Chapter 14
Raven sat on a park bench in the middle of the night, watching the lamppost flicker. The dull light was fading in and out... Suddenly, a figure moved to her right. She turned to it slowly. Red hair silhouetted in the moonlight, but the face was dark.
"Raven." The figure called.
Raven straightened herself on the bench. "Chels, what are you doing here?"
Chelsea didn't answer. She just stood there, her face shadowed by the night. Raven stood up, feeling very afraid. Chills ran up and down her spine.
"Ch-Chelsea?"
"Turn on the light." Chelsea ordered, pointing behind Raven.
Raven turned and realized she was against a wall. A big switch stuck out from the wall next to her. She looked at Chelsea, who was still cloaked in darkness. Very reluctantly, Raven flipped the switch.
Bright lights blinded her for a second. When her vision cleared, Raven realized she was standing in front of the entire school. There was a sea of hateful faces. Chelsea stood in front, her arms crossed.
"What's this?"
"You told everybody Raven. Now I hate you. And so does everybody else."
Raven stood against the wall, horrified. "Chelsea…you don't mean that."
"Get the dyke." Chelsea hissed lowly and everyone stepped forward.
They surrounded Raven as she pushed further against the wall. "No. Chelsea please! No!"
The angry mob inched closer, mumbling "Dyke…dyke…dyke…"
"You brought this on yourself."
Raven pushed impossibly against the wall, closing her eyes, turning her head away and screaming as loud as she could. Suddenly, a pair of hands gripped her shoulders.
"AHHHH!"
"Raven. Raven!"
Raven snapped open her eyes and started to struggle…until she realized it was her mother holding her. She calmed down just a bit, staring into her mother's very concerned face.
"Rae, honey? Are you all right? What are you doing on the bathroom floor? Why were you screaming?" Tanya shot out all at once, panic and worry taking over her.
Raven looked at Tanya, and then burst into tears. Tanya pulled Raven close, rocking her slowly and rubbing her back. "Shhh. It's okay. It's all right. What happened?"
"She…she…" Raven sobbed, trying in vain to get the words out.
"She who? Chelsea? Raven, honey, what happened?"
"She broke up with me!" Raven finally managed to choke out, sobbing uncontrollably. Tanya just held her daughter tighter, rocking back and forth. She had never seen her daughter so upset. So…heartbroken. Tanya slowly felt the heat rising in her face. Anger took over. How dare Chelsea do this to her baby. She had a right mind to go over to the Daniels' house and knock some sense into that girl.
That girl…the girl that broke Raven's heart. A girl…
Suddenly and unexpectedly, relief washed over Tanya, drowning out her anger. Raven and Chelsea wouldn't be dating anymore. But it didn't last long. Guilt quickly followed relief…and then sadness.
"It's okay baby. It's okay…" Tanya whispered in her broken daughter's ear, hugging her tightly and continuing to rock.
"It's okay."
Principal Lawler sat back in his chair, trying his best to act both threatening and calm. These kids didn't fear him, he knew that. He needed to be firm and in control. If he lost it, things would get out of hand.
Rocky sat in one leather chair, picking off small pieces of the corner of the arm. Michael sat in another, his arms crossed and his head down. Deckland stood off to one end, leaning up against the wall, chewing gum loudly. Tyrone stood off to the other side, just leaning against the wall and staring behind his dark shades.
Lawler took a good long look at each of them, and wondered why he hadn't expelled them all a long time ago.
"All right. I think you know why you're all here today."
Rocky shook his head. "Actually, we don't."
"Oh, I think you do, Mr. Collera. I brought you all here today to discuss the defacement of two of our students' lockers. Would you happen to know who they are?"
Rocky was about to shake his head but Michael interrupted. "Raven Baxter and Chelsea Daniels."
"Yes. That's right. Now, can you tell me anything about this vandalism?"
Michael shrugged.
"Are you saying you don't know Mr. Whitman?"
Michael didn't answer. Rocky glared at him, sending him death rays with his eyes, warning him not to say another word.
Lawler leaned forward. This kid was the weak link. He was the one who would crack. "Then how did you know whose lockers it was?"
Rocky answered for Michael. "It's all over school. The chicks are dykes. That's what was on the lockers."
Lawler shot him a warning glare.
"I'm just saying that's what I heard is all." Rocky put both his hands up in surrender, shaking his head a little.
"That's what you heard."
Rocky nodded.
"Do any of you boys know who could have possibly written such a horrible word on the girls' lockers?"
"It wasn't me." Michael mumbled, still lost in thought.
"It wasn't us." Rocky corrected, trying his hardest not to tackle Michael right then and there.
"Oh, I think it was you Mr. Collera. You and your little buddies wanted to teach the girls a lesson for getting you in trouble. Am I right?"
"No."
"I'm wrong in thinking this way?"
Rocky couldn't control himself any longer. His face turned red as he shouted, "Listen, we didn't do nothing and you can't prove we did. So why don't you stop dicking us around and let us go?"
Lawler sat back, putting his hand under his chin; they had left him no other choice.
"No. I think I'll take your detention one step further and suspend you for two weeks. All of you."
"What! You can't do that!" Rocky shouted, standing up with such force that the leather chair tipped over. Tyrone and Deckland stepped up behind him.
"Yeah. Ya can' do that." Deckland echoed.
"I can and I will."
Michael looked up. "I said I didn't do anything."
"I don't believe you Mr. Whitman." Lawler retorted. "Unless you have some information that I don't."
Michael looked at the gang and then back at Lawler. He shook his head and remained silent.
"Okay then. Suspension starts this minute. Security will be waiting outside to escort you all off school property. And mark my words, if I find any one of you on school premises before your suspension is up, you'll be arrested for trespassing and expelled."
Lawler sat back in his chair trying to contain his victorious smirk. They all stood there for a moment, Rocky's heavy breathing filling the silence.
Then, a security guard opened the door. "Principal Lawler, we're ready."
"Good day boys."
Michael got up and was the first to leave. Tyrone followed slowly behind. Deckland walked to the doorframe and then stopped. Rocky didn't move; he squinted at Lawler in anger, his face red with fury.
"I said good day Mr. Collera."
"Rock." Deckland called and Rocky let out a big sigh.
Then he turned and walked out.
As soon at the security guard closed the door, Lawler let out a big sigh. That was tougher than he thought it would be, but he had won. He was still a little upset that Michael hadn't told, but suspension ought to keep the boys in line.
At least, that's what he thought.