The New Girl's Secret

Part 1 - The First Day: Chapter 13: The Aftermath

After that, I just left school and went home, I wasn’t finishing school. It’s not like we have done anything today. I was humiliated. 

I drove home as fast as I could without a speeding ticket. When I got home, I went straight up to my room, closing the door and collapsing on my bed with my face in the pillows. I had no tears yet and my voice was hoarse. I was tired. I eventually slipped under the covers, kicking my shoes off and falling asleep. 

…

“Sweetheart, wake up.” My mom said softly, shaking my shoulder. “There is someone that wants to talk to you on the phone.”

“Who?” I said sleepily with a soft groan. 

“The counselor of your school. He said you had a rough first day. He said you skipped a lot of class today and you left after screaming at a group of students in your class during third block. 

"I'm not talking to him." 

"Sweetheart, just a few minutes. Then you can talk to me. We can go for ice cream after." 

"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes. 

She handed me the phone and left the room, closing the door. 

"Hello," I said flatly. 

"You okay?" he asked. "You had a rough day. " 

"I'm fine. Why do you care?" 

"It's my job, and I do understand the kind of pain you are in." 

"Okay, so what? What do you want Mr. Stokes?" 

"I want you to show up for school tomorrow. You missed out on a day of our project." 

"And what do I get out of it?"

"Well, you'll be smarter and not fail my class."

"That's not what I meant." 

"Well…" 

"What?" 

"You like ice cream right?" 

"Yeah, but why is that important?" 

"You want to go to ice cream after school tomorrow?" 

"Where? I've been here all of 2 weeks and never once seen an ice cream shop." 

"This town doesn't have one." 

"And the boys?" I question. 

"They won't bother you." 

"I'll believe it when I see it," I tell him. I was beginning to relax and warm up to him when my mom knocked on the door. 

"Hey, sweetheart," she said. "There are a couple of boys here to see you. They said they met you at school today." 

"Okay, give me a minute." 

"Okay," she responded. "They'll be in the living room." She closed the door and left. 

"They're here," I told Mr. Stokes. 

"I have jurisdiction outside of school property. I wish I did, but I don't," he told me. He sounded sincere, not forced or with pity. Maybe, just maybe, he did understand.  Maybe he did understand me. We talked for a few more minutes before saying goodbye and hanging up.