All throughout fifth, sixth, and seventh period, I couldn’t think about anything except what happened to Eden and Hector. Every time between periods, I eaves dropped into many, many conversations in hopes of finding out what happened to those two. You know how middle school goes, it’s gossip fever after a fight breaks out. All I heard were useless rumors like, “I bet Eden is getting transferred to a military school in Oslo!” Or “Eden’s so going to have 35 years of detention!”

I’m not sure what was making my stomach ache so badly; the anxiety about what happened to my worst enemy on Earth or the guilt of getting Eden Calloway into such huge trouble. Like I‘ve never gotten anyone into trouble before. Not even my own sister! Oh man, it feels horrible. Eden had nothing to do with the feud between Hector and me, so why did I drag her into it? More, why am I finally realizing this after I committed the crime?

After the final bell of seventh period rung exactly at 4:15 P.M., I dashed as fast as I could to the principal’s office. I snuck right next to his door and used the side of my eye to peep into the window of the door. I saw Eden sitting in a chair right next to Principal Van Dooren. She looked really upset. Her eyes were slightly red from crying and her lips looked like they were shaking out of control. Principal Van Dooren was hanging up his phone and turning back to Eden.

I ducked low and fixed my ear right against the cold wooden door and listened very, very carefully to what Principal Van Dooren was going to do to Eden.

“Young lady, I just got off the phone with your volleyball coach. I hope you understand that you are currently suspended from participating from any clubs or extracurricular activities at this school,” he said to her.

“Principal… Principal Van Dooren…” Eden struggled to mumble while holding back tears, “That would mean I won’t be able to go to Nationals… and if I can’t go to Nationals… I can’t apply for the scholarships!”

“Yes, it would seem so.”

“Please Principal Van Dooren! If I can’t apply for the scholarships, I won’t be able to go to college! I really won’t!”

“I’m sorry young lady, but you should have thought about that before you physically harmed and assaulted one of our fellow peers.

“I-I don’t remember at all… I…I’m so sorry…”

“Well, you can apologize to Mr. Markwowski, his parents, and your teachers who will be keeping you in summer school all June and July! You should be grateful that you aren’t going to juvi. Now, you’ll be here until 6 P.M. tonight in my office, serving your detention.”

This is horrible! I couldn’t believe how much trouble she was getting into all because of me! I would never be able to live knowing that because of me, Eden Calloway, the school’s greatest female athlete and straight A student, couldn’t get into college because of an old grudge between me and a bully. Now, it looks like I’m the bully. A bully like Hector. Something I would never, ever imagine!

I have to do something. I pressed my back against the wall and let a thousand thoughts rush into my head. Should I just tell Principal Van Dooren it’s because of me? No, he’ll never believe the story about the rubber controllers. Should I tell Eden? No, she’ll hate me so extremely much! What am I going to do?

I rubbed my hand against the packet of rubber controllers in my pocket. I didn’t want to use them anymore because of the trouble they’ve caused.

Within a split second, a violent thrust hit me in the neck and jolted me against the wall. I opened my eyes and gazed back into the large, bull-like eyes of Hector Markowski.

His hand was grasped so tightly around my throat that I could barely breathe. I tried to push his arm away from me, but he was so strong I couldn’t budge him at all.

“You!” he snarled. “Give them to me.”

“Give… what…?” I muttered with the little breath I had.

“Those rubber stoppers. Now.”

My heart skipped a beat and all the blood left my face at the words. “rubber stoppers.”

“How… how do you know…”

“I’ve got eyes. I saw you write on that black rubber stopper. I saw you stick it onto Calloway. I know you made her beat me up. Now, before I turn you into  meat pie, you should fork over those stoppers!”

His hand gripped tighter and tighter. My head was feeling so light and I couldn’t see clearly anymore. I reached into my pocket and threw the stoppers right into his face. Finally he released his grip and I fell onto the ground.

As I was gasping for precious air, I looked at Hector as he picked up three black rubber controllers off the ground.

“You know…I would never think stupid chair stoppers like these would do anything,” he said in a mocking tone, “but I know Eden. She would never do a favor for a loser like you. So these things must do something! See you later, wet, little Allie!”

My mind couldn’t process anything at that moment. I just watched Hector walk away and disappear into the hallway, now with three commands in his grasp.