[Nona Larsen]

I'm done. This time, the Principal has gone too far. He doesn't even have proof that I attempted to stole papers from his office! Well, video footage never lies, so I hope he at least takes it into account. Until then, I don't think he should punish anyone.

Still, here I am, alone in that room, with a bunch of people I wish I could just punch straight in their face. I don't need them around. I just need time for myself to reflect on how this accusation might taint my school curriculum. Not that it's been impeccable, so far...

Still, I can't stand a single minute here with Catela Layne and her best friends, Sara Bonnett and Violet Harden. They're hard set on believing I did steal those papers. Like, come on! They keep insulting me for that without even knowing how things actually went.

Every time they talk, I try to ignore them. I just stare at the clock on the wall and that's it. Nothing else.

It's a lot easier said than done, of course. They try with every mean to earn my attention. They throw everything at me without being caught—how can they, though?—and keep whispering at me. How am I supposed to focus on myself when they make noise all the time? Can't they just stay quiet like everyone else?

When detention is finally over, I walk out of the door believing that I'll be able to go back home and do some damage control with my parents. Instead, I'm disappointed as Catela and her so-called friends clear their throat, making it clear that I have to pay attention to them even though I don't want to.

"What do you want?" I retort, turning my back at them, but Catela keeps clearing her throat. I don't have time to listen to her bullshit.

"When I call you, you're supposed to pay attention, okay?" she insists, much to my annoyance. Can't she turn to her minions instead? I don't want to talk to her or her her shrill voice.

"You're not God, so back off." These words are enough for her to approach me with a threatening glare and her clenched fist pointed at me. I don't fear her at all. She can attack me as much as she wants, I haven't got any problems with her.

"You back off, bitch! No-one talks to me like that! Do you know who I am?" Yes, she's a girl who pents up her frustration in an immature manner and thinks she's above everyone else. If I had to describe Catela Layne in one word, I'd say "hindrance." She's only set to making other people miserable because she can't enjoy her life, void of anything memorable.

Sara and Violet stand still, throwing sideways glares at me and snickering. They can't form their own opinion because they've stuck with Catela since day one of high school. The only thing they can do is to follow her orders and that's it. Their loss. It's not my fault if they have little to no personality.

Ignoring the three barking bitches' silent threats, I turn my back at them and leave the classroom. The only thing I want is to go back home, take a long bath and devise a plan to get out of this messy situation with the test papers.

***

As things aren't bad enough, friend drama slowly enters the picture. I don't know what brought Belkis and Beulah to believe all the fake news spread by Catela & Co, but at the same I don't want to believe they're stupid enough to believe them over me. I mean, they know me, or, at least, they should. So, why did they become so diffident?

This is why I'm taking time to process their ambiguous text messages before deciding whether to answer them or just wait and face them directly at school tomorrow. Am I such a bad person to deserve backlash over what seems to be a misunderstanding but is a lot more than that?

My decision, however, has to wait because my parents call me downstairs for dinner. Hopefully, Mom tried something new because we've only had chicken and peas for three days in a row. Even though I love chicken, I'd really like to have fish for dinner tonight.

Okay, I talked too early. No fish. But, at the same time, no chicken and peas either. After washing my hands, I take my seat at the dining table, only to find out that Mom made quinoa. She knows I'm not a fan of it. I mean, I know it's healthy and all that stuff, but I believe a pasta dish wouldn't be so bad.

Since complaining isn't a good idea, I decide to just eat in silence and convince myself that maybe quinoa is better than I thought... Okay, I should stop lying to myself. It's as bad as I thought. It's bland, tasteless, I'm still feeling hungry.

After I finish eating, I take advantage of the fact that tonight is my turn at the dishwasher to open the pantry, steal some cookies and a packet of crackers, close it and then stealthily go back to my room as soon as I'm done with the dishes.

Mom's voice echoes through the house. Even though she doesn't sound stern, it doesn't mean that I shouldn't take her seriously. "I hope you're not eating in your room, Nona. You know the rules," she says.

Screw rules. She made me eat tasteless quinoa, so I get to break them for once.

***

My decision not to answer Belkis and Beulah's messages straight away comes with consequences. They're both angry at me for "turning my back at them," all while the only thing they did is to report a bunch of lies and bullshit and believe it! Wow. I really need to start thinking of whom to trust better.

At the same time, I decide that the best thing to do now is to confront them. I want to fix my situation but can't if no-one believes me, starting from who are supposed to be my friends.

When I make a gesture to them, they throw an annoyed glare at me. I retort. "Seriously? Do you think I'm wasting my time just that you can glare at me and look bored?" They don't flinch. I don't know if I should consider them true friends after I realized it's clear they prefer believing fake news.

"Just admit it, Nona, you stole the papers and that's it," says Belkis in a bored tone, much to my anger.

I snap at her. "Were you there when you saw it? Come on, answer!"

"I wasn't, but-"

I cut her off, fed up with the bullshit. "You weren't, so you can't really say anything. Also, I thought you and Beulah knew better than believing what Catela says! Come on! She lies all the time!" I sigh as I say that, but it looks like I'm talking to the wall.

I continue, "I mean, can't you think with your own brain? Do you really need to follow the mass to get noticed?"

"Stop patronizing us, Nona! You're pathetic!" As Beulah scowls at me, I lose it. How can she tell me that I'm pathetic, especially now? How can she and Belkis not stand at me or, at least, stay neutral and avoid believing rumors?

It's pretty obvious they're not loyal. Well, that's no longer my problem.

I turn my back at my to-be ex friends and flip them off. "You know what? Screw you! Go and suck it up to Catela. I can fend for myself on my own."