Happy New Year!!!

I said I would post in the New Year and I did :D it's literally 12:08 am

Don't forget to like and leave a comment, I love to hear from you all!

|| ** || ** ||

"Frankly, I don't see the point of this meeting Mr. Johnston," my father stands behind my chair in his work suit, glaring at my principal.

Quinn is sitting next to me with her mother, and across from us are Summer and her parents. Dad thought that it would be in my best interest if my mom stayed outside the office, so as not to further my punishment.

"Your daughter and her friends have been terrorizing my daughter!" Mr. Price argues, pointing a finger in our direction.

"I believe that Miss Darby's intentions for sending out Miss Price's criminal record were purely to protect the students. How am I supposed to let my daughter go to school with all her friends when I know that there is a criminal among them? Criminal records are public information for a reason," My father's voice is stern as he stares at Mr. Price. Mrs. Price sits calmly in her chair in a complete daze as she scrolls through her phone.

"Those charges were expunged!" Mr. Price roars in outrage, causing Quinn and I (and even Summer) to startle in fright.

"At what cost?" My father fires back. "Bribing a judge is a federal crime Mr. Price in case you didn't know that," my father informs him condescendingly.

"My daughter has done nothing wrong," Mr. Price turns his nose in the air breaking eye contact with my dad.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't your daughter the one who sent the entire school a picture of my daughter in a towel, without consent?" My father's tone is icy and I grin at the sight of Mr. Price shrinking in his seat. "I could easily sue your daughter for child pornography since Charlotte is still a minor. And, while we're still on the topic, didn't she also send out a picture not even a month later, to the entire school, again, of Miss Darby in an intimate embrace with another student? Did Summer have permission to post those pictures?" Damn, he's good.

Mr. Price sits silently as he absorbs all the information I had given my dad over the last few days before this meeting today.

"Now, we could argue that she sent the picture of Quinn off school campus and Quinn sent the criminal record off campus as well, but the picture of my daughter in a towel was physically posted all over school, and you regretted to inform me or my wife of that incident, all we were told was that she was suspended for public indecency," my father turns his attention to Principal Johnston, and I see beads of sweat form on his forehead. That's right dickhead. "So, in fair sight, I could take the Price Family and this school to court if I wanted to, but I don't. I want this matter resolved now, no exceptions."

"Very well Mr. Hayes, I propose detention for all three young ladies, for two weeks-," Principal Johnston starts but is quickly cut off.

"My daughter was already punished for her alleged wrongdoings and if Miss Price is getting the same punishment for her on-campus actions, then I will be contacting the Superintendent following this meeting," my father places his hands on the back of my chair again.

"How dare you-," Mr. Price bellows.

"And I will be following up with the judge that magically signed your daughter's expungement without legally holding a court session," my father looks pointedly at Mr. Price. The silence in the room is deadly.

"Miss Price, you are suspended, starting tomorrow, until the end of the next week, and Miss Darby, detention until the end of this week starting tomorrow, okay?" Principal Johnston asks almost timidly as my father nods his head in agreement. "Very well, this meeting is concluded, ladies, you may go back to class now." The three of us stand up and grab our backpacks walking through the front office.

My mother stands up quickly and rushes over to us, "Well?"

"Detention for this week, starting tomorrow," Quinn tells her with a relieved smile.

"Oh, thank god!" she breathes out, hugging Quinn tightly. Quinn's mother, Kerry, walks out of the office, deep in conversation with my dad.

"Clara, how are you?" Kerry walks over to my mother and they hug each other, whispering.

I walk over to my dad and look up at him, "Thanks dad," I tell him, hugging him tightly. He hugs me back and kisses the top of my head.

"I'm not happy with the situation you got yourself in Lottie, but I'll be damned if I didn't try and help you girls, I also had a chat with your principal about taking your suspension off your record due to incorrect accusation and wrongful punishment," he smiles softly.  "Now, time to go back to class," he pats me softly on my shoulder as my mother reaches us with Quinn next to her.

"Have a good day, my darlings," she leans over and kisses each of our cheeks before heading out the doors with my father's arm around her waist.

Quinn and I walk down the hallway towards our English class.

"Sorry that you got detention, Q," I apologize, walking slowly.

"Better than getting suspended," she smiles, nudging my shoulder. "How are you doing?"

I look up at her and see her eyes on mine, I look away quickly, "I'm good," I answer casually.

"Char... I know what he did-."

"Quinn, I'm fine, really. Honestly, it's better that I found out now instead of later, you know?" We stop outside our classroom.

"Charlotte, you love him," she tells me gently as if this is new information to me.

"I didn't know him long enough to love him," I inform her, stubbornly.

"That's bullshit and you know it," she looks at me pointedly. I reach for the doorknob, hoping to end the conversation when she speaks up again, "He called me."

I stop short and turn around, facing her, "Why?" I mean sure, I wasn't answering his calls but to call Quinn?

