Sudden Confidence!

"Hey, Scar." As her car rolled into the parking space and came to a stop, Avery waved at Scarlett. Scarlett shut the door behind her as she got out of the car, and Avery and Cornelia walked over to her.

Before leaving for school, Scarlett went to her backyard to gather the clothes she had thrown out the window. She didn't want her family to see it, so she kept it in the trunk of her car. After school, she had made up her mind to drive a considerable distance to a remote location and dispose of the clothing there.

"I texted and called your number, but no one answered. How could you just bail on us last night, Scar?" When Avery asked, Scarlett removed her sunglasses. Oh sh*t! Now she remembered. She left her phone in the woods.

With a squeaky voice and an inhaled breath, Scarlett replied. "I'm so sorry, guys. I had to leave because Mom called." She was unable to reveal to them that while pursuing a hot guy in the woods, she was attacked by a strange beast. Her friends wouldn't take her word for it anyway.

"You could have told us, and you could have kept us informed. For a moment, we thought something had happened to you after we heard…"

"Heard what, Avery?"

"Tucker told us what happened at the party last night between you and Cassy. I'm so sorry it didn't go as you had hoped."

Scarlett glanced into the rearview mirror of her car to make sure her hair was in place. She found it difficult to forget what happened between her and Tucker last night. She'd thought they would finally get together because of the magic she felt between them, but thanks to Cassy, it was ruined—or how strangely her injury had healed when she woke up. "It's fine, Avery. Maybe he isn't the one for me. Besides, I lost my phone. I don't really recall if I left it in my bag at the party last night after getting my mother's call."

"Are you okay though? You appear to have lost your voice as well." Scarlett agreed with Cornelia as she spoke, but that wasn't the matter that worried her the most. As she made her way to school that morning, her thoughts were disorganised. She had treated Belly rudely, and when she awoke, the injury had miraculously healed.

She instantly remembered yelling and pleading with the beast to spare her life when she was being attacked last night. That's right! That was why she lost her voice.

"Girls, I'm good." She lied. Strangely, even though she wasn't feeling well mentally, her physical health was fine. She moved in the middle of them and wrapped her arms around their shoulders. "Come on, we don't want to miss the first period."

As they all made their way into the crowded hallway, Scarlett noticed Cornelia was glancing her way. Scarlett believed Cornelia was staring at her because she was concerned that she had returned to class despite Principal Peggy's warning about not coming to school for the next two weeks.

Scarlett's hand was removed from Cornelia's shoulder after a brief pause as she turned to face her friends. "Scarlett," Avery and Scarlett both looked at Cornelia. Scarlett glared at Avery, who shook her head and claimed she was unaware of what Cornelia was about to say.

"Scarlett, I have some questions."

"Shoot." Scarlett rolled her eyes as she spoke. This time, she hoped Cornelia would ask a probing question rather than just compliment her looks every time they passed a cute boy in the hallway.

"Won't you make Principal Peggy angry?" At Cornelia's question, Scarlett's brow arched. Avery immediately shook her head and told Cornelia to stop talking as soon as their eyes met. "You know? Principal Peggy specifically told you not to come to school for the next two weeks, so won't she be upset with you for doing so?"

Scarlett sighed. "She didn't tell me anything. She just told my mom this morning." She paused. "And how did you guys get to know about this? My dad's funeral was yesterday."

Cornelia said. "Your mom told my dad the news this morning, Scar."

Scarlett glanced away from Cornelia for a moment to wave to a couple of girls who were saying hello to her as they passed. She let out another sigh and rested her hand on Cornelia's shoulder. "There's no need to worry about Principal Peggy. I essentially fixed my own problem." She gave a fake smile. "Principal Peggy won't suggest a break for me any longer,"

"What do you mean?" Avery asked.

Scarlett tucked her hair slowly behind her ear. "I did what was best just so I could go to class today." She made a quick stop at Principal Peggy's house on the way to school to deliver a letter threatening to file an authority report if she wasn't allowed to attend classes. Scarlett had wondered where she suddenly got the nerve to be so confident. She had always been confident, but not to this extent.

"I hope you didn't make her lose her job." As Cornelia spoke, Scarlett could see the expression on her face.

Ahead of the chuckle, Scarlett shook her head.

"Obviously not. The fact that this school is owned by my uncle does not give me the right to fire Principal Peggy, who did me nothing wrong. Right guys?"

Avery and Cornelia nodded. Avery questioned, "So, exactly what did you do?"

Scarlett's focus shifted from her friends to Tucker, who was grinning and standing in front of her locker. "That's a tale for another time. I have somewhere to be right now before the first period." She said to her friends and went to her locker. She made an effort to conceal her hurt feelings from last night.

As they waited a few centimetres away from her, Cornelia and Avery rolled their eyes.

"I'm getting tired of this. They haven't had sex, but she has loved Tucker her entire life," Cornelia said.

Avery answered, her eyes on Scarlett. "That's gross, Cornel. Nobody wants their first sexual experience to be without romance. Then, Cornelia and Avery met eyes. "Oops, except for you, I guess,"

Cornelia leaned in, muttering. "That was just one time, and it was on the day of Tucker's win-win football party, near the dumpster."

"That was only yesterday, Cornel."

"That was the best sex I have ever had in my entire life."

"More like the only sexual experience you've had?"

"It doesn't matter. It was a memorable day spent with Xander. The most appealing boy I know." With dreamy eyes, she spoke.

"You mean the Casanova?" Avery asked, rolling her eyes. "He doesn't even have attractive features."

"Whatever, Avery." As she spoke, Cornelia sounded furious.

"I'm headed to class. Are you going or do you want to watch them talk and giggle at one another?"

"No. I am coming with you." Avery walked over to Scarlett. "We're going to class now. We will leave you a seat."

"Alright, guys. I will see you inside." Scarlett said.

Avery and Cornelia turned around and moved in the direction of the stairs leading to the second floor, where their class would be held.