The Mysteries of Hillsdale High

I could decipher it all. Before the new semester started, I could predict how the events would line up; boring classes with teachers whose faces were painted with frustration and scrutiny, cliche couples only concerned with fame and climbing the top of the popularity charts. Nothing seemed to ever change in this dull, lifeless place. This place was slowly turning into a graveyard, and it seemed impossible that there would be some sort of turnaround in this place you call a town. It's bad enough that I have to be in this hell hole all day. "Um.. hey girl with ponytails. As you're well aware, I'm running for prom queen, because no one else deems me worthy of being placed in that position like me. Isn't that right girls?", Olive Andrews, the most popular girl in our school and known for sleeping with the whole football team and turning each of them against themselves stood in front of me with her see-through top that barely covered her chest, a skirt that was almost covering her thighs.. almost.... paired with red slick heels. Yeah, nothing's changing. "Shouldn't you be talking to freshmen who you could easily manipulate into voting for you, no offense." I rolled my eyes. This was just dumb. What exactly did she want? "A good point there, but that seems like a lot of work, and that's not my thing. Plus, you seem useless so it's only fair you made yourself useful, don't you think?" She smiled, but it was evident it wasn't a genuine one. "f**k off", I slammed my locker and left. Dumb people. Dumb school. I made my way to the class when I overheard some voices coming from the principal's office. I decided to listen for just a little while. I mean, what else can you expect from a girl who has no hint of excitement in her life? "Something like this can damage all we've built. It won't take a lot of time before people ask questions, Hank. This is a small town, one with not a lot of people. So it'd be easy to recognize someone gone missing", I recognized the voice as Mrs Andy, our history teacher. "I know Eleanor. But what do you suggest we do? We can't risk the students knowing. It would create fear and doubts, and they'd want to know more. Doing this could lead to the authorities finding out about the incident, and then finding out would lead them to several investigations being held at the school, which could cause a lot of problems for us. If we do this, we're f****d. f****d!", Mr. Harvey, our principal said in a tone that voiced out one of frustration and fear..? This was shocking. Mr Harvey was one to always act like everything was under control, never showing emotions or signs of anxiety, but hearing this, I knew something was wrong. I left there when I heard footsteps emanating from the door, so I ran to class. Oh s**t, class. I hurried to the door and was welcomed to see a class filled with students and a happy teacher glaring at me. Note the sarcasm. "Miss Sampson, nice of you to bless us with your presence, your highness", Mrs. Charles said with gritted teeth. How jolly. "Mrs Charles, don't you just look beautiful today? Is it the new makeup or just the weather today because you're glowing", I said sweetly. Please work, please work. "Oh, I didn't know that. Thank you. Um, don't be late next time ", she stood there blushing. Always gets them. Mrs Charles is a young beautiful woman in her early twenties. I was shocked that a woman that pretty agreed to be a teacher in this dry town. She was nice and acted far too mature for her age. I also was surprised she was married, even with a kid. But as they say, love comes unexpectedly, or something along those lines. I proceeded to take my seat, when a jock, Lance Simmons threw a paper directly at my face. I glared at him. "Molly, why so broody? Didn't you get some on the weekend?", his friends laughed along with him. Stupid jocks. "Lance, why so happy? Did mommy finally allow you to have your room?", I smiled and went to my seat. Lance's mom is friends with my mom, so I get the privilege of knowing his embarrassing moments. "Served", came from the people behind. "So as we were saying, the chemical formula for...?" Mrs Charles was interrupted by Betty Gates, the class nerd. Rumor has it that she goes to the back of the school to eat bugs. No judgments though. This place can make people crazy in many ways. "Mrs Charles, um... Pedro isn't around. I don't think it's fair for us to introduce a new topic without his presence, don't you think?" "Nerd" was booed by the people at the back. Typical. "Well, I also agree with that Betty. Thank you, but I've been instructed by the principal to carry on with the classes, despite his absence. Maybe you'd be generous to hand him your notes when he's present?" "Definitely " Weird. That doesn't usually happen. Mr. Harvey normally gives that privilege to any absent student, the only perk of this school, and even if he decided to do otherwise and let us go on with a new topic in class, he would've informed us about it and allowed us to share our take on the matter. "Sorry Mrs. Harvey, but did Mr Pedro Gonzales inform the school that he was going to be absent?", I asked. Mrs Harvey looked nervous. She hardly ever is. "No, but Mr Harvey did say that he went on an important trip with his parents. But he'll be back as soon as possible. Any problem?" "No, none at all" Oh, something's wrong.