Chapter 12

A/N: HAVE YOU NOTCED THE NEW COVER?? I love it so much! aquamarine_polaroid did a great job with it. Check out her book "Out Late Sipping Milkshakes," it's very well written and hilarious!
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As three pm rolls around, I make my way to room 6 for detention. I had only been Callie for a day at school, and I was already in trouble. At least my parents won't care- they're on their tri annual trip to the Bahamas.

Dillon is already sitting in the desk, using two pencils as drumsticks against his cute kneecaps. I slide my phone out and send Jemma one last text to let her know where I am. I didn't get the chance to see her reply as Vice Principal Leonard gives me a smug grin.

    "No phones, " she says holding out a bin that contains Dillon's phone. He had gotten a text, and his baby llama wallpaper was visible.

Trying not to gasp out loud, I dropped my own phone inside.

    "Now I want you two to sit here, and discuss the importance of punctuality and going to class."

    Dillon rolled his eyes and turned to me. He opened his mouth to begin, but trailed off as something in the distance caught his eye. Hurriedly, he throws his hands over his nose, almost protectively. Vice Principal Leonard and I turn around to spot Jemma peeking though the window.

    Muttering under her breath, VP LeoMcSchizzle strides across the room and opens the door. Jemma instantly lies down on the grass, spreading her arms behind her head.

    "Miss Reynolds, what on earth do you think you're doing?"

    "Oh hi Mrs. Leonard! Wonderful day we're having. I was just working on my tan. This patch of grass by this building is just in the perfect spot for the sunlight to hit."

    "Miss Reynolds, are you aware that you are African American?"

    Feigning surprise, Jemma looked at her dark arms as if discovering them for the first time. "The tanning lotion worked! It's a miracle!"

    VP LeoMcShizzle rolls her eyes. She looks permanently done with her life.

    "Well, it's good that you're here Jemma, you never did show up for the conflict counseling session with Dillon over here."

    Dillon goes a shade pale. "Um actually, that's ok. We've decided that the punching thing is behind us. There's no problem anymore."

    Jemma looks ready for kick Dillon's ass round 2 but she forces her head into a nod. "Dic...Dillon is right Mrs. Leonard. Everything is ok."

    They put on identical, plastic looking grins. Mrs. Leonard doesn't look convinced.

    "I have to leave soon anyway, and our counselor Sage has been meaning to talk to you both. She'll be here soon. Be good, and go to class next time!."

    And with that, she was gone. And that was how I ended up watching Dillon and Jemma hold hands and talk about their feelings as Sage nodded, and took notes on her clipboard.
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"So tell us Jemma, what provoked you to attack Dillon that day?" Sage smiles as she twists the clay beads of her necklace. Her long paisley dress seems to swallow her thin frame. She adjusts her rhinestone encrusted glasses so she an better see her clipboard. If I was a counselor, I'd probably pretend to write things down while drawing me some male anatomy.

Jemma fidgets with her hands a bit. Her expression suggests that she would rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than sit though this. Dillon smirks at her.

"Well, I just, I guess I had a lot of pent up rage energy in me," she says. Jemma has always been good at telling adults what they want to hear. Sage nods seriously.

Jemma continues. "I think that it has to do with my childhood. I've had a lot of disappointments. When I was eleven, I wanted a life sized cardboard cutout of Drake Bell but I never got it."

Dillon snorts.

"Is that funny to you, Dillon?"

"No ma'm. It's just allergies."

Jemma glares at him. "May I continue? Anyway, moving from New York was pretty hard. I grew up there, so I had to say goodbye to everything I knew."

Jemma was starting to get serious now. I could see her eyes looking mellow, which was rare. I know Jemma missed her old life, but I didn't know it had been this hard.

"I miss my friends, my cousins, my school, my house.... and then I came here and I had nobody. I didn't fit in. But one person was willing to talk to me. Kim and I were like sisters, and we were always there for each other. I don't know what my life would be like if I never met Kim. Obviously she meant a lot to me, and I am not someone who will stand by when someone I care about gets hurt."

I could see the normally stoic Jemma almost tearing up. I was touched but I also felt kind of uncomfortable. Dillon was looking at the floor, fingers clasped on his knees.

"Dillon, do you have something to say?" Asks Sage.

Almost robotically, he shakes his head, still looking at the floor.

"Ok," says Sage brightly. "Now Dillon, tell Jemma something you like about her."

Dillon gaped. "Excuse me?"

    "It works better if you hold hands. Here" Sage grabs Jemma and Dillon's hand and joins them together.

    I can see Jemma trying not to dry heave. My heart shot up to my throat. Not fair. Why does she get to hold his hand? Maybe I should break Dillon's nose too? Ok maybe not his nose, because that would affect his face. I'm thinking a rib....Callie stop.

    Dillon swallows. "Well...uh Jemma... I think you're really great at volleyball, and you have a mean right hook."

    A faint smile tugs at Jemma's full lips, and disappears just as quickly.

    "Your turn, Jemma." Says Sage sagely.

    "I think you make a mean punching bag."

    "Jemma! Try again."

    "I think it's impressive that you got your ego to fit in this building."

    "Jemma, sweetie," says Sage, showing all 32 of her teeth.

    "I think it's cool how you have friends even though you regularly perform acts of douchebaggery on an epic scale."

    "Ok Jemma, that's enough." Sage's smile hasn't dimmed, but she is massaging her temples.

    "Moving on, I think that it's time you both put this conflict behind you. Apologize to each other."

    Dillon looks straight into Jemma's eyes, and briefly into mine too. "Jemma, and Callie, I am so sorry about what I did to Kim. I feel so bad about it, and I would take it back if I could."

    I squeeze a rather large lump down my throat. He genuinely looks sorry, and ITS CUTE AS FUCK.

    Jemma nods. "And I am sorry that you did it too."

    Sage coughs.

    "And I'm sorry I beat you up. But don't expect me to go easy on you next time you hurt my friend."

"Good enough," says Sage, breathing a sigh of relief. "You're all free to go."

"Bye Callie, bye Jemma," he says cautiously.

"Bye Dillon!" I said, savoring the words. I was actually talking to Dillon Austin Colt!!

Jemma is not as impressed as I am. She grabs my arm and drags me toward the street, barely giving Dillon a glance.
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