The bell rang and it was the end of class. Just thinking about seeing Jack again got my heart racing. It's all so hard to process. We fought, we made up, we fought, and now we're sort of..dating? It's all a little too much for me to take, but I'm glad we share the same feelings for each other. Honestly, I've liked Jack for such a long time, and I was so scared about confessing my feelings to him. Him running away was the worst thing that could've happened to me. But I'm so glad we made up and...kissed! That was a surprise, even for me! A good surprise, of course. I looked up from my desk and saw Quinn, Cindy, and Elle eying me evilly from across the room. Their looks sent a shiver down my back. 

Jack said something about them humiliating me, didn't he? Were they discussing the first phase of their little plan? Whatever, I know that they don't have the IQ to come up with anything worse than insulting me with mean nicknames that, half the time, didn't even make sense. Then again, Jack said after they humiliated him, he was really distraught, and Jack's one of the toughest, most sarcastic people I know. What I mean by that is, it really takes a lot to humiliate him. Maybe I should be scared of these girls? Ack, what are you thinking, Celia!? Don't stoop to their level, don't become a coward. I quickly looked away from their glares and packed up my stuff in my backpack. I slung my backpack around my shoulder and started to make my way towards the door, ready to go to my newspaper committee meet. First I had to find Jack and invite him, then I'd attend the meet. Unfortunately, Quinn and the others decided to block the door. Great, I was trapped.

"May I help you?" I asked in a rather confused tone. Quinn smirked. "You're the author of the school column, "School News", right?" I nodded my head slowly, a little suspicious of their question. "And why are you so interested in this now? I've been writing for the newspaper ever since I was a freshman." Quinn smirked at Cindy and Elle and then turned back to me, crossing her arms. "Well, I think you ought to check out what you just recently posted." She smirked. What I recently posted? I didn't post anything. In fact, I was still working on my next story. What was going on? I looked at them, rather confused, but they just keep smirking at me. Quinn let out a little, "Hmph!" and a smirk and stopped blocking the door. I walked out of the door rather fast and went to go find Jack in the crowd of kids to tell him to join me when the newspaper committee met. I wonder what that was all about. Jack did say something about them trying to humiliate me..could that be true? I stopped and quickly glanced over at the newspaper department and looked inside the door. There was no one there. Shouldn't people be meeting by now? 

I was starting to get a little scared. Keep it cool, Celia, they're probably just empty words that those bullies always speak. Maybe they just canceled today's meet. I went to my locker and got all my books, papers, and everything out of my locker. As I did this, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I smiled to myself, a little blush spread across my cheeks. Jack must've found me before I could find him. I whipped my head around to greet him. "Hey Ja-" My sentence got cut off, because it wasn't jack. It was Mrs. Mills, my English teacher and the supervisor for the newspaper club. She didn't have a very happy look on her face so I know she wasn't coming to congratulate me on a popular post I had written. "Mrs. Mills. Is something wrong?" I asked, tilting my head. I gulped, a little scared. Quinn said something about a recent post I had made. But I haven't posted anything recent! Keep calm, Celia, keep calm. "Yes. Ms. Schwartz, I need to speak with you. Follow me to the principal's office." My eyes widened. I had never been sent to the principal's office for anything, unless I was delivering a paper or receiving some sort of award for good behavior or whatnot.  

I followed my teacher to the principal's office, not before seeing Jack walking up to me. He looked joyful and happy, waving at me. He stopped in his tracks and the smile was wiped from his face when he saw my terrified look. He knew something was up. I just hope he didn't think it was his fault. Judging by the look on his face, he already thought it was. I mouthed the words, "It's fine" before I disappeared from his sight. I gulped and looked down at the ground, until Mrs. Mills and I reached the big, brown door with the words "Principal's Office" inscribed into the door. We entered inside and saw the principal. He had a small beard, a big figure, and glasses. Sometimes, you couldn't even see his mouth because it was hiding behind his mustache. "Ms. Schwartz, have a seat." He spoke, his voice deep for an older man. I nodded and sat down in front of him. Mrs. Mills stood on the side. Yep, I was in trouble, I knew it. But..what had I done wrong? 

The Principal, or Mr. Williams, folded his hands together and looked at me, adjusting his glasses. "Mrs. Mills has brought to my attention a recent "story" you have posted onto our school newspaper." He used air quotes when saying the word "story." I tilted my head, my eyebrow raised. "I don't recall posting anything recently." I spoke, timidly. "Well, we do. The entire school does." He sighed and slapped down a copy of the week's newspaper onto the desk, pushing it towards me. "Read your column on page six, Celia." He commanded me. I gulped nervously and took the newspaper, turning to page six, where my column normally was. It was still there. I prepared myself for whatever I was about to read. My eyes widened in shock upon reading the title. 

