Chapter 7: Trap

After the incident of getting caught smoking weeds, they ended up in the detention office. Their parents were urgently called to come to the school to know about what they did. The very moment she met her father's eyes, she felt pain when she saw the anger and disappointment that passed through his eyes. Feeling the regret and guilt of getting into this mess, she just stoop down her head not wanting to meet his father's questioning stares. Once again, she had failed and disappointed him. Although she was upset and still sulking with him, it never even cross her mind to intend to disappoint and be a pain on her father's head this way. All she wanted to be is a good girl who makes his father proud but whatever happened today, she knew she has no one to blame but herself.

After the interrogation, they were asked to come out of the room so the principal can speak privately to their parents. That took like an hour and they were called again to enter the room after they decided to impose the corporal punishment of their actions. The girls including her were punished to clean the gymnasium after class for a month and also do a community service every weekend. Unfortunately, Chaste Peterson and Kyle Johanson which is the two guys they were with got expelled from the school. According to the school principal, it is not the first time they got caught smoking weeds. It came out that they have previous and numerous records for breaking school rules and regulations by getting involved in peer fights and getting caught for cutting classes. Since it was her first time getting involved with this trouble, she and the girls were given another chance. They just have to meet and attend a counseling session on Sundays as one of the consequences too. Feeling nervous, she expects to deal with his father's wrath as soon as they get home.

"I can't believe you've done this, Gav!" Her father angrily shouted the moment they reached the living room when they got home.

"Robert please, calm down. She was just a kid..." Chelsea stated trying to calm her father by caressing his back as if the woman's sympathy was with her.

She couldn't help to glare at her stepmom after hearing that. There's no way Chelsea will be affected by the trouble she caused. Chelsea doesn't care about her, she once admits it. For sure she was secretly celebrating for getting involved in this trouble.

"No honey, this young girl needs to be disciplined!" She saw how her father's eyes mellowed when he stared at Chelsea but that was just for a moment because his eyes turned rabid again when he looked back at her.

"How did you end up hanging with those kids, uh? Those boys are even older than you! And to think you and your friends are just freshmen! How did you get to know those rascals!"

Her father is walking back and forth in front of her as if he was calming himself while she was seated on the sofa with her head bowed down. Never in her entire life that she caused trouble in school. She knew what she did is a big mistake and she was admitting her fault. This is the first time she saw his father look at her very disappointed and she has to admit it hurts a lot. She never told anyone even the principal nor defended herself that she was against it. That she have no idea what they were about to do and she just got pressured by them but if telling that truth will mean betraying her friends, she manage to keep silent and accept the punishment.

"You were caught smoking weeds not just a simple cigarette but drugs Gav! How long have you been doing this?" She got shocked and winced in pain when her father suddenly pulled her arm and drastically pressed it tightly.

"I-I swear Dad I didn't know that was weeds!" She still tried to explain beyond the fear she feel to her father's anger.

Why is it he was acting as if he was convinced that she intended to do it? That it was her fault? Hasn't it crossed in his mind that she was a victim too or did he bother to ask if she was okay? It seems his father was focusing on what she had done and made up his mind that she was capable of doing that.

"How long have you been smoking? Answer me, dammit!" Her father furiously shouted that made her jump in her seat out of fear.

"I-I'm not. I just tried it because of peer pressure, Dad." She stated stuttering.

When her father noticed her fear, it was as if he guiltily freed her arm and move away but his face still looked not convinced. It's as if he already judged her just like the principal and the teachers in school.

"What about those friends of yours? How long had you been hanging out with those girls? What about you Leanna? I thought you were watching out for your sister?" Her father then turned to Leanna asking for explanations.

"Trishia and Phyllis are good girls. They came from good and respectable Christian families and had never been into trouble before. I'm so sorry Dad, it's my fault..." Leanna now looked apologetic as if she was about to cry while talking to her father.

Pretentious bitch!

"So what do you mean by that? That I'm the bad influence and it's my idea we get involved in that trouble?" She angrily fires back to Leanna.

It was clear Leanna was insinuating that she was the bad influence with those two girls when in fact she was the victim. It's as if Leanna is trying to show her Dad that she was the mastermind and she persuaded the two girls to smoke weeds in that hidden area of the campus.

