Chapter 6
Carrie looked to the ground trying to calm herself, but it was difficult. Multiple emotions were fighting to take control in her. Sadness that they had and would humililate her again, horror at how cruel they could be and anger at herself and them for once again making her the victim of a cruel prank. Why? Why did they not help her? If what Miss Desjardin said earlier was right, girls had their periods all the time. Why was it that something that all girls went through, something that should have made them see that she was not so different as them, made her the laughingstock once again?
The more she thought about it the angrier she got. She wanted to cry and scream and cut open their faces with her fingernails till they were bleeding like her and screaming for mercy. To make them feel as helpless as they made her feel on a daily basis. Before her thinking could turn darker the self hatred came in.
No, they had been wrong but it was also her own fault. The term period was not new to her. She had heard it before, she had simply not understood what it meant. She should have searched about it, like she had done about other things in the past but she had not thought it was for her, just one of those things she could not have. Turned out it was something she could have after all. The irony was not lost on her.
"Alright Carrie come with me". Said Miss Desjardin when the screen turned black. Despite telling the girl what a period was, Miss Desjardin thought it was for the best to explain things further with the school nurse. And to get the girl away for a while to come to grip with what they had seen so far. Looking at the girl at her right, she could tell things were not right no matter how strong she tried to appear. And how could they? What they had seen so far was terrible.
Looking up, she begged the thing that had locked them up if she could leave for a while. Carrie nodded and went to follow her together with the school nurse. Relief went through her when the doors opened. Before they were gone, Rita turned to Henry.
"We will be back in a hour". She said to him. Henry only nodded to her. When they were gone everyone started to talk to each other.
"Quiet!" People were looking at there principal who was normally very silent and kind, but who now stared at his students with anger.
"While Carrie and Miss Desjardin are away we are going to have a conversation about bullying and what it can do to someone". He said.
"Do we have to". Said Tina Blake looking bored.
"Yes we do, because it seems a lot of people dont understand the concept". While Henry said that he stared at the students, but also the grown ups. Henry felt so ashamed. He thought that his school and students were great, something to be proud of. Of course he had knew that Carrie and other students were bullied, but not that it was this bad! He couldn't blame the students and teachers only, it was also his own fault for not being stricter and turning a blind eye. He felt a bit of his anger go away when he saw that a big part of the teachers, grown ups and teachers were looking at him with he was not the only one that thought it was for the best to talk about what they had seen so far to make sure things like that would not happen in the future. Of course Chris Hargenson and her crowd were looking indifferent, although Sue Snell looked guilty. Thankfully, the others students looked remorsefull so that was something. When this was done he had to apologies to Carrie. It was time to take more action. Henry snapped out of his thoughts when he saw people staring at him.
"Alright lets begin with the talk. Bullying...".
1 hour later.
"And that is why bullying is wrong" Principal Morton declared to the crowd. "Remember all what I told you the next time you want to bully a girl of boy because he or she is different". The students were silent after Henry was done talking. Before all the weirdness, Ewen High did not have talks or classes about bullying and what it can do to a person. They knew what bullying was before this, but they did not know some of the things they did or said could be so harmfull to another person. That had become clear in the talk. While the students were left to ponder about their past actions.
Meanwhile, Carrie White was looking at the drawnings on the blackboard of her biology classroom. After the doors had opened Miss Desjardin and Miss Lopez the school nurse had taken her to the closest classroom they could find, afraid that if they would wander to far the mysterious entity would stop them. After making sure she was properly seated, they had began explaining more about what would happen to her in the future. Because they did not know exactly when it would happen they had given her the proper tools to deal with it when it would come. Although Miss Desjardin had revealed to her that she suspected it would happen next week, knowing what her plans were for the coming gym classes. She looked to the two older woman who were whispering to each other in the corner of the room. Although she wanted to trust Miss Desjardin she had noticed that underneath the pity some disdain remained. For now she would give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was imaging things and letting her own insecureties get to her, but her senses that had warned her in the past about her classmates were screaming at her to keep up her guard. She would not been made a fool of again. Having made up her mind. she watched as the two woman walked to her table and took a chair to sit on.
"Thank you for explaining things to me." Said Carrie to Miss Lopez.
"That is no problem Miss White, if you have any questions in the future you know where to find me or you could ask your mother." Said Nurse Lopez. She very much doubted so, but for the adults she smiled and nodded.
"Before we go back Carrie. I would like to say something." Said Miss Desjardin.
Miss Desjardin took a deep breath. "I can not begin to imagine how hurtful the first scene must have been to you and what she did, what they all did is unforgivable, but from what I have seen of your mother. she seems to love you very much. Maybe we were not shown everything and is there an explanation for her behavior. Has she ever done something like that before, that you can remember." Asked Miss Desjardin, slight worry in her voice at the end.
"No, momma has never hurt me' Said Carrie, feeling guilty for the lie. The words made Miss Desjardin and Miss Lopez relax.
"Well if that was everything, I think it is time to return to the cafeteria ladies." Said Miss Lopez. The three woman left the room and begun to walk back. In the cafeteria, the door cracked and Rita, the nurse and Carrie were coming inside again. Carrie noticed that people were looking at her and picked up her pace.
When she was almost back to her her chair she was stopped. Before she could turn and run she came face to face with a pair of tearfully blue eyes.
"I know that sorry isn't enough Carrie, but I promise I try not to hurt you again in the future" Said Jessica Upshaw. After that and seeing that the girl would not answer, Jessica pulled back and took place once again on her assigned chair.
"Thank you". It was almost a whisper but she still heard the words. Even after Carrie and Miss Desjardin had taken their assigned chairs, Jessica Upshaw could been seen smiling.
