Gail's Point of View;

I woke up a lot later today since I blew off my classes. I just didn't want to see or be around anyone today. I'll just snap some pictures of the notes I missed from someone later on if I feel like it. As I lay in my bed Alejandra came into my room without knocking. If I had the energy I would have told her off. But she never really listens anyway. So I just turned and faced away from her. I heard her coming closer and felt when she sat beside me. What could she want now?

She started talking and even brought me breakfast. That was actually really nice of her. I sat up and accepted it even though I wasn't all that hungry. I still tried to eat some of it and as she was about to leave she reminded me of going to the guidance counselor's office. Ugh! I tried to back out but she was so insistent and was holding me to my word I gave last night. I didn't want to go anywhere and talk to anyone about what happened anymore. But knowing the type of person she was the only way to get her to shut up about it was to agree.

After failing to eat the breakfast she made for me I got up and did my daily routine to get ready. Only people who don't know how to handle their problems seek counseling. Was that the type of person she thought I was? Why else was it so important to her for me to go?

Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to go and find out what they actually do. As I finished getting ready in my room I almost forgot to send the email of what I researched for Presley.

So I did that quickly cause no point in letting all of that research I did all night go to waste. As I came out of my room I was thrown to the ground with a swift leg sweep. I landed face down with my arms in some form of hold behind my back. It all happened so fast that all I knew is one moment I was standing up and the other I'm on the ground. There was only one person who could be responsible for this.

"ALEJANDRA!! What are you doing!?" I yelled struggling under her grip.

"First lesson in self-defense; always be alert to your surroundings. We spoke about this last night remember," she answered in a reassuring tone that only managed to irritate me even more.

"Yeah but when you said you were going to teach me self-defense; I didn't know it would give you permission to attack me anytime you felt like it," I snapped back.

"I'm just trying to prepare you for the unexpected in case something like what happened yesterday should recur," she replied and I sense in her own way she was trying to help me.

"Well I appreciate that but can we not refer to yesterday anymore, please? And let me out of this hold," I said as calmly as I could.

"Sorry sure, and that is why we're going to the guidance counselor. You won't have to talk about the incident yesterday on your first go until you're comfortable," She said as she helped me stand up.

"I won't have to? Then what else am I going to talk about then. Tell them that I'm taking self-defense lessons from my roommate through a series of attacks," I said with a hint of sarcasm that Alejandra clearly missed.

"Well if you want you can. It can actually be anything you want that's bothering you. But the main reason is to help you work through the shock you had yesterday."

"But I'm fine, what happened can't be fixed now. There's still no point in me going,"

"I know it feels like that now. I felt the same way when my sister went missing and my parents made me talk to a social worker. There wasn't anything anyone could say to bring her back much less some stranger in an office who knew nothing about me. But trust me, it helps in the long run. And if you're as ok as you say you are we could just use your story to get a self-defense class in the school to help others. Si I mean yes?"

She looked so genuine when she said it that I sighed in defeat and agreed but only because it can be used for a good cause. I knew from what she told me last night that she'd been through a lot when her sister went missing. So she would know a lot more about dealing with situations like this.

So we both went to the guidance counselor's office and I didn't protest verbally anymore. When we entered the waiting room I saw Kervani and a boy who I recognized as Mitchum's friend. I think his name was James but they were both talking to each other quietly that they didn't even take notice when we entered. I don't really know either of them so it was no big deal until I saw not too far off from them was Homer already there sitting as well. I was at first surprised but then I remembered he did say he had anger issues when we first met. Plus he was working along with the counselor to get the closed part of the school to take tours.

There were too many people in here that I knew. I tried to bypass Alejandra to go back outside the door but she reacted quickly by slamming the door behind her. She gave me an expression that I could tell meant that it was too late to back out. I ignored it because I was more concerned about the noise of the door slamming. If no one didn't notice me before, they sure did now. Kervani and James only momentarily looked our way but only nodded in acknowledgment of me then went back to their conversation. However, Homer waved us over to sit so I had no choice but to force a smile and sit next to him.

The thought of how it would be awkward with all 3 of us here raced through my mind but it would have been interpreted as rude if I completely ignored him. I knew Alejandra didn't know him so I introduced her. Her approach to the situation made everything comfortable. Homer also didn't seem to feel any shame in being here and it made me wonder why I did. They spoke so naturally as if they met up in a park or something. I guess if a tough guy like Homer could accept help and not feel ashamed maybe I don't have to be embarrassed about getting extra help either.

Their conversation was interrupted by loud voices coming from the guidance counselor's corner office. I recognized the woman's voice as Professor Hoyte. All I managed to hear was her rant about how he will regret encouraging the petition. Then she stormed out of the room and passed us all in her power walk. Kervani and James coolly got up to go after.

"Imagine having a class with her in this mood," Kervani said to the room as they left with James who heavily sighed. I'd really hate to be in the class she had next but James was only in his first year and Kervani was in her third. How could they have Professor Hoyte's class at the same time?

I didn't have time to really think about it as a man who I assumed to be the guidance counselor now came out of the room. He was an average-height middle-aged man and his glasses were in hand as he looked worn out. Homer approached him first.

"We better get a good turnout at the meeting on Wednesday 'cause I won't want to live through that again," The counselor said letting out a slight chuckle. Well, at least he had a sense of humor.

Homer told him that he was trying his best to gather as many people as he could. The counselor nodded but then noticed Alejandra and me sitting there. He came and greeted us then introduced himself as Professor Harrison. So I was right and Homer told him I was one of the persons helping him gather people. I didn't really know what to say in return but Alejandra didn't have that problem.

She got right to the point and asked if we could speak privately because there was another matter of importance. I think Homer may have understood and said he had to leave. Professor Harission then put back on his glasses and invited both Alejandra and me into his office. At least I wasn't going in on my own.

She seems to make an instant connection with people who don't really know her. That's actually useful here because I wouldn't walk up to a complete stranger and start telling them the worst thing that ever happened to me. I guess in the end the deal with Presley to let a real student off the waiting list was a good idea after all.