Chapter 8

The next day, Amanda woke up with a renewed strength. She vowed that nothing was going to spoil her day. Not Parker not Ian or his friends. As Amanda prepared for school that day, she made a promise to stand her ground no matter what happened.

Her phone gave a sharp beep, indicating she had a call. The caller ID showed that it was her mother calling.

"Hey mum." she beamed.

She had missed her mum a lot and couldn't wait for the day she got back home from her trip. Ever since she left, she had been all alone in the house, lasting about without any one to talk to.

"Hey darling, how have you been?" her mum said from the other end.

"I'm just here mum. I miss you, when are you coming home." Amanda said.

"I'll be home sooner than you expect, don't worry. I'm sorry, this is taking so long to finish but don't worry, I'll be home soon", she said.

"Okay mum, I'll hold you by your words." she laughed.

"How is school? Any problems, do you need anything?"

Amanda couldn't think of anything she needed except to get rid of all her bullies. She was very close to spilling everything to her mum but she held her tongue. It wasn't time, soon it would be.

"No... I'm fine mum, I don't need anything." Amanda said.

There was a slight pause. Amanda could tell that her mom had a feeling that all was not well with her. 

"Am, what's the matter? Talk to me." her mum said, quietly.

"Seriously mum, nothing is wrong. I'm fine, I promise."  she said.

"Okay, I'll hold you by your words." her mum laughed.

"Sure. I love you Mom." Amanda said.

"I love you too girl, be good okay".

"I will. See ya" she said before cutting the phone.

She couldn't have her mum worrying about her. Now was not the time to report the bullying, soon it would be and when she does, she'd make sure that Parker and every other bully goes down.

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"I really do not understand why Mr Edmund would give us that homework when exams are almost here." Emily whined.

"Or should we go protest." Amanda said, jokingly.

"And have us expelled. No thank you, I want to finish highschool in peace." Leslie said, sipping her soda.

"I don't know girls but I have a feeling that the exams might be postponed." Emily said.

"Well, I don't know about that. I just want to finish without any problems, I'm tired of school."Amanda said.

"And I can't wait for prom night. I really want to see what we're all going to wear, I mean we should look our best. It's the last day of school after all." Emily said.

"I'm not so certain if I'll be attending." Leslie said.

"Don't you dare, even I would be attending." Amanda said.

"When it's time, I'm going to drag you away from your house and there's no stopping me." Emily said.

"Oh now I'm screwed." Leslie laughed.

"Make that two." Amanda laughed.

"How are your parents?" Emily said, completely out of the blue.

Amanda remained quiet for a while. Her friends knew that her parents were absent most of the time but they didn't know that most of the time, they went on very long trips, sometimes a month or two.

"They're fine. They were around last week but they had to go back due to one thing or the other, I'm expecting them this week though." Amanda said, quietly.

Leslie gave her hands a gentle squeeze and Arianna could tell that she knew what she was going through.

"It's alright Am. Remember we're here all you need to do is call us and we'll come running down. We can even sleep over whenever we want, we just don't want you to feel lonely." Leslie said.

"I'll be fine guys, seriously. You've done so much for me and sometimes I wonder how I deserve you guys. Thank you." Amanda smiled.

"Cut it out, it's fine. You're stuck with us." Emily said.

After their lunch break, the girls headed back to class for their second lecture for the day. As they settled in, more students joined them but there seemed to be one person that was missing- Parker.

"It seems as if Parker is missing. I mean, I don't care but that's kind of strange." Emily said.

"Yeah, I noticed too. Maybe he caught the flu or something."Amanda said.

"That would be great. At least, one day free of trouble." Leslie said.

"You've forgotten Ian is still very much around and might I say is heading over here this very minute." Emily said.

Leslie and Amanda whipped their heads towards the door and true to Emily's words, Ian and his cronies were heading their way.

"Hello Ian." Emily smiled sweetly.

Amanda was not fooled by that smile. She knew that deep within her friend's smile, was a venom waiting to be unleashed on the hapless victim which in this case was Ian.

"Hey gorgeous." he cackled, totally fooled by her smile.

"Do you need anything?" Emily asked.

"Nothing pretty. You know, you're the only one I fancy from the rest of your dwib assed friends. You're smart, pretty you know what's going on." he said.

His friends gave him slapping high fives, grinning like maniacs. Amanda and Leslie seemed to shrink in their seats at the verbal abuse Ian rained down on them.

"You know what Ian, I think you're the most stupid and idiotic person I've ever seen. It's no wonder you're at the very bottom of the class simply because you know nothing." Emily fired.

She was in her element and there was no stopping her now. Ian was taken aback by her change of mood and for some minutes, he was speechless as he didn't know what to do or say.

"Now, take your measly self and your foolish friends and get lost." she said.

"I'll get you for this. You wait, I'll surely get you for this." he said, backing away.

When they left, Amanda and Leslie burst out laughing. They held their sides as tears streamed down their eyes.

"Oh you got him real good Em. Did you see this face?" Amanda laughed.

"He's just an egotistical fool. I had to put him in his place." Emily laughed.

"Serves him right. Next time, he'll never come close to you." Leslie said.

"You know, he asked me on a date once but I refused and ever since then, he's been disturbing me. I totally forgot to tell you guys." Emily said.

"Talk about ewww, even Macy wouldn't even date him and that's saying something." Amanda said.

"He's just so stupid and weird most of the time no wonder he's at the bottom of the class."  Leslie said.

"And to think that his parents are really well to do, he's a sorry case." Emily said.

Just then, Parker walked into the class. As soon as he stepped in, the whole class drew silent. For one, Parker's face was bloody and his left eye seemed to close. His lip was cut and his school shirt was rumpled.

"What the hell happened to him?"  Leslie whispered.

"I have no idea but it's really bad. He needs to go to the sick bay, there's blood dripping on his shirt." Emily said.

Amanda stared at him and he heart broke. For someone who had shown her a lot of hatred, she didn't think he deserved this. She wasn't sure if she was the only one who noticed but Brandon had a look of pain in his eyes. 

As if sensing someone's gaze on him, Parker locked eyes with her and the two seemed to be holding a secret conversation. At that moment, Amanda  felt like it was just her and him in the whole class. His eyes softened a bit but it disappeared as quickly as it came. 

The moment was broken by the teacher's arrival. Amanda cleared her throat, turning back to face the board. She had a tingling sensation in her feet, she couldn't explain it but it was certainly there.

"Good gracious. Parker, what happened to you?" The teacher asked.

Parker rose to his feet, feeling list for some minutes. The whole started, seemingly transfixed by his looks.

"I got into an... accident." he finally said.

Amanda knew instantly that it was a lie. There was more to what he was saying and the only way to find out what really happened was if the teacher interrogated him.

"Please go to the school clinic, you need to tend to those wounds. I'm sorry about your plight." The teacherteacher said.

Slinging his bag, Parker walked out but not before glancing at Amanda who seemed to shrink in her seat as she tried to stay invisible. 

When he left, she got up fully, taking out her notes. She was certain now that her and Parker bheld a special connection. He felt something for her but she knew that there was still something holding him back.

For the first time ever, Amanda's mind was totally away from the class. Her whole mind was fixed on him, wondering how he was doing.