Chapter Seven of Strength to Make it Through

"Clare!"

"Alli!"

Principle Simpson called from his office. He sounds angry. If I were in his position, I would be furious as well. But this was one of those calm angry's that my father usually gets when me or my sister, Darcy, did something wrong and he was trying REALLY hard not to yell. Like when Darcy started dating Peter after he was to one who introduced her to the thirty year old man on the internet and then the man became her stalker. He looked like he was going to blow a gasket. At the time, I kind of wished he had. But my mom was the one who interfered and came up with the whole, "let's bring him to dinner" thing. Next thing I knew, Peter was their favorite person. And I must admit, after a few weeks, he grew on me too.

I looked at Alli and watched as she stood up and put on her 'brave face' as I like to call it. I've seen that face many times: When she went to ask Johnny out, when she confronted Drew about his cheating, when she left Degrassi to go to the all-girls school, when she decided that she was going to take a chance on Dave, when she thought she was pregnant. But in this instance, I could relate to her since I would be putting on the same face in about thirty seconds. Alli turned and nodded at me and I was able to see her cut lip and the angry bruise forming on the side of her mouth. Alli took a deep breath, pushed her shoulders back, and walked-limped- to Mr. Simpson's office in a broken heal.

Me, on the other hand, I was not so brave. Instead, I would say-as I have before-that I am a coward. I run from my problems, I try to hide them, and I most defiantly wait to tell someone about them. When it came to helping a friend with their problems, I was the first to step forward; as soon as it was MY problem, I was the first to run and hide. But I knew that there was no way that I would be getting out of this without telling my side of the story. So I took a page out of Alli's book and pushed my shoulders back and walked towards Mr. Simpson's office. From the look of surprise on his face, I knew I didn't look too good. I knew I had a large red hand print across my left cheek and a sprained wrist that I had been rubbing for the past ten minutes. Also, the back of my head was killing me and I could feel a huge headache coming on.

I hesitantly stepped into his office and shut the door behind me. I felt that if I were about to be yelled at, the fewer witnesses that heard, the better. As I took my seat, I was careful not to look him in the eyes; I wouldn't be able to take his disapproval right now. Not when I was about to get suspended, or worse, expelled from Degrassi.

"Okay," Simpson said. "Who would like to start?" Alli and I looked at each other, then at the floor. We honestly didn't want to say anything. This moment would jeopardize everything for Alli. She had early acceptance into MIT and this could-would-give her a major set-back if he suspended us. I didn't even want to know what would happen if she was expelled.

Simpson sighed, "I already heard from Jenna, Adam and Bianca. All I want to know is your side of the story." Simpson was talking to us like we were four year old children. In this moment, I'm sure that Alli would agree that we feel like four year old children.

Alli cleared her throat, "We started the protests. And everything was going extremely well." I nodded in agreement. "Like…everyone is wearing a ribbon now." Alli smiled in satisfaction. I giggled and Mr. Simpson had to clear his throat obnoxiously to gain our attention. Alli nodded, "Anyways, we were cutting more ribbons with Adam and Bianca...for…some odd…reason." She paused. "I have no idea why Bianca is all 'buddy, buddy' with us now-but that doesn't matter. What matters was as that she was there. Then, all of a sudden, Jenna came flying around the corner at us like a crazy woman."

Simpson looked at Alli for a moment, and then focused his sharp blue eyes on me. "Is that what happened?"

I nodded feeling slightly light headed. "Jenna was yelling at us saying that what we are doing 'isn't right' and that we needed to stop the protest immediately. Bianca told her to take a hike-in a not so nice way. Then Jenna got even angrier."

Flashback:

"Seriously? Do you honestly thing I'm going to listen to you?" Jenna spat out at Bianca.

Bianca tightens her grip on her scissors and I grew a little bit concerned. "I would if I were you," Bianca threatened. I was becoming increasingly nervous with Bianca holding scissors while in an altercation. When I saw that her knuckles were turning white, I reached over and pried the scissors from her hands.

"Look, Jenna, I don't see why you're so upset. I thought you would be happy that we are trying to stop the violence and the bullying in school." Alli told her friend and roommate softly.

"I am trying to stop it. Which is why, you need to stop with your protest against Becky. She has done nothing to you."

I looked at her incredulously and pointed at Adam who raised his hand, "She tried to kick me out of Degrassi this morning." Adam reminded her. I rolled my eyes, like she could have possibly missed it.

Jenna rolled her eyes and huffed, "Becky and I are trying to rid the school of sinners. Adam, you commit the biggest sin of all. You aren't happy with yourself. You need to learn to accept yourself the way that God made you."

