LIFE IN HILLS ACADEMY

Chapter 8

Vanessa didn't return to class after Mrs Johnson had taken her away. Vanessa had been warned a lot of times when Evans, who had transferred to another school, was still her victim, but now it was certain she would be suspended.

Ashley couldn't find the best time to talk to Amelia and appreciate her for what she did for her, till the closing hour when Amelia was about to enter her car and leave the school premises.

"Wait!" Ashley yelled as she ran towards the car, breathing heavily.

"Oh my goodness! That was a long distance". She tried to catch her breath.

"Hi," Amelia said softly.

"Hi," Ashley said and swallowed hard "I'm grateful for how you stepped in and saved me from being the one to face disciplinary action."

"It's nothing. I just did it because it was fun", Amelia said, as she pursed her lips in a smirk.

"Was she a psycho? How was that fun for her? What on Earth is wrong with these people?" Ashley asked herself inwardly. Amelia chuckled when she saw the confused look on Ashley's face.

"I felt good embarrassing her. At first, I just made the video, because I love to have everyone's embarrassing videos on my phone and that was yours, but then David told me to send it to Mrs Johnson. I don't know what you did to him that makes him want to help you at the expense of his friendship with Vanessa. It's between you guys, and none of my business" she sighed. "If you will excuse me, I have a place to be," She said, and Ashley immediately moved back and watched Amelia's car leave. She couldn't understand why David of all people would choose to help her. She was rude and not so friendly to him, so why would he?

Her phone vibrated in her hand. It was a message notification from the class website.

"Vanessa Morris suspended for Two weeks", Ashley read the headline loudly. She was surprised the school could suspend someone like Vanessa, whose father had done a lot for the school financially. Having wealthy parents doesn't solve everything at Hills Academy, she guessed.

"Are you looking for me?" Ashley turned around to look at who was talking, then she saw David and his best friend George walk close to her.

"How did you know?"

"Because I saw you talking with Amelia, and guessed she would have told you about me" he smiled at her, while Ashley looked away from him. "Hi, George" Ashley stretched her hand for a handshake with George, ignoring David like he wasn't there.

"Hey, Ashley" he also said, returning the shake.

"Guys, What is happening here?" David asked, confused. "I helped you, not him" he protested, and the two laughed at him.

"Chill, okay?" George said, and a smile crept on his face. "See you tonight when I come over, '' he said and waved at Ashley before leaving them when his car pulled up.

"This is the point where I hear you say Thank you," David said once they were alone, excitement evident in his voice. Discussing with Ashley excited him so much because he had tried a lot of times, but she always ignored him.

"Don't you think you are a snitch? Vanessa is your friend, not me", Ashley said harshly.

"That's a bit harsh," David said and touched his chest like something hit him there "Okay, I did that for Vanessa too. She needed to know what she was doing wrong", he defended himself.

"Would you have done the same to George?"

"Not! He is like my brother. And he is always ready to be corrected, unlike Vanessa"

Ashley got his point and stopped trying to make him feel like a bad person for helping her. She mouthed a Thank you to him, and David smiled like that was what he was expecting.

"I'm I now worthy enough to eat lunch with you?" All of his invitations to Ashley to eat lunch together with him at the school cafeteria were turned down.

"Maybe"

David was beyond excited. He liked that his relationship with her was already progressing as he wanted it to be. He held her eyes for a minute, and he could feel his heart beat faster. Ashley was just so attractive to him.

"I should get going now," Ashley said after sensing the tension between them.

"Should I give you a ride? My car is here" David asked, and pointed at his car that had been waiting for him.

"No, I will take a taxi". She turned him down politely. She was sure it would be very awkward in his car, and she was not ready to be in such a situation.

She turned around and left while David kept waving till she was out of his sight.

"How did you get suspended?" Vanessa's father asked during dinner. Earlier in the day, her Mom had gone to school because Mrs Johnson called her, so she could be aware of Vanessa's suspension. Her Mom told her Dad about it when he also got back home, and now Vanessa is being questioned by him.

"I …I" Vanessa stammered. She was very scared of her Dad because he was a very scary man.

"I…bullied another student," She said and lowered her head, waiting for her Dad's reaction. She looked at him when she noticed the dining room was silent. Her Dad just kept on eating, and as he chewed, Vanessa felt her skin crawling. She silently hoped it would all be over soon. Her Dad dropped his cutlery loudly, and she flinched, then carried his glass of water which stopped midway. He threw the glass at Vanessa's Mom angrily. The glass shattered on the floor, and a piece injured her Mom's face, but she sat still like nothing happened, or she wasn't in pain at all.

"Why would you get caught for something as petty as that? Why?" Her Dad yelled at her, and she shook in fear.

"I'm sorry…I'm very sorry" She quickly apologized.

"If you think I'm angry about you being a bully, then you are not my daughter!"

"You are angry because I got caught".

"Use your head! If you can't handle something that little, I wonder how you will handle bigger issues when you join me in the company", he stood up angrily. "You both always try to tarnish my image. I'm once again disappointed", he left the dining angrily.

"Mom! Are you okay?" she asked immediately. Her Dad was out of sight and ran to her.

"Make that bastard that caused all of this miserable for the rest of her life!" Her mom said, and her chest heaved up and down in anger.