority so I'll probably end up updating one of my other stories before I put the next chapter of this one up. I hope all of you are still enjoying reading my stories. I'll try to keep my word and update this one next but don't hold your breath!
Please R&R my other stories as well (but I'm not gonna hate you if you don't).