"That's not what I mean Gav!" She rolled her eyes when she saw fake tears now streaming in Leanna's eyes.

Really good actress...

"So what do you mean then?" She retorted back glaring at her.

"Enough Gav! It was your actions that got you into trouble so stop getting mad at Leanna because it was your mistake! Your sister only cares for you and you ungrateful wench don't seem to appreciate it!" Her father scolded.

"Because I know she was celebrating for my misery!"

"Enough!" Her father shouted full of rage that shocked her.

She can't believe this! Her Dad is siding Leanna over her.

"Robert, Oh god don't shout like that! You were hurting your daughter's feelings honey..." Chelsea then gently pulled her father's hand and caressed his back trying to calm him as if the woman was really hurting and getting affected by the situation.

It always goes like this. She would show that she was being sympathetic and understanding but the truth is she was just manipulating the situation to make her look the evil and selfish daughter.

"I'm so sorry you have to see this, honey. I just couldn't believe she was acting like she was not even repenting on what she have done and instead of admitting her mistakes, she was getting mad at Leanna throwing all her frustrations to her."

With that, she never helped to prevent the tears to fall down her cheeks. This is more hurtful than receiving her punishment at the detention office. His father was treating her like she was a big disappointment. He got blinded for his love for Chelsea to the point she can deceive and play him around her fingers.

"From now on you were grounded, young lady! Your allowance will be lessened this month and you can't go and watch the Annual Volleyball Competition in the capital this coming Sunday. I forbid you to attend that event, you understand!" She gasped in frustration when she heard the last word stated by her father.

Her Dad knew that she have been waiting for so long to attend and watch the Annual Volleyball Competition. She remembered asking permission to attend the event and he already agreed with it. He even bought her a ticket for the game and as a punishment, he now forbids her to attend the said event.

"You can't do that to your daughter, Robert! You know how much she wanted to go to that event! You already bought her a ticket in the game right?" Chelsea exaggeratedly opposed.

"You heard me, Gav. You will not be going to watch that game and from now on, you will let me know where you going and who are you with after school. Do you understand?" Her father drastically stated.

Being blinded by her own tears, she unbelievably shook her head and immediately run upstairs. She heard her father's angry voice shouting her name but she never mind it. She went to her room never minding the tears that keep on steaming down her face. She understands that her Dad was fuming mad for the trouble she made but she was sulking and very upset as well for being unfair. This is the moment she badly misses her Mom and how she wishes that she was with her to listen and dry her tears away. Her Mom will not unfairly judge her without hearing the side of her story. She was the only person who believes and knows her well. How she wish that she should have taken her when she left. She knew it is not good to wish to die but living life without believing and caring for you was worse than dying. Though she never noticed how she fell asleep in that condition while crying, all she can remember when she woke up in the morning is she still feels the same pain and bitterness in her chest.

*   *   *

"Heard what happened to you and Trishia's friends." Her attention got caught when Kaycee talked to her. The first subject was about to start and they were currently waiting for their History teacher.

"Is it true Chaste Peterson and Kyle Johanson got expelled?" Kaycee whispered then roam her eyes around as if checking if someone heard her.

"The principal said they have to be expelled for numerous records of trouble they had made in the school." She answered honestly.

"How about you? Are you okay now?"

She could feel Kaycee's genuine concerns in her voice and not just like the others who just interrogate her for gossip as her other classmates do. Some will ask her what happened and won't mind it after. Some crazy classmates of hers even commented that it's cool but deep inside her she doesn't feel like it. She just wanted to be a normal student and focus on academics not to gain popularity in school. She was aware that everyone on the campus knew what happened to them. She even thought it will create a big issue on the campus that will make her feel embarrassed but she's glad it didn't.

"We were punished to clean the Gym after class for a month, attend community service and guidance counseling." She answered.

"Oh, that's bad. What's your parent's reaction when they found out?" She sighed as a reply when she remembered her father's rage last night.

"My Dad was so upset and very disappointed. I was grounded for a month. Anyway, let's not talk about it please..." She irritatedly replied.

"You were caught smoking weeds, Gav. What punishment can you expect will be imposed? You were lucky enough you didn't end up being expelled."

"I didn't know it was weeds okay? I thought it was just a cigarette. If I knew? I will never try it." