[Nona Larsen]

I wake up with sense of guilt dragging me down. Have I really got any true feelings for Jarvis Harding, or did I make out with him in that shower just to please him?

The only thing I can do is hope he'll give me a sign. For now, I should keep my head low and try not to get into unnecessary trouble. Easier said than done. I have a knack for wreaking havoc. I can't help it.

In the mean time, the test answers impasse is nowhere near being sorted out. Everyone (except Jarvis, of course) keeps pointing the finger at me, even making up fabricated evidence to label me as guilty. They really want to rile me up, but don't know what's coming for them.

By the time I take my usual seat at the back of Room 36, I notice two pairs of hands stuck on my desk. I'd really love to ignore them, but I just can't. I want whoever is here to disappear now before I fight them.

To my disgust, Belkis and Beulah are planted at my desk. What the fuck are they doing here? Shouldn't they be licking Catela's ass somewhere else? They can go back wherever they come from. I don't need them, not after they chose to side with that bitch.

I scoff. "What the fuck do you want? Don't you have to lick the queen bee's ass? Or is she too busy brown nosing teachers?" Beulah glares at me, visibly fuming. I don't give a fuck about her antics. She and Belkis missed the train, and there's no chance for them to hop back in.

I continue. "Fuck off, both of you. If you have nothing better to do than glaring at me, then you're wasting my time. Go back to your new friend." I dismiss them with just a wave of my left hand, something Catela does often when someone is no longer in her good grace.

Belkis lets out a weird sound, a mixture of laughter and a screech. "As if I even care about you, Nona. Why don't you just admit you stole those papers?"

I face her off, butting my head against hers. "So what? You want me to be expelled, right, so that you can do the fuck you want? Okay. I give in. I'll tell the Principal I stole the papers, so that you're happy." I shake my head and don't look at my ex friend's eyes. Then, I turn my back at both and sneak off to the toilet. I don't give a fuck about classes. I just want to get my ass back home.

***

I can't believe I'm turning myself in just to please some mongrels. While I don't think it's fair, I need to teach those two disloyal wenches a lesson. Now that I'll be out of their hair, they can be buddies with Catela in a more blatant manner, and even be part of her posse. I can make do with working odd jobs, or homeschooling, if Mom still allows me to stay.

When the Principal lets me in his office, he's stunned. "Nona Larsen... I'm surprised to see you by your own choice. I suppose you have the name of who stole the test keys, right?" He frowns at me, implying that he still thinks I'm guilty. I'll let him believe that bullshit. The earlier I get out of this trash dump, the better. I don't need school to validate my worth.

"Yes, sir, it was me. I shouldn't have denied my responsibility for such an act." I don't even let him counterreply, because I already know what to do. "For this reason, I'm here to tell you that I'm quitting with immediate effect."

The Principal points out, "Actually, you can't just quit like that. You need to fill in a form and hand it over to your parents so that they can sign it." I need to save this plan. I don't want to stay here anymore. None of those pieces of shit should get the satisfaction of falsely accusing me anymore.

I insist. "I know, this is why I'm calling my parents and telling them to sign. I'll fill in the rest of the form right now." The Principal, at this point, has no other choice than hand me the paper. I fill in the form in its entirety, double checking every single piece of information I write.

He asks, "How can I contact your parents, Nona?"

"I'll call them. Could I use my phone, please? Just for that, I promise." I smile coyly, with that old moron not knowing that I'm going to deceive the fuck out of both him and my parents. The earlier I get out, the better.

Since Mom is at work, I resort to calling Dad first. He picks up after three attempts, and starts off by embarrassing me. "Sorry, honey, I was in the shower."

I scowl, not minding the Principal's glare. "Dad! This is not the place! By the way, I need you and Mom to come to school, like, now. The Principal needs both of you to sign a paper for... uhm..." I hesitate as I realize I haven't come up with a convincing lie yet. "He just needs you to be here now, okay?"

I hear him sighing on the other side of the line. "Okay, I guess I'll come in now. I'll call Mom in the meantime. We'll talk later, okay?"

My plan is on the line. My hope is that they sign the papers without asking any questions and then I'll be able to figure out something. That is, unless the Principal talks.

***

It didn't work as I thought. While I did get out of that school, the Principal flat out told my parents I wanted to quit. Of course, they aren't taking it well and won't let me study at home.

In particular, Mom issues a strict ultimatum. "Since you think you can waste our time like that, Nona, at least make it worth it. Either you find a new school by Monday, or you can find a new family. Your choice." Her stern glare, combined with Dad's frown, surprisingly make everything easier.

Did they really care for me when they found out about the test answers scandal or did they just want to cleanse their reputation by getting rid of me? Do they think I'm stupid? I know a couple of secrets of theirs I, at this point, will just let out to the public. Fuck them.

I scoff. "My choice, huh? Do you really want to know why I chose to left? And, no, you're not telling me you don't wanna listen to my excuses. You're going to listen, period." Mom lets out an annoyed yawn, but I don't care. I continue, "I chose to leave school as no-one was willing to investigate properly and instead decided that I'm the culprit. So, I made them believe I was guilty. And I'm sure you do, too."

Dad tries to change his stance. "Listen, Nona, what you did was uncalled for. We could've just talked through it." I see through his fake smile and glare at him, making him go back to giving me an ice cold stare. "This doesn't mean you're trouble free, young lady."

"It doesn't mean I care either. You probably never even wanted me. I caught you in the act." I hiss, making my parents go pale. Tension is killing them.

Mom, anyway, still manages to keep her intimidating look plastered on her face. "And so?"

I answer, "So... I'm out of here. I'm packing. You're not going to see me again." I rush to my room, grab a few things, throw them randomly in a black bag, and go back to my parents. I'm sure they'll try to manipulate me into staying, promising I'll get grounded for life for standing up to them if I don't step back, but I'm done.

I'm done with their false promises, I'm done with their lies. I'm fed up with them trying to keep up with appearances. They made everyone believe I'm nothing but the troubled child. They'd rather have someone like Catela Layne, or my poisonous ex friends, as a daughter than me. They spent their lives sucking up to people who rejoice at seeing my downfall.

They won, I lost. I have no other choice than leaving.