Chapter 5
When Stephanie arrived home from school that afternoon, she found her foster mother Kelly Watson sitting at the table looking disappointed.
"Sit down, Stephanie." Kelly said.
Stephanie sat down.
"What is it, Kelly?" Stephanie asked her.
"Mr Fisher rang me about an hour ago." Kelly said. "He told me that you got into a scuffle with Sonia Hammond."
"Serves the cow right for being mean to my friends!" Stephanie said angrily.
"I'm very disappointed in you, Stephanie." Kelly said. "You should've known better."
Stephanie put her head down and said, "I'm very sorry."
"That's okay. Just don't do it again." Kelly said.
Stephanie looked over to find Tiegan arriving at the front door.
"Come in, Tiegan." Stephanie said to her friend.
"I'm gonna kill that slag!" Tiegan shouted.
"Calm down and take a seat." Stephanie said, putting her arms around Tiegan before sitting her on the living room lounge.
"How dare she bring up my school history at Hartley High?!" Tiegan continued to shout.
"What happened?" Kelly asked.
"Sonia Hammond decided to go through Tiegan's student file as she was in Mr Fisher's office and broadcast Tiegan's private business to the rest of the students!" Stephanie replied.
Kelly was not happy.
"That's a criminal offence." she said.
"Mr Fisher had a go at her for snooping, but did that stop her?" Tiegan said, her voice breaking.
"Don't let Sonia make you cry, girl." Stephanie said.
Tiegan took a deep breath before saying, "You're right. She's a nobody."
"Come here."
Stephanie then gave Tiegan a big hug.
Meanwhile, Selina and Jerome were at the Bayside Diner talking about the day's events.
"I can't believe you pushed my ex-girlfriend over!" Jerome said, laughing.
"I think Melanie will get the hint now." Selina said.
"She's crazy."
Selina put her milkshake cup down and said to Jeremy, "I think she's obsessed with you."
Jerome laughed before saying, "Me too."
"I suppose you heard what happened between Steph and Sonia?" Selina said.
"No, what happened?" Jeremy asked her.
"The stupid scrag was airing Tiegan's dirty laundry and Steph beat her up." Selina responded.
Jerome started laughing.
"I think our friendship is blossoming." Jerome said, once he finished laughing.
"Same here." Selina smiled.
Melissa, a waitress at the diner, approached them.
"Is there anything else I can get you?" Melissa asked.
"Could I have another chocolate milkshake please." Jerome replied.
"Sure." Melissa said.
"Another one?" Selina said, stunned.
"Even the star of the Summer Bay High rugby team needs his fix of chocolate milk." Jerome said before winking at Selina.
"You are just too cute." Selina said.
Jerome put his arm around Selina.
March 13, 1996
When Tiegan arrived at school the next morning, she found several students staring at her.
"Why are they staring at me?" Tiegan asked Sally.
"Just ignore them." Sally responded.
Just as things couldn't get any worse for Tiegan, Sonia Hammond and her cronies strolled over to her.
"My, don't you look miserable this morning." Sonia sneered.
"Why so sad for, Tiegan?" Kim asked sarcastically.
"Get a life!" Sally snapped at them.
"Now, we're only trying to be nice." Amy told Sally in a fake sugary-sweet voice.
"I'll see you later, Sal." Tiegan said before walking away.
"Have a nice trip, loser." Sonia called out before laughing her head off.
"You're such a cow, Sonia!" Sally shouted.
"Rack off, nerd!" Sonia said, giving Sally a disgusted look.
"I'd like to see Stephanie attack you one more time!" Sally said.
"Now, you listen here-"
"Shut up, Sonia!" a voice yelled out.
Sonia, Amy and Kim jumped up to find Stephanie right behind them.
"You and your little crows can clear off!" Stephanie said angrily.
Without saying another word, Sonia and her friends left.
"How's Tiegan?" Stephanie asked Sally.
"Not good." Sally replied.
"I hope some of you students are pleased with yourselves." Stephanie said to several students who stared at Tiegan.
"Why?" one student asked.
"Until you know the facts about Tiegan and what happened at Hartley High, mind your own business!"
Some of the students put their heads down.
"Come on, Sally." Stephanie said.
Sally and Stephanie walked away.
Later, Tiegan and Stephanie were in their English class when Sonia strolled in with Amy and Kim in tow.
"I hope the little bitch is pleased with herself. My whole reputation is ruined because of her!" Tiegan snarled.
"I wouldn't say that." Stephanie said to her.
"Why?" Tiegan asked.
"You'll see." Stephanie responded.
As students made their way in, some of them who made fun of Tiegan the day before apologised to her.
"Stephanie, what did you do?" Tiegan asked her.
"I had a go at them this morning." Stephanie replied.
Sonia couldn't believe what was happening and neither could Kim and Amy. Sonia thought she damaged Tiegan's reputation at Summer Bay High for good and now it was backfiring on her big time.
"Tiegan, may I ask what happened at your old high school?" Chloe asked her.
"That teacher I supposedly had a fling with actually sexually harassed me. Several students at that school started rumours that I was a slut and everything else." Tiegan admitted.
"What else?" a female student asked.
"I was attacked by a fellow student during Maths class and the teacher did absolutely nothing. Plus, I was also socially rejected by some fake friends at that school. It got to the point where one day I finally snapped and threw a desk at one of them. The bullying took it's toll on me, both emotionally and physically." Tiegan replied.
"That takes guts, man." a male student said.
"What's that?" Tiegan asked him.
"You admitting to being bullied." he replied.
"You have won my respect." Chloe said.
"Same here." Stephanie said.
All the students in the class started giving Tiegan a round of applause. Sonia, on the other hand, was fuming!
"I'm so cutting class!" Sonia said through clenched teeth.
"Us too!" Amy said.
And with that, Sonia and her friends left the classroom. Tiegan had won the respect of her classmates and Sonia couldn't stand it.
NEXT TIME...
- Melanie's attempt to turn Selina and Jerome against each other backfires
- Stephanie and Tiegan have a heart-to-heart