Chapter 9 – What is with her?

Will have kept his word, cause when I woke up today morning, he is gone. After breakfast, I went to school as usual just that I'm on my own cause Will gone for some interschool football match and he'll be arriving at school later in the day. But as I reached the school gates, Jennifer is waiting for me. Her cheerleader team is also standing behind her. Jennifer gestures for them to come over. "You gotta message?" Jennifer asked, threateningly. One of the girls sneered. "Hey, what's your problem?" I asked Jennifer. "Will boy not here to protect you, huh? Or I guess you got the message," Jennifer replied.

"You'll pay for what you've done, Elaine." And with that, Jennifer, leading her whole cheerleading team, walked back towards the school.

I stand there stunned for a moment as I recalled back the words that Jennifer just said. "You'll pay for what you've done" Wait…where have I heard that before? Uhhh… nevermind. I walked towards the school in frustration and anger.

I walked to the cafeteria for lunch with Anne. This is the only time I get to spend with her on Wednesdays. "So, how's your day?" she asked me. "Fine," I replied tonelessly. "Where's Will?" she asked again. "Football match." I answered her. She studied me for a moment. "You look a little…dull," she finally said. "I'm fine," I reassured her. We found an empty table and sat down. I opened my lunchbox hoping it is not egg sandwich again but I ran out of luck. I looked up and saw Jennifer speeding towards me. Oh no…I thought. "Can I have a word?" I heard her cold, icy voice beside my ears. "I'll be back," I told Anne. I really want to find out what this cheerleader wants me to do. But of course, I already knew.

She led me into the girls bathroom on the top floor. Students seldom come up here. Some say it is haunted, some don't even know it existed. I've only been here once when I've got my period and it leaked through my Jeans.

I looked through the open window and stared at the students gathered on grassy field five floors down. As I did, a thought came into my head, It is a steep drop down. I shook the thought away as I heard Jennifer's voice said, "Nice view over here, huh?" Then she added in a more menacing voice, " I wonder what's it feel like to free-fall down?" she turned to look at me. Is it only my imagination or did I see a look of evil pass her eyes? I saw her hand reached into her bag and my eyes grew wide as I see her draw out a knife used to cut vegetables. I watch as the light gleamed and reflected off the knife. Then, without warning, she threw the knife at me.

I moved sharply to my left and almost tripped when the knife flew past me and through the open window. I heard a scream and then the voice of the discipline teacher boomed up. "WHO WAS THAT?" Jennifer took me by surprise again me and jammed my head roughly out the window while she stays out of view. As I predicted, the discipline teacher mistook me for Jennifer's crime. "ELAINE HARRISON, TO THE DISCIPLINE OFFICE NOW!"

"It wasn't me!" I repeated for the hundredth time. "Ellie, I don't know how could you possibly do such a thing! A boy nearly got killed!" I'm so tired of explaining the whole situation to him again so I remained silent. "I'm calling your parents," the discipline teacher, Mr. Shreve said abruptly. That got my attention. "Why?" I said louder than I intended. "You broke the school rules, nearly killed a boy and you expect me to do nothing about it?" he spat the words to me. "Ellie, as everyone knows, disciplinary actions will be taken to all students who broke the school rules in this school." "The boy's parents will also the told," he added.

I picked a comfortable armchair and waited as receptionist dialed my mom's hand phone. She shook her head at me, shooting me a look of utmost disapproval and disgrace. She placed the phone back into its holder after she tried to dial my mom's phone for the fifth time. I didn't tell Mr. Shreve that my mom always forgets her phone and seldom picks it up. Thank goodness they don't have my house phone number.

I remained in the discipline room for the non-ending lecture and Mr. Shreve kept me back for detention after the bell goes signaling the end of school. I reach home an hour late and Will was seating on my bed as I enter my room. "Hey, what kept you back?" he asked. "Nothing. Just projects," I lied. No matter how much I force myself, I couldn't bring the words out that Jennifer had nearly killed me and I am blamed for her crime.