Chapter 12

March 21, 1996.

The next morning, Chloe arrived at school and found Stephanie and Tiegan standing near the lockers.

"Chloe, I'm glad you're here." Stephanie said.

"What's up?" Chloe asked.

"Fisher and Miss Brennan are being interviewed by the police." Stephanie replied.

"It's something big." Tiegan added.

"Does this have to do with the drugs?" Chloe asked.

"Not just that." Tiegan responded.

"What?"

"The cow has accused Mr Fisher of sexual harassment." Tiegan said.

Chloe looked furious. "How dare she?!" she snapped.

"I reckon she did just to alert police away from the drug dealing incident." Stephanie said.

"Me too." Tiegan said.

Meanwhile, Joanne was coming out of Donald's office.

"Bitch!" Sonia Hammond shouted at Joanne.

"I'm the victim here, not you!" Joanne snapped.

"I hope the police catch up with your lies, drug dealer!" Sonia yelled.

Joanne just scoffed and walked away.

"She'll be sorry." Tiegan said.

"The police will find out soon enough." Stephanie said.

Chloe looked really guilty. She felt like this was all her fault.

Later, Stephanie and Tiegan were in their English class when a casual teacher entered the classroom.

"Where's Mr Fisher?" Tiegan asked.

"Mr Fisher has been suspended until the sexual harassment investigation ends." the teacher replied through thin lips.

"This is complete bull!" Sonia yelled.

"For once I agree with you, Sonia." Sally said.

"I can understand that you lot are upset, but I will be teaching this class for the time being." the teacher said.

Stephanie got up from her seat and started to walk out of the classroom.

"Where do you think you're going, Miss?" the teacher asked.

"The bathroom!" Stephanie replied angrily.

"I need to go too." Tiegan said.

And with that, both girls walked out. Chloe's guilt began to increase.

"I'm so sorry." Chloe said to herself, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Instead of going to the ladies room, Stephanie and Tiegan went outside and sat behind the Maths block.

"I'm sorry, Tiegan." Stephanie said.

"Don't be sorry, bestie." Tiegan said. "I think we did the right thing."

"It's just a shame that poor Chloe is feeling guilty." Stephanie said.

"Miss Brennan is such a lying bitch!" Tiegan said angrily.

"Her lies will eventually catch up with her." Stephanie said.

During lunch break, Selina saw Melanie go over to Jerome.

"Jerome, can we talk?" Melanie asked him in a sickly sweet voice.

"Go away, Melanie!" Jerome snapped.

Selina stormed over to Melanie.

"Melanie, leave him alone!" Selina shouted at her.

"I want to sort things out with Jerome!" Melanie protested.

"He doesn't want to sort things out with you!" Selina shouted.

"That's right!" Jerome said.

"But Jerome, I still love you." Melanie said before starting to sob.

"You're not even crying, Melanie!" Selina shouted. "Stop being a bloody goose!"

"But I love him!" Melanie yelled.

"I don't love you anymore, Melanie!" Jerome shouted.

"But..."

"This is your warning, Melanie." Selina said in a stern tone. "Stay away from me and Jerome!"

"Let's go, babe." Jerome told Selina.

Once they walked away, Melanie cried hysterically.

Meanwhile, Chloe entered Donald's office where the police were still inside.

"I need to talk to an officer." Chloe said.

"Does this have anything to do with Joanne Brennan?" one of them asked.

"Yes, it does." Chloe replied.

The police looked interested and decided to take Chloe's statement.

"Thank you, Miss Richards. You have been a great help." the officer said.

Chloe gave the police officers a weak smile.

After school, Stephanie and Tiegan were walking home from school.

"Chloe actually confessed to buying drugs off Miss Brennan?" Tiegan asked.

"Yes." Stephanie replied.

"What's going to happen now?"

Stephanie looked at Tiegan before replying, "Chloe's not being charged. As for Miss Brennan..."

"Bye-bye!" Tiegan laughed.

Stephanie started laughing too.

"Did you ask Travis and Kelly if we could visit Louis and Corey on Saturday?" Tiegan asked.

"They said yes." Stephanie replied. "Have you asked Pippa?"

"No."

"Why not?" Stephanie asked.

"I'm afraid the answer will be no." Tiegan replied.

But when Tiegan asked Pippa if she could go, her foster mother wasn't too keen on the idea.

"I have a feeling that these boys are trouble." Pippa told Tiegan.

"What do you mean?" Tiegan asked her.

"Those boys probably want one thing out of you girls." Pippa responded.

"They're not like that, Mrs Fletcher." Stephanie said.

"Where did you meet them again?" Pippa asked the girls.

"Last weekend when Melissa took us to that party in Mangrove River." Tiegan lied.

"Oh, I see." Pippa said. "Alright, you can visit them."

Stephanie and Tiegan gave each other high-five.

"Under the condition that you are to come home by ten-thirty." Pippa continued.

"That's cool." Tiegan said.

"Just don't disappoint me." Pippa said before walking off.

Stephanie and Tiegan looked at each other and smiled.

Meanwhile, Joanne was about to go home for the day when the police officers approached her.

"Joanne Brennan, you are hereby charged with drug dealing and making a false sexual harassment claim." one of them said.

"But..." Joanne started to say.

"If you wish to say anything, it can be used against you in court." the other officer told her.

Joanne looked defeated as she was handcuffed and led away in disgrace.

NEXT TIME...
- Stephanie and Tiegan visit their new friends
- Chloe ends up being grounded as a result of her drug habit
- An emotionally unstable Melanie confronts Selina