"Sandra Carter, Ethan Hunter and Zoey Alexis, please report to the principal's office immediately"

~Zoey~

I dashed out of the cafeteria as the receptionist's voice echoed over the school's PA system, pacing down the empty hallway until I arrived in front of the principal's office. The cold silver doorknob pressed against my palm as I gave it a gentle squeeze, opening the door to the receptionist's office.

The office had a dull-brown polished reception desk at the front, a row of cushioned chairs along the wall for waiting students, and a small side table, neatly stacked with school newsletters, all beneath a green bulletin board filled with student achievements and tons of reminders.

Miss Cogby sat behind the desk with neatly pinned chestnut hair and sharp eyes behind cat-eye glasses, calmly scanning the computer screen until her attention was drawn to me.

Her face scrunched into a worried frown as she asked, "Geez, Zoe, are you okay? You look terrible"

I sighed, wiping as much blood and smoothie as I could off my face with my wrist. But then she opened a drawer, pulled out two wipes, and handed them to me.

"Here you go"

"You might also wanna use a clarifying hair shampoo, cus without it...you're gonna regret it"

Tilting my head backward, I spoke in a nasal tone,
"Thanks, Miss Cogby"

The wipes felt cool and slightly damp, yet I winced each time I rubbed my face and neck with them until I was a bit clean. Then I made for the red cushioned chair, tossing the used wipes into the trash bin beside it, before taking a seat.

It didn't take much time for the others to arrive, Sandra scowling at me as the three of us glided into the principal's office, the scent of lavender mingling in the air. A large desk dominated the room, papers stacked neatly beside a computer, while framed photos and awards hung on the walls.

Blinding rays of sunlight beamed through the tall windows, highlighting the principal's stern gaze as we occupied the neat array of red chairs.

Principal Simmons, donned in a navy blue suit, pierced a sharp and unwavering gaze at each of us, her eyes meeting with ours before adjusting her pair of sleek, rectangular reading glasses.

"Fighting....really?"

Her voice was firm, cutting through the silence like a knife;  yet, I shot a blank stare at her, my heart racing as she pinned her gaze at me.

"You're resuming for the first time in six months, and you've already gotten into a fight?"

I rolled my eyes, heaving a sigh.

"What happened?", she asked.

Sandra shot another scowl at me, adjusting a few strands of hair from her face as I made to speak;

"Sandra couldn't keep out of my business", I spat.

The principal's face scrunched into a frown as her eyes scanned me again;

Flinging a brief gaze at Sandra and Ethan, she inquired, "What do you mean?"

"She spread a rumor about my mum and attacked me in front of everyone, even when I chose to ignore her"

"That's not true, Principal Simmons"

Sandra's voice was shaky, tears welling up in her eyes as she averted her gaze to me;

"She accused me of spreading rumors about her, and slapped me in front of everyone when I confronted her about it...I-I just"

Tears began pouring from her eyes while she caressed her left cheek.

"I had to do something about it...it was clearly self defense", she added.

My eyes shot wide open as Principal Simmons turned to me, her brows twitching as she spoke:

"You attacked her?"

I shook my head in disagreement, shooting a frown at the demon beside me.

"No, I didn't attack her...she's lying, she spread those rumors about my mum", I argued.

The principal sighed, faint lines of frustration etched on her face;

"What rumor?"

I took a deep breath and exhaled, hesitantly munching my words:

"She said my mom had a weird disease and hinted that I might be a carrier too"

"That's a LIE!..I--", Sandra cried but pursed her lips when the principal's voice thundered;

"Shut it, young lady!"

Principal Simmons tamed a few stray curls from her long black hair with a finger, stabbing her scrutinizing gaze at me once again;

"And who told you she's the source of such horrendous rumor?"

Her voice dropped an octave, her eyes fixed upon me as though they could penetrate my soul.

"No one, I figured it out when--"

Her eyes shot wide open at the utterance of my words, and she spoke in a tone, void of warmth:

"You assumed?...really?"

"Young lady, you need to understand the seriousness of this situation...this is a serious accusation you laid upon Sandra here"

I folded my arms and lowered my head, tears filling my eyes while I trembled with intense fury. I couldn't believe how fast the tables turned against me, the real victim. I had no witness, and no one would dare oppose Sandra Carter—the hellish witch out to destroy everyone's lives, including mine, for no reason at all.

Ethan sat there the whole time, with arms crossed and lips sealed shut. And although he helped me, I couldn't help but loath him for being silent while an accusation was thrown at me.

'So much for being the good guy', I thought.

"And you, what was your business in this?"

He quirked his brows and heaved a subtle sigh when the principal threw her question at him.

"This is just a waste of your time, don't you think so?"
"You should probably skip to the part where you punish us at your will"

I jolted my head up and shot a frown at him, upon hearing those words.

'What a jerk!', I silently fumed.

Principal Simmons' eyes shone, a sudden gasp leaving her mouth as she peered at Ethan's cold hard gaze.

"You know what?"

She clasped her palms together and let out a brief but menacing chuckle.

"I'll let you off with just a warning...three of you"

My brows flicked upwards...'Is she kidding me?', I spat silently.

"Detention, on saturday...with Mr. Danies"

Cold shivers flushed down my spine, goosebumps carpeting my skin upon hearing those words. Sandra groaned, her brows knitting themselves into a tight frown, while Ethan's lips remained sealed.

"You can't be serious right now!...I'm the victim here, why should I--"

"Shut it!...you can leave now, all of you"

"And as for you, Zoe...go home, I'd like to have a word with your father"

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

I barged into the house after such a long day at school, fully drenched in a mixture of sweat and smoothie. As I reached the kitchen, a soft creak floated down from upstairs.

I paused, brow furrowing, with my hand still on the cabinet door. I was probably hallucinating or something, maybe because of how banged up my head felt.

I swung open the fridge door, grabbing a chilled carton of chocolate milk, darting upstairs when I heard another creak.

"Dad?"

My voice echoed throughout the stairways until I reached the landing, glancing at the doors lining inside. My heart raced, and I gulped as I neared my dad's room—the source of the strange noise.

"Who's there?", I whispered.

However, goosebumps carpeted my skin and I could feel blood drain from my face as the creaks intensified, but not until my dad's voice rang from behind his room door;

"No one's here...it's just us now"

My eyes grew round with surprise and I tiptoed closer, taking a deep breath before grabbing the quickly twisting the door knob.

"What the F*ck?!"

My voice thundered throughout the whole room in an instant, drawing my dad's attention towards me.

"Why?"

I trembled, tears pouring from my eyes.

My dad, usually the picture of confidence, sat disheveled beneath the rumpled white sheets, his dark hair tousled and slick with sweat on his forehead. His eyes dimmed, shifting from shock to guilt as they widened in disbelief, while peering at me.

Next to him, was a stark woman whose long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders. She wore a lacy black camisole that hugged her curves.

Her black eyes flashed with surprise, as she pulled the sheets around her, as if trying to shield herself from the reality of what I had just seen.

The atmosphere became thick with unspoken words, and a thousand emotions washed over me all at once.

"Honey, I-I can explain"