Clacking of high heels on the marble tiles of the church got my sudden attention.

"Miss Ruby Ardor, can you tell me what you did wrong today?"

I lean back in the pew, with my head high. "Hm..." Thinking aloud with my hands around my neck, I respond. "Probably something bad." I was sent to our school's church myself. Only the lady and I are the people inside of here. Everything we say almost echoes.

Turning to the other empty seats, I face back to the principal. Earlier, or about five minutes ago, my teacher sent me here to have a talk. Honestly, I know it is something I did wrong. Nevertheless, showing up is required.

The principal has talked with me several times, all of them being about trouble I stir up. I can't help it, I'm just a spreading fire.

"Yes. Correct." The principal replied, crossing her arms. She's tall and slim, also pretty young for her authority. "Now, I'll repeat this again. What did you do wrong today?" She walks up to me, leaning down - her hands on her knees - with a fake smile. The principal still asks me this softly, but if I don't respond she might throw a goddamn tantrum, or as she calls it, a 'goshdarn lecture'.

Nodding, I open one of my hands, tapping each finger down for everything I did. "Let's see... Almost causing a fire in the cafeteria, taking a friend's books of of their locker because I forgot them, writing 'satan bless it' on the teacher's board when he left the class-"

"That was you???" The principal stood straight again, controlling her anger. The school is all Catholic law, and I dispise it myself. Some of them are nice, but others are wicked. At times I ponder why my principal works here, since she's practically the gayest thing alive. Anyways, she calms down and fake smiles again. "Ugh, we'll discuss that another time. Besides, you didn't even say what you did."

"Whoops," I lazily shrug, leaning back again. "Guess I forgot. Wanna just tell me then?"

The principal sighs and nods. "I presume so. You punched a girl in the face this morning."

"She said I punch people!" I argue, with my hands now in the air.

"Tell me," She paces. "How does punching someone help the situation?"

I lean back a third time, but with an angry brood. "Tell me, miss long-nose, what else I was supposed to do?" Putting emotion into my response, I roll my eyes.

She covers her nose, knitting her eyebrows in frustration. "Don't call me miss long-nose!!! Just, call me Pearl." Pearl informs, still standing with a full posture.

"I'm hungry," I complain. "can I go back to class now? Isn't this enough of a lecture?"

Pearl crosses her arms. "Mhmm, I'm thirsty."

"So?!?"

"You're hungry, I'm thirsty. Well, whoop-dee-doo, Ruby. We just can't get what we want."

"What?" I lift an eyebrow in confusion.

"Maybe you could of been a good student and didn't act so... inappropriate, we wouldn't have this dilemma."

"I would do that, but I'm not as lame as you are." I mumble under my breath.

"Anything you have to say, Ruby?"

*insert slurs internally*

"Nothing."

"Nevermind," Pearl stands still again, away from facing me. "Now, we should begin to talk about the punishments."

"Punishments," I put my feet up on the pew in front of mine. "I'm all up for summer school. Been there, done that. Ready to go call my parents?"

Pearl gives an agitated glance. "Jesus Christ, Ruby! It's the beginning of October!" She shoos my feet off of the pews.

"Oops," I smugly shrug. "I lost track of the time."

She puts her hand on her forehead, then stares at me. "I'm not going to do something that requires education. Only education in the ways of helping people."

"What?" I ask, doubting if I'm going to actually get past this way of punishment. I smile, basically telling her: bring your best at me, girl.

"You're going to be doing community service at the Library, Ruby!" Pearl cheers.

My face goes pale, and I stop smiling.

I'm not even sure cheating off of someone else's paper will get me past this test.

----

Here's the first chapter! Hopefully you enjoyed :,)