Alexis

“I have NEVER EVER been more disappointed in a group of students than you four! Look at you! You’re supposed to be the prides of Alistair Hall, and here you are covered in…potatoes..?”

“…and green beans, sir.” Added Kaylee.

“Shut it Thompson.”

She smirked.

“Ms. Thompson, it does not surprise me to find you in this situation.” Said the principal, sweeping a disapproving stare across the four of us. “But as for the rest of you, I am quite shocked. Especially you, Ms. Diaz. Unacceptable.”

Madison tugged on the ends of her sweater, already on the verge of tears. Before I could do anything, Kaylee stood up.

“It was my fault, sir. Leave them out of this.”

“I admire your want to protect your classmates, but am I to believe that you started a fight…with yourself..?”

“Of course.”

“Ms. Thompson.”

“Steve.”

The normally red-faced man grew even redder. He pointed a shaking finger into the face of the blue-eyed girl, preparing himself for the scream-session of a lifetime. Bracing myself, I stood up.

“Principal Connors, it was my fault as well.”

Everyone turned and stared, all rage lost in a second.

I straightened my collar. “It was.”

The ginger man stood and cleared his throat, taking a minute to formulate a response.

“Uh...well nevertheless, you will answer for this as a unit…from now on, you four will sit together at every meal for the rest of the semester.”

“What?!”

“No!”

“Principal Connors!”

“Also, you will be helping the staff clean the dining hall after dinner for the next month to make up for tonight’s…incident.”

A collective groan filled the room

“Now go…get cleaned up. That is all.”

All was silent save for the soft thud of an occasional mashed potato hitting the floor.

“Go!”

“Alright, alright.”

The four of us trudged out of his office and slammed the door, Kaylee shaking as much ammo from her brown curls as possible on her way out.

“Well this sucks ass.” Said the athlete, scratching at her head.

“And whose fault is this?” I retorted.

“You wanna start this again?”

Surprisingly, Autumn threw herself between the two of us, her short, cherry-red hair a distress signal of sorts.

“Stop. Please. I’m sick of this.”

The two of us stepped back.

“We’re sorry.” Said Kaylee.

I nodded.

“Let’s just go…shower or something. I smell like garlic.” Said Autumn, walking down the hall.

I looked at my phone.

Shit.

“I’ll um…meet you there. I’ve gotta do something real quick.”

“Alexis, it’s like nine pm, what’re you doing?”

“None of your business.”

Kaylee’s suspicious gaze followed me as I ran down the hall.

No one could find out.