I cut her off, "Adam has accepted himself. And he is happy. You just don't see it because how could someone possibly be happy when others are consistently trying to change who they are. It's everyone else who needs to learn to accept him."

Jenna glared at me, "You are supposed to be Christian!" Alli and I laughed at her. This was the second time I had heard that fraise today and it was starting to make me mad.

"That's rich coming from the girl who hasn't even been Christian a full month," Alli barked, crossing her arms. "And, you did it all for a boy."

Bianca laughed, "You seriously changed that much for a guy? Man, and just when I thought you couldn't fall any father." She shook her head, still laughing.

"I didn't do it for a boy!"

We all nodded at her in fake agreement. "Sure," Alli said. "I find it convenient that you decided to turn Christian right after Luke told you that you couldn't be together because you are a 'temptation'."

"You know, I don't know how anyone could find you tempting at all." Bianca said in disgust. Okay, I admit, that was a funny come back. But it was also hurtful and I could see that it hurt Jenna.

"Look, we're sorry. We didn't mean for this to get out of hand. Jenna, we are not stopping this protest. As a matter of fact, were moving it to the Dot where people can pick up a ribbon there too. It's not right to bully someone out of school."

Jenna looked at me pleadingly, "Don't you see what we are trying to do? If we get rid of sin, then there is nothing to be bullied about. If everyone is the same, then there will be no picking-on-the-little-guy."

"That doesn't make any sense." Adam said, "We are all different. And getting rid of me won't change anything. There are still going to be the Jocks that like to pick on the Nerds. There are still going to be the…people like Bianca and Owen that make fun of…everyone. There are always going to be the Cheerleaders that stick up their noses to everyone. Getting rid of me won't change that.

"Don't you think that Becky and I thought of that? You were just our first step. We have plans, and now you are ruining them."

Bianca looked at her in disgust, "Who gave you the right to TRY and kick someone out of school?"

Jenna rounded on her, "Who gave you the right to throw someone through a window?"

I grabbed Bianca's arm and yanked her back as I saw her move towards Jenna in a menacing way. A part of me would LOVE to watch Jenna get what she dissevered, but that would defeat the purpose of today's petition.

I faced Bianca and pointed to her ribbon, "We are here to STOP violence, not create it." I reminded her with a hiss. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, but she didn't make another advance to Jenna. Score one for Clare, I cheered in my head.

Jenna snorted, "You honestly think this will stop violence? Everyone wearing ribbons?" Jenna picked up one of the said ribbons with her pointer finger and thumb and held it away from her like it was really a poppy diaper, rather than a harmless ribbon. "If anything, it will start more violence."

"I don't believe that," I told her confidently. "I believe our student body would like to stop bullying just as much as I do, because we have all been subjected to it." I paused for a moment. "Even you, Jenna, at one time, were a victim of bullying. But mostly, you were the one who was doing the bullying. Remember all the put downs to Dave in grade nine? Or how in grade ten you spread the rumor that I got a boob job when I really got laser eye surgery? Let's not forget about how you got into a confrontation with Holly J WHILE you were pregnant. But…that's not bullying is it? The only time you were bullied was by the cheer squad when you were taking laxatives because you were being teased by your 'friends'."

"Spirit Squad! And I don't even know how you knew about that!" Alli and I smirked at each other.

"We tell each other everything." Alli said proudly. I had to swallow the feeling of guilt in my throat and pretend I didn't see the pointed looks that Bianca tossed my way.

"Alright, it's not like any of you are perfect." Jenna tried to defend herself. She pointed at Bianca. "You are worse than them all."

"Why, because I'm not fake or subject myself to be someone I'm not?" Bianca shot back. If that wasn't a good came back, I would have wanted her to keep her mouth closed. No, I still wished she kept her mouth closed when I saw Jenna's nasty glare.

"And you," she rounded on Alli. "You have quit the reputation, Backwoods." Alli's mouth fell open. So did the rest of ours. "Or should I say Boiler-room?"

"HEY!" Bianca and I both yelled. I was surprised that Bianca said anything since she had just called Alli Backwoods yesterday. "Leave her alone, baby momma." Bianca continued.

Jenna laughed humorously, "Sure thing, Boyfriend stealer."

I laughed this time, "That's comical coming from you, of all people. You were the one who stole K.C. from me."

Alli nodded, "What makes it worse is that you pretended to be friends with Clare, and THEN stabbed the knife in her back."

Bianca nodded, "Some friend you are."

Jenna glared at her, seething. "Coming from a girl would doesn't have any friends."

"I'm her friend," Adam, who had been quiet so far, said quietly.