"To tell me how sorry he was about not doing anything about Summer sooner," she shrugs, "He told me that he called Courtney and Olivia too but Court hung up on him and Liv threatened to castrate him if he breathed another word to her. I guess I was the only one willing to listen," she chuckles lightly. Always the peacemaker.

"Quinn..." I trail off breathlessly.

She places her hand on my arm, "I'm not telling you to forgive him, I'm just telling you that he apologized to me."

"It's a little late for that," I grumble, brushing a hand over my face. "I want to hate him, Quinn."

"I know," she replies gently, pulling me closer to her.

*********************************

"Charlotte, pick up the pace!" Couch Fallon yells out, and I roll my eyes, not in the mood. Michelle is at the front of us, running with a smug grin on her face. Bitch.

"Damn that was shit," Olivia comments as I walk over to her on the bleachers, where I had left my bag.

"Yeah, thanks," I reply sarcastically, grabbing my water bottle, taking large gulps.

"Just saying," she raises her arms in surrender. Michelle walks by us with that stupid smug smile still on her face and stops in front of us. "Move along, Mitchell."

"You're pathetic, Olivia, it's sad really," She smiles condescendingly.

"You know, I can't help imagining how much greater the world would be if your dad had just pulled out," Olivia replies with a smile and a shrug as I snort loudly.

The smug smile is wiped off her face and she flips us off as she walks off in a huff. "I'm so glad you're my best friend," I tell her with a laugh.

"I'm amazing I know," she flicks her hair dramatically, making me laugh louder.

We walk down the bleacher steps and wait for Sebastian to come off the backfield from Baseball practice. I keep my eyes on my phone, to distract myself from looking up at the players.

"Sister, girlfriend," Sebastian walks up to us, patting my head, and leaning down to kiss Olivia.

"Hey babe, nice pants," she replies cheekily, grabbing his ass.

"There you go, objectifying me again," he shakes his head in mock hurt.

"I can always stop?" She asks with a smirk and raises her eyebrow.

"I never said it was a bad thing," he replies quickly, picking up her backpack and leading us off the field. "Hey sis, are you okay?"

I nod my head, stopping to rub my knee gently, "I'm fine, my knee is just stiff."

"Soph, let's go!" Sebastian yells across the field in the direction of the cheerleaders.

"Calm down, child," Sophie replies, saying goodbye to her friends, jogging over to us.

"Seb, you forgot your glove," Cole runs over to us with Sebastian's baseball mitt in his hands.

"Thanks, man," Sebastian grabs the glove and fist bumps Cole.

"Hey Soph," he smiles genuinely at her.

"Hey, Cole, how're you doing?" She replies with a casual smile.

"Great thanks. Hey Char," he leans over and hugs me and I squeeze him back.

"Hello my darling," I reply making him laugh as we head to the parking lot, resting his arm around my shoulder.

"Charlotte!" Someone yells from behind us. Nope, not happening.

I walk faster, my knee aching, and practically drag Cole with me, "Olivia," I hiss.

"I'm on it," she looks determined as she turns around, stopping Nathan from coming closer.

"Liv," he says cautiously. Sophie gets in the backseat and stares out the window.

"You don't get to call me that anymore," she responds, her tone deadly. Sebastian shuffles on his feet behind her, not saying anything. I know he's pissed at Nathan but at the end of the day they're teammates and they have to at least pretend to get along or Coach would lose his shit.

"I just need to talk to Charlotte, for one minute," he tells her pleadingly.

"And I need an A in Calculus, guess we're both not getting what we want," she shrugs lightly. I don't stay any longer and jump in my car quickly.

"What did I miss?" Tessa pants as she climbs in the backseat next to Sophie.

Sophie clutches her chest in fright, "Where the hell did you come from?"

"From field hockey practice, now shush," she hisses, leaning over Sophie so she can press her head against the glass, "Can we roll down the windows? I wanna hear Liv curse him out."

I turn in my seat, "Seriously Tessa?"

"I thought field hockey practice ended thirty minutes ago?" Sophie wonders out loud but Tessa ignores her.

"What? I'm sorry for being insensitive towards your drama, but don't you want to hear Liv kick his ass?"

I roll my eyes in response and turn back to the window.

He continues talking to her for a few more minutes before he nods his head lightly, turning away and heading to his car.

Sebastian and Olivia look at each other; Sebastian nods his head in agreement to whatever she's saying and they both head to the car.

"What did he want?" I ask as soon as the doors close.

"Just making up excuses," she replies nonchalantly, turning on the radio.

I start the engine and watch Nathan get into his car.

"Why the fuck am I in the backseat? I'm the tallest one out of all of you!" Sebastian complains, shoving Sophie into Tessa, which smooshes her face against the window.

"Fucking asshole," Tessa mumbles, wiping her face.

"It's my car," I reply, revving the engine.

"It's my best friend," Olivia smirks, turning in the passenger seat and winking at him.

|| ** || ** ||

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Here's to 2019! May it be the year you've always dreamed of!

Love you all,

Sammipott xx