THIS SCHOOL SUCKS

By Celia Shwartz 

I've spent years writing for this school newspaper, so I think I'm entitled to state my opinion about the school. I think this school sucks. The newspaper committee is so boring and I hate being a part of it. I only did it so I could get into college and get my scholarship. I stole the scholarship away from a very talented, beautiful girl by the name of Quinn Holton, because I like being mean. I think the teachers, like Mrs. Mills, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Pernowsky, and especially the principal, Mr. Williams, are totally boring, lame, stupid, and I hate taking their classes. The students here are horrible, especially Quinn Holton, Elle Stanza, Josh Lukes, and Cindy Oska. I also hate that new student, Jack Parker. He's totally lame, stupid, and gross. I wish he didn't have to follow me around all the time. In conclusion, I really hate this school and I think it sucks. I'm so glad to finally graduate so I can escape from this stupid school. 

My eyes widened. I scanned over each and every sentence, each word. I was filled with anger upon everything I read. This was NOT my writing, I would never say anything like this. Granted, one thing was right - I think Quinn is horrible. I knew she was behind this evil work. I could not take the fall for this, I just couldn't. And how DARE she speak of Jack like that! He's the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful person I know. I hoped he wouldn't read this and believe I actually said this about him. I looked back at the principal. "I-I...I just.." I could think of no words to say to him. I sat in silence as both he and Mrs. Mills looked at me disapprovingly. He sighed and took off his glasses. "Celia, I let you into this school and gave you a scholarship to your college because of your writing. You agreed to write for the newspaper and you write well. I was very proud of you. But I can't possibly give you that writing scholarship if you are now going to write such injurious, disrespectful things about this school, the teachers, and the students." Mr. Williams said. 

These words shattered my heart. I couldn't even speak. I needed to get words out, I needed to tell him that this wasn't me, this wasn't my writing. I would never say such despicable things. "M-Mr. Williams, this isn't my writing. I don't know how, somebody hacked into my writing account and posted this..this..garbage!" I raised my voice. I was so filled with anger. How dare Quinn? She could ruin me..if she hasn't already. "Well, if this wasn't your work, then who's was it?" He asked me. "Quinn Holton's! She said that I posted this, but it was a lie! She posted it herself, she's trying to ruin me and get my scholarship!" I cried aloud. "Ms. Schwartz, you can't go accusing people without evidence." Mrs. Mills crossed her arms.

 I wanted to cry, but held it in, trying to be brave. However, you could still see some tears well up on the brims of my eyes. "Please, I didn't do this, I swear!" I cried. "Until we can prove that, I'm sorry, Celia, but punishment is in order. You will be in detention for 3 hours after school every day after school starting next week. You will also be in charge of class cleanup after each and every class." Fine, whatever, just please don't take away my scholarship. "You will also be expelled from the newspaper committee after publishing an apology letter in the school newspaper. And finally, you will have your scholarship taken away from you and offered to the next student in line for it." 

My heart shattered into a million little pieces. "Please..M-Mr. Williams...I didn't do this. I'm one of your best s-students..you k-know that, don't you?" My voice was quieter and more shaky. They could totally tell I was about to cry or faint due to stress. Mr. Williams didn't say anything. He just sighed and looked at me. "That is all, Celia. I'll see you on Monday bright and early. Mrs. Mills will escort you outside my office." And with that, he dismissed us. Mrs. Mills opened the door for me and awaited for me. As I got up, I couldn't even feel my legs. They were like jelly. I walked shakily to the door and exited out, Mrs. Mills closing it behind us. "I'm sorry, Celia." She sighed, putting her hand on my shoulder. "But there are consequences to all actions." She walked away, leaving me in the middle of the hallway. I didn't even know what to do. Everything I worked so hard for had been taken away from me due to a lie. It was like I couldn't breathe. I looked around to see every single student reading my column in the newspaper and staring at me with a look of disgust and shock. I couldn't bear this. Tears started streaming down my face. Quinn humiliated me. And she ruined me at the same time. 

I quickly picked up my pace and started to run as fast as I could down the long, narrow hallway of students that only appeared to be shrinking, closing in on me, suffocating me. I ran and ran until I saw Jack at the end of the hallway. The tears streaming down my face, my heart beating against my chest, the painful stress I was feeling, and the extreme running just exhausted me. "CELIA!" I heard Jack scream, his voice filled with worry and sadness. I started to slow down, now jogging instead of running. I started to stumble backwards, then to my right, then to my left. I ran all the way up to Jack until I couldn't run anymore. All the stress had gotten to me, because I stumbled and tripped, my feet raised off the ground. I fainted right into Jack's arms.

Jack's POV

Celia fainted right into my arms. I picked her up and carried her bridal style out of the school. My poor girl. Who had done this to her? A tear slid down my cheek and hit Celia's. Whoever did this to my sweet angel..

I will make them pay.