"So am I," I told everyone. They all looked at me surprised, even Bianca. But I could see the happiness in her eyes. "At one point, I was your friend too," I reminded her.

Jenna glared at me, "You are going to hell!" She yelled.

"No," Alli told her calmly. "You are."

That was when things became crazy. I remember Jenna lunging at Alli and Adam trying to stop her, but she was too fast. She and Alli fell to the ground-where she broke her heal-and proceeded to pounce on her. Jenna got in one good hit to Alli before Bianca and I hauled her off of Alli-who was holding her bloody lip. Jenna got her arm loose from Bianca and swung around towards me and slapped me across the face so hard I tumbled into Adam and saw stars for a moment. Adam helped me stand and went to help Bianca who had Jenna in an arm lock.

I walked over to Alli and helped her stand and then tried to help Adam and Bianca clam down what looked like an irate animal howling at us in the hallway. This was gaining the attention of…everyone who still lingered in the hallway. At this point, I was still dizzy and was excited when I heard people coming our way.

Bianca made the mistake of lightening her grip on Jenna when she heard other people approaching and Jenna was able to break free. I swear that it looked like a beast ripping free of its restraints. Then, all of a sudden, she lunged at me and tackled me to the floor. Jenna had her knees on my chest and my head made contact with the floor. Hard. I shook my head to clear my vision just in time to see Jenna's fist coming towards my face. I acted on instinct. My hand grabbed her forearm, keeping it away from me. I brought my right hand up and punched her in the face as hard as I could in my position and felt something in my wrist 'pop', just as hands came forward and hauled Jenna off of me.

End Flashback.

"After that, we were not allowed to go to the nurses because Officer Turner had to take our statements and then after that, you asked to see us in your office." Alli said as she crossed her arms.

Mr. Simpson looked between Alli and I few times before he nodded and turned off the voice recorder that I didn't know was on. That was the second time I had been taped without my knowing. "I am going to review that video tapes of the hallway security cameras we had installed and see whose story matches up. If I find out that you initiated the fight, you will be suspended for ten days. If you are telling the truth, you will be serving a month's detention. Got it?" We nodded at him. "You may go to the nurses now."

Alli and I left his office and walked silently down the hall. We both let out the breaths that we had been holding and smiled at each other as we made our way to the nurse's office.

"Clare?" I turned at the sound of Ms. Oh's voice. She and Officer Turner were walking up to me and they did not look happy. Was it because of the fight? I was protecting myself!

"Clare," Ms. Oh said again as she walked up to Alli and I. "There is something Officer Turner and I need to speak to you about." She told me with sad eyes. Officer Turner didn't look pleased either.

"Okay," I said looking back at Alli. "I'll catch up with you in a minute." I said feeling scared and wanting nothing but for her to stay with me. She nodded at me with concerned eyes and met up with our gang who were waiting for us outside the nurse's office. I caught sight of Eli. He was looking at me with the same concern that Alli had in her eyes. I forced myself to smile, but he didn't smile back.

I turned back to the two adults standing before me, "What do you need to talk to me about?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

"I just found out that they-the police department-are releasing Asher Shostak on bail." Officer Turner said sadly.

I blinked at him, trying to understand what he was saying. "But, Asher is supposed to being in jail until trial." I whispered in disbelief.

"The judge handling the case looked at his file again and said that he was no flight risk or threat to you or any of the other girls coming forward." Ms. Oh filled in.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I fully comprehended what was happening. "But, what about the letter he wrote me? The one that said that I was going to pay for what I was doing to him? That was the reason he wasn't granted bail in the first place!"

"The judge said that there is no evidence that it was Asher who sent the letter to you since it was typed and printed. There was no signature. Until the evidence lab calls and tells us that there were traces of Asher's DNA on the letter or envelope, then he's free." Turner filled in for me. I had watched enough crime shows to know what he was talking about. I also knew that they could also look on his laptop and work computer to see if he had typed the letter if there was no DNA.

But that wasn't what concerned me at the moment. "So the people who encouraged me to go to the police are telling me that Asher-the man who sexually harassed me-is getting out on bail?"

Officer Turner stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on my arm, "If you honestly think his threat was real," I nodded my head in affirmative and he closed he eyes and sighed and Ms. Oh gasped.

"I ruined his life. We took everything away from him: his job, freedom, reputation." I reminded them, "Of course he would want revenge."

Officer Turner nodded and looked me in the eyes. "Then I promise that I will do everything in my power to protect you."

Had to bring Asher in and make him a bad guy. I liked him in the beginning, when he was just the mentor. Then he did all that SH*T to Clare and I hate him…a lot!