Chapter 7 Thumbelina's Trip To The Principal's Office

• Kelsie
• High school still sucks, I don’t know why I expected any different. The kids are still nasty and vicious and the subject material is still as boring as ever. At least I’m starting the day off with English and not math. Thankfully, I skip the whole new student introduction and quietly make my way to a seat in the back of the room. I’m not here to learn anything other than what’s been happening to the missing girls so I don’t give a crap about this class.
• The teacher is busy getting all her papers in order for the start of class so, like a teenager, I pull out my phone and begin to text Felix. I mumble a string of curse words when I see his name in my phone is “Daddy” with a heart. Bastard.
• Me: How’s work?
• Daddy: Great. Met my new coworkers they’re... odd
• Me: How so?
• Daddy: I just have a feeling
• Daddy: Anyway, how’s school, pumpkin?
• Me: Don’t call me that and it’s pretty bor...
• “Hey, you’re in my seat.” I don’t get the chance to finish my text when a shadow looms over me and pretty much blocks out the damn light like a solar eclipse. I look up from my phone reluctantly and scowl at the piece of pure muscle leaning over my desk. His face is covered in acne and his greasy brown hair is gelled back with way too much product. This boy is clearly trying too hard.
• I resist the urge to roll my eyes. This is his seat? That cliche? I smirk. “Really? That’s funny. I don’t see your name on it.” Juvenile, I know, but I’m staying in character. Plus, if I let this bully walk all over me, I’ll be the damn laughing stock of the school and no one will give me any information. Felix would definitely understand.
• The boy scoffs. “Really funny. Now get up bitch.”
• Oh. Hell. No.
• “Now, that’s not a very nice thing to say.” What a rude kid. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him briefly before turning back to my phone. I have five frantic texts from my ‘Daddy’. “I think you owe me an apology.” I muse before answering the frantic Felix.
• Daddy: Sweetheart?
• Daddy: Are you ok??
• Daddy: Honey, answer me.
• Daddy: ??
• Daddy: I’m going to call the school if you don’t answer.
• I roll my eyes.
• Me: In class. Relax, DAD. Some prick is trying to get me to leave my seat before class.
• Daddy: Language young lady. Tell him I’ll kick his ass if he doesn’t leave you alone.
• A hand lands on my shoulder. “Hey, cunt. I told you to move.” I look up and the stupid boy who’s practically baring his teeth at me. His grip on my small shoulder is almost crushing.
• “Let go of me.”
• The jock just grins. “Get out of my seat and I’ll let you go. I might even forget about this whole thing for a little extra.”
• Fuck. Really? Are teenage boys really like this? How disgusting. I put down my phone on the desk and stare up at him. “I said. Let go. I’m going to give you one last chance.”
• The boy scoffs. “Ha! What are you gonna do, Thumbelina?”
• The nearby students snicker.
• Well, I warned him. In one swift motion I stand from my seat, wrap my fingers around his wrist that’s on my shoulder, and slam him over my head to the ground. It’s a simple defensive move that is taught to every agent in Quantico, even non-field analysts like me, but I’m passionate. I sought out further training from other agents to prepare for when I’m promoted to full fledged field agent.
• The jock slams into a few desks on his way down and cries out in confusion and pain. “What the fuck?!”
• “Holy shit, Thumbelina’s a badass.” I hear one of the students murmur.
• “Yeah, don’t fuck with her.” The young girl beside him is awestruck.
• I stare at the jock who’s curled in himself and moaning. Oh shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. He groans and my eyes widen as I finally take a closer look at his face, although it looks a bit different from the photos. This is not good.
• “What in the world?” The middle aged teacher rushes to the jock’s side. “Oh my god! Mister Jackson! Trent! Are you alright?” She turns her brown eyes on me in shock and outrage. “Miss Montgomery! Go to the principal’s office! Now!”
• Trent. Jackson.
• Well, shit. So much for laying low. Just as I thought, that was one of the three students I had to get close to. Dammit. That ship has sailed.
• Begrudgingly I pick up my backpack and shove my cell phone into the outer pocket and walk out of the classroom. Students high five me and pat my shoulders on the way out and offer words of encouragement about the bully I just took down. Apparently he was a real dick who picked on everyone. One girl said he was disrespectful to women too and deserved it. I had no doubt that he deserved it, and he was now the main suspect for the disappearances in my eyes, but I was worried about the ramifications of my actions. I was nervous that I would be off the case.
• I won’t stand for that. No way. I will fight to the death to remain on this case. No one knows it better than I do. There is no one more suitable for this job than I am. And on the bright side, taking down the jock- Trent- was good because now I have some serious street cred. It’s clear that even though he ruled the school, he wasn’t popular. The students didn’t like him, and taking him out was the best option. Now they’ll accept me and talk to me. This is good.
• As many times as I keep telling myself that, the closer I get to the principal’s office, the more nervous I get, which is ridiculous. They can’t do anything that will affect me. In fact, detention is a good place to start. The kids on the outside always know the most. The silent types collect information. Information I can use to solve this case.
• I walk into the main office and the old woman at the desk looks me over. “Yes?”
• “Um... I’m here to see the principal.” I’m suddenly really nervous. Now I know why they use this experience in comparison to anticipation and anxiety.
• The woman scowls and nods to the door to the right. I straighten my shoulders and walk up to the door. I knock and an unsettling deep voice says, “enter”.
• A short man with an obvious beer gut and white hair sits behind the desk. He stands and buttons his suit jacket over his wide frame and nods for me to sit. He isn’t very intimidating, but he is taller than me. I sit down in front of him and wait with my hands in my lap. I just want to get this over with. I can’t wait for detention because not only will it give me a reprieve from overbearing Felix, but it will also add a new layer to my investigation. The kids in detention will be beneficial to question. Plus, I’m already kind of a celebrity since I took down Trent.
• “Miss Montgomery. I just received a very disturbing phone call from Mrs. Aldridge. Would you care to elaborate?”
• “Well, sir. I was being harassed and I was simply defending myself. He was rude and crass and bruised my shoulder when he grabbed me. I had no choice. I felt threatened.”
• The principal does something completely unexpected, he scoffs. “Harassed? Trent is a sweet young man just like his father. He’s very dedicated to his football and school work. A pillar to the community. He’s the best thing Pleasant Grove has to offer. This defamation of his character is uncalled for.”
• My jaw nearly hits the floor. “What? You have to be shitting me right now! If he’s the best this town has to offer then you need to re-evaluate your town!”
• “Enough! Watch your language Miss Montgomery! I’ve had enough of your abhorrent behavior. Now you’re going to sit there quietly while I call your father.”
• “No, there’s no need to do that. Just send me to detention or something.”
• He shoots me a glare. “I’ve heard more than enough from you. Be silent Miss Montgomery.”
• He picks up the phone and dials the number. This is bad. This is really bad. Felix is gonna be pissed.