12

"Oh? Is that so?" Lexi grinned, stepping closer. "Try me. I'm not scared of you."

"What's your name?" Lexi chuckled darkly.

"Genesis."

"You'll see your reckoning soon," Lexi warned.

"Funny—just like your face," Genesis smirked.

Lexi's eyes flared. She swung the back of her book, slapping Genesis fiercely.

"How dare you bully my daughter! You're the real bastard here!"

"Your daughter is the bastard!" Genesis shot back, staggering.

Lexi drew her gun. Cami's eyes widened, panic flooding her.

"Mom, no! Stop!" Cami clung to Lexi, the teacher joining in to restrain her.

Genesis bolted, fleeing the classroom.

Lexi stormed out, striding straight to the principal's office.

She threw the door open.

"Good mor—"

"I don't want your greetings," Lexi snapped, cutting Mrs. Caine off.

The vice principal rose slowly, eyes flicking to the pistol in Lexi's hand.

"How can you sit there all day while a girl bullies my only child?" Lexi's voice trembled with rage.

Mrs. Caine replied calmly, "Your daughter should have reported this to her teacher or to me directly."

"Isn't it your job to enforce rules against bullying? Parents don't know what happens in here!"

"Ma'am, classes are in session—"

"Don't cut me off! I want that girl expelled. If you don't act, this school is finished."

"We'll handle it before the day ends, ma'am."

"You better," Lexi warned coldly. "If anything happens to my child again, you're done. Mark my words."

The principal bowed, apologetic.

Lexi turned sharply and left.

Despite the chaos, her hair and poise were untouched.

In the hallway, she met Cami, frowning.

"Weakling," Lexi spat and started walking.

Then stopped. "If you ever get bullied again, call me. I'll be there instantly. Got it, weakling?"

"Okay, Mom," Cami nodded, bowing.

Lexi disappeared down the hall.

LEXI'S CAR

Lexi sat behind the wheel, hands gripping the steering wheel, car still off.

Her eyes were distant, mind racing.

"I'm not done. Should've done more. Nothing will stop me from tearing them apart," she hissed.

Her phone buzzed. She snatched it up.

"Hello?"

Silence, then:

"I need you at J.D. High by 5 PM," she commanded before ending the call and tossing the phone aside.

"Some bitches are gonna go home with bruises," she chuckled darkly, finally starting the engine.

VICE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

Genesis and Cami sat before Mrs. Caine.

"Genesis, please take a seat."

"I'm fine. I have legs," Genesis said with a scoff, arms crossed.

Mrs. Caine tried again. "What happened between you two?"

Silence. Then Cami spoke up.

"It was—"

"Don't even speak if you want to avoid double the slaps your mom gave me," Genesis snarled. Cami looked away, blinking fast.

"If you won't talk, Genesis, tell us what happened," Mrs. Caine pressed.

Suddenly, Genesis exploded.

"We only messed up her locker by mistake and her damn mom comes in here like we killed someone!"

"It wasn't a mistake," Cami snapped back. "You've been bullying since Class 7!"

"I'm itching to slap you," Genesis spat.

"Don't you dare!" Cami yelled.

Genesis lunged, trying to tear her apart.

"Genesis!" Mrs. Caine shouted. Genesis backed off, arms crossed again.

"This bullying ends now," Mrs. Caine warned. "If it happens again, one of you will be expelled."

"It's definitely her," Genesis hissed.

"Both of you, return to class," Mrs. Caine ordered.

Genesis smirked at Cami before leaving.

CLASSROOM

Cami entered to hostile jeers:

"Boo! Boo!"

"We don't need you here!"

"Her face looks like blind-cooked food!"

"Motherf***er!"

"Don't breathe the same air!"

"Go to hell!"

Her heart shattered as the teacher ignored it all.

"No, Cami," Mrs. Mackwin smiled sweetly. "You'll stand all class."

Cat stood and poured ink on Cami's seat.

"Feel free to sit if you want," she sneered. The class burst into laughter.

Tears pricked Cami's eyes, but she swallowed them and moved to stand at the back.

She didn't deserve this, but there was nothing she could do. Everyone was against her.

Mrs. Mackwin turned to the class.

"Let's begin, despite this delay caused by someone's mother."

She held up Cami's GPA script, balling it up.

"No!" Cami cried.

Leigh stood.

"This isn't fair! She pays like the rest of us!" she protested.

Genesis sneered, "Sit and shut up! You know what her mom did!"

Leigh sighed, gave up her seat, and stood by Cami.

The class fell silent.

Genesis curled her lip. "Two fools."

Melody moved closer to jordan on the seat, as her hand reached out on his shoulder.

" Please Jordan. It's just for a day. It's very urgent and I promise to pay anything you ask for" She said. He slowly gulped in, his throat bump moving.

It was a tough decision for him cos he needed money to buy drug for his mother and here, she's offering something that wouldn't cos anything. Yet, he felt somehow. He felt it wasn't something right to do.

" You are way much older and...I..I'm just in highschool" He said.

" It doesn't matter, Jordan. I'm still young and I'm just twenty anyways."

" What's your reason for dating me?"