AN: Welcome to Wednesday :)

You guys are awesome with your reviews and follows and favourites! Like it's almost the end and you're still on this journey with me. Thank you! And while we're at it, I can't believe how close I am to the end now! Raise your hand if you thought I'd get this far. Haha, not me!

But I'm so glad I did get here because it's inspired me to write so much more! Read, Review, and Enjoy! :)

Parties & Mistakes

Chapter 25: Ally's POV

I stared open mouthed at Trish. How did they even know I was here?

"Are you going to go down?" Trish asked.

"I guess I have to, right?" I stated, turning towards the door.

I unlocked it and hoisted the heavy door open, leaving Trish behind. Class had just begun but there was no one in the halls. Everyone had scurried away quickly, not wanting to be caught up in this mess. I made my way to the front foyer, across from the office. I glanced at the papers scattered on the bulletin board and snatched them, balling them up and throwing them in the trash.

I turned around, only to be confronted by Austin.

"Hey," he said, bridging the distance between us. "I see that you saw the latest news."

I scoffed. "Yeah, it's great."

He scuffed his foot on the ground awkwardly. The air was thick and heavy, a warning of what was to come.

"We should go," he mumbled. I nodded and followed behind him. The secretary had been waiting for us. With a frown, she gestured towards Principal Vanderhouse's office. Austin knocked lightly on her door before opening it.

Kira sat perfectly poised in the centre chair. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek high ponytail, hands clasped together in the lap of her coral thigh length dress. Her lips were pursed and she was leaning slightly forward, ready for a fight.

Austin pulled back the chair to Kira's right and I headed to the left. I settled down, trying to find a position that didn't leave me in pain. Kira shifted slightly, folding her leg over the other. Even through her best efforts, she still looked uncomfortable.

We all sat there, unmoving, and silent for what seemed like hours. The air seemed even heavier than what it was back in the hallway. My nerves continued to grow. I fiddled with my thumbs and tried to remain calm. The breathing exercises Valentina suggested came to mind, but they only made me freak out more.

I'd never been called down to the principal's office and I had this sneaking suspicion that this was not going to be a pleasant meeting.

The door snapped open, and powerful clicks of heels stormed into the room. Principal Vanderhouse looked severe, hair in a bun, shoulders pointed from the blazer. Her face was trained in a permanent scowl, one that matched what was on Kira's face. No one in this room wanted to be here.

I hadn't heard many good things about our principal. Everyone had always said she was a bitter, sad woman. The rumours had gone around about her, saying she had been divorced four times and was now a single mother of two. Something told me that if those rumours were true, she wouldn't take too lightly to Kira's new story.

I searched around her desk, looking for any family pictures. There were two small frames with what seemed to be school pictures of two little blonde children. They were young and my heart ached. I could have had a miniature Austin, had I not been such a failure. I stared down at the ground, avoiding the pictures in an attempt to stop myself from crying.

I felt Austin's gaze on me and looked up to see his worried eyes. "I'm fine," I mouthed to him.

Principal Vanderhouse sighed and sunk into her black leather office chair. She folded her hands on her desk and stared at the three of us.

"So would anyone care to explain what's going on here?" she asked, a slight country lilt to her voice.

I figured my explanation wouldn't be the best in this case. Everyone already knew that Kira was a dick. But no one else spoke either, the three of us just stayed blinking at the principal.

She awaited our response, but none came. Eventually she rolled her eyes and pulled out a few sheets of paper. It took me a few moments to realize that they were pictures of the board and the notes that had accompanied them. Kira had a triumphant glow about her.

"So," Principal Vanderhouse said, spreading out the sheets. It felt like we were being interrogated. "We have three notes here, and three wrongdoings. What is the explanation?"

I scanned over the pictures of the boards. It was a little disheartening to know that my bra was on file.

"With all due respect," Austin said, confusion spelled plainly out on his face. "Why didn't you call people down the first time this happened?"

"I like to give people three chances to behave. On the third occasion you're in here."

He nodded and made a tiny noise of recognition, but again, no one explained. Kira sat with an ever present smirk, Austin held an air of annoyance, and I was trying hard not to burst out in some crazy fit of laughter or sobs.

"Alright, let's start with the first one then. From what I understand, Austin," she gestured to him. "Cheated on you, Kira," another gesture. "At a party. Now Austin, you're the first contestant on name what you did wrong!"

He blinked. "Okay..."

"And what was that?"

"I've already dealt with this and admitted my wrong, it's a little passé to be dealing with it now."

Kira scoffed as if she wanted another apology. "Can you co-operate for once?" she hissed.

I rolled my eyes and Austin shook his head almost imperceptibly. Kira had her eyebrows raised, ready for him to 'play the game'.

"Austin?" Principal Vanderhouse said.

"Well you've already said it," he crossed his arms. I could tell that there was no signs of amusement on his face. After everything that had happened, this was not a good next step. "I cheated on Kira."

"Mhmm," Kira nodded emphatically, eyes dark.

Principal Vanderhouse smiled. "Exactly. I take it there have been some apologies exchanged? Formally though, if you'd like to express that be my guest."

Principal Vanderhouse and Kira looked at Austin expectantly. I knew he wouldn't do it. His attitude in this particular moment already spelled that out, but he was stubborn. If he didn't want to do this, no body could make him.

He stared at the two of them for a few beats of a minute, calculating. "So you're asking me to apologize to Kira, despite the fact that she made Ally's life a living hell, and is still doing exactly that?"

Kira's mouth gaped open. Did she really expect him to just bend over? He was angry at her. Any chance she might have had with him was spoiled when she started attacking me.

"That's a different story," Principal Vanderhouse shifted to the next note and picture. "Kira, you're the next contestant!"

"Excuse me?" she said, genuinely offended. Her eyes were wide in shock, as if she truly thought she'd done nothing wrong.

"These notes," the principal gestured. "They're a bit much, don't you think?"

"They're the truth," Kira stated definitively, pointing a finger down on the pages. "I just wanted people to know exactly what was going on."

"You're kidding, right?" Austin hissed, ready to pounce.

"Oh, I never kid," Kira said, puffing up her ponytail. "You should know that, shouldn't you?"

Austin rolled his eyes and Principal Vanderhouse looked like she was about to jump in. "Okay.." she hesitated. "Kira, I think you owe an apology to Ally."

Kira turned her head towards me, a nasty smirk on her lips. "I'm very sorry, Ally," she said snidely.

"Good enough," Principal Vanderhouse spoke. "Now, Ally. I think you owe an apology to yourself. How you've handled this situation is entirely wrong."

"What?" Austin and I said at the same time.

She pointed to the third set of pictures. The ones that had been taken on Wednesday. The ones with tears streaming down my face. "I'm talking about this. There's other ways to deal with pregnancy when you're young apart from aborting a child."

"I - I... No, you don't understand," I stuttered.

Kira smiled, as Principal Vanderhouse shook her head sadly. She placed the photos of her children face down, as if I might kill them too.

"Principal Vanderhouse," Austin began. "That didn't happen. Kira's just making it-"

"Enough," the principal spoke. "Enough. Can we just agree that whatever is going on between the three of you, that you can keep it between yourselves? No more of this wall business. Now, out and back to class! Let this be a warning for all of you, one more strike and you're facing suspension."

We all nodded and she ushered us out into the hallway. My stomach muscles were aching from sitting in that chair for too long. I winced when I got up, and winced again as we began walking. I had every intention of going back to class - maybe even talking to Austin for a bit - but that's not how anything ever works out.

I headed for the stairs, but felt a hand on my wrist. I whipped around at its pull, feeling a head rush and a sting on my right side. Clutching the area where my new scar was, I cried out and came face to face with Kira. This was the first time she had confronted me and I was surprised it hadn't happened sooner.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Kira asked.

"What?"

She scoffed. "God, I know you're not that stupid. Come on, Ally, aren't you just so happy now? Everything's coming up for you!"

I stared at her, unblinking, unmoving. Who did I think I was? Who does she think she is? What does she think she's doing, attacking me? I tried to think of something to say, knowing that if I spoke it would either come out as some angry rant, or a sad, messy sob.

"Kira," Austin sighed. "That's enough. Get over yourself and realize that this happened almost two months ago. You don't need to bring this up every time you feel you need attention."

She rolled her eyes and turned on Austin. "You really think I'm doing this for attention? Maybe you should get over yourself. I mean, isn't your whole life about getting attention?"

"There's a difference between shaming someone for something they didn't even do, and attempting to become famous." Austin hissed.

"And how do all your little followers feel about this?"

Austin glared at her. It was true that he'd gained a few enemies from this whole ordeal. Lots of 'Team Austin' fans had been really disappointed that their role model had cheated on his girlfriend. It was something that had made him really upset at first. But he'd come to the realization that he couldn't please everybody, and this was something everyone just had to get over. Most of this had blown over by now in the Austin fandom world, but I wasn't so sure Kira was letting it go. I understood how hurt she must have been, but in continuing to berate me for this, she must be hurting herself all over again. I was starting to really hate her.

If I was being honest, there was a part of me that hated Austin for this. If he hadn't had such a following at school and around the country I wouldn't be under this much stress. If he wasn't dead set on becoming famous, I wouldn't feel so obsolete. I wouldn't have the hate of thousands of people on my shoulders.

"Kira, just stop," Austin said meekly. He didn't want to get into this. All he wanted was this whole mess to just blow over. It was all either of us wanted. It seemed once we thought it was over, a new chapter began.

"No!" Kira shrieked. "You don't seem to understand that you're hurting people!"

"And what're you doing?" he asked defensively. Whenever the conversation strayed remotely close to me, he immediately jumped on the defensive.

"I'm letting people know what actually happened, because if it was up to you, it would all be covered over!"

He sniggered and looked at her as though she was an idiot. "How is any of this the truth? What you put up on that board today, how is that remotely true?"

"Well what do you think she was doing at the hospital on the pregnancy floor?"

"How the hell did you even get those pictures anyway?"

Kira flushed and looked down at the ground. Her perfectly poised, manicured fingers were clenched in fists by her sides. "Does that matter? It's the proof. And maybe she hasn't told you and that's why you're so pissed, but it's the truth."

"You don't even know the first thing about the truth!" Austin said, his voice raising in exasperation, along with his hands. "You're just spreading more rumours because you're angry at me and instead of telling me that you're just being really immature! You're attacking Ally because you want me to hurt, but all you're doing is killing her!"

"Be realistic here, you can't kill anyone with rumours."

Austin cocked his head to the side and blinked at her stupidity. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "Alright, whatever you think you're doing, just stop it. It's not like it's helping anyone."

"Oh but it is," she replied pulling her cellphone out of her purse. "See all these people?"

Austin and I looked at the phone. There was a blog up on the screen. I recognized it as the blogs we had to make in Grade 10 for a business course, apparently she had kept hers. We were looking at the 'Ask Kira' section. Most of the questions and comments were about this thing with Austin. They were in support of Kira.

Clearly the person who all this bulletin board shit was helping, was Kira.

"You're doing this to help yourself?" Austin hissed. "How immature is that? That's exactly my point! You're doing this because you're a scorned little girl who just wants revenge!"

"Oh yeah I'm the immature one!" Kira rolled her eyes and shoved her phone back in her bag. "At least I would be mature enough to raise a child as opposed to getting rid of one!"

It stung me to the core every time she implied I'd had an abortion. But with each sting came this glorious amount of anger. I didn't know I was capable of feeling this amount of fury. I didn't know where to put it.

"That didn't even happen!" Austin yelled. "You're making something up to make yourself feel better and someone else worse!"

"You're delusional," Kira said snidely. "All skanks are the same. They sleep around, wind up pregnant, then go and abort the next day!"

"Hey!" Austin yelled, taking a threatening step towards her. "Take that back, Kira."

"No," she said, extending herself and smiling triumphantly.

I took one good look at Kira and acted before I had a chance to even think. I wound up and slapped her hard on the face. Kira drew back, clutching her cheek. Austin's eyes grew wide and he took a step back.

"Oh shit," I breathed out. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she screeched, fabricating tears in her eyes.

Austin rounded on her once more, confusion once more on his face. "What's wrong with you, Kira?"

It was then I realized we weren't alone. Someone had caught the last half of our debacle. Mr. Fairfield - whose class was opposite the front office - had come to see what all the commotion was. They had been making a great deal of noise, but now I was implicated. We all froze and Kira began to play the victim.

"Mr. Fairfield," she cried. "You saw what just happened! You can get her expelled!"

"What?" Austin and Mr. Fairfield chimed. In both of their eyes there was this obvious aversion towards Kira.

"Expel her! She just slapped me in the face! Not to mention everything else she's done to me!" Kira whined, making crocodile tears fall down her cheeks.

Mr. Fairfield hesitated, shifting from foot to foot. He looked from me, to Kira, to Austin. "Expel, I'm not so sure. I think a suspension is more suiting. After all, you were egging them on."

Kira's mouth gaped open and the crying ceased. Thank God I got a teacher who favours me.

I heard clicking down the hall and turned to see Principal Vanderhouse storming down the hallway. She had a well pronounced scowl on her face.

"What did I just tell you three!" she cursed. "This is your last strike. Y'all are out!"

Kira's eyebrows were raised, mouth still agape. She was taken aback that all of this hadn't worked in her favour.

"I'm sorry, what?" Kira hissed. "Did you see what she -"

"You're all suspended until Friday. Don't say anymore or your punishment will be worse. I hate doing this so close to the Christmas season but there's no other choice. I'm calling your parents." Principal Vanderhouse interrupted.

Suspended. The word rang through my head and blurred my vision. I'm not this girl. I don't get suspended.

"You're crying," Austin spoke. He placed his hands on my crossed arms. "Are you okay?"

I hadn't even realized I was crying. I'd been having a lot of those moments recently. How long had the tears been falling down my face?

I looked up at Austin and saw genuine concern in his eyes. My misplaced fury and sadness all came and focused on him. Mr. Fairfield had gone back to his class, Kira had stomped away, and Principal Vanderhouse had gone back to her office. We were alone in the hall and all I wanted to do was hit something.

"I came here today because I thought maybe I'd feel normal," I started through choking sobs. "That all went to shit the second I walked in here. I feel worse than what I've been feeling moping around in my bedroom. I feel like the world has come crashing down around me and I don't even know what I'm supposed to do about any of that! I just want everything to go back to the way it was, but they can't! I don't know if I'll ever feel fine again and I hate that! I hate all of this!"

He looked at me questioningly, pain and sadness in his eyes. It only hurt more to see him like that. "Does that mean you hate me for this too?"

Not even close. Even the parts of me that hated Austin for this whole mess, still loved every inch of him.

"No," I said as my phone bleated out. My mother was here and ready to pick me up. "No, I just hate that I don't."

I closed my eyes, I didn't want to see the hurt I'd, no doubt, inflicted on him. I broke away from his hands and began to head towards the front of the school as quickly as I could without causing myself pain. Hurried sounds of running shoes on the tiled floor followed me. I pivoted on my heel and saw a red eyed Austin.

We looked at each other, neither one of us speaking.

"I'm sorry," I said and I left him behind.

Guilt followed me with every step, but I didn't look back. Why can't I just hate you? Why does everything have to be so hard? When will my world make sense again?

AN: I promise you everything gets happier soon! See you on Saturday! Drop me a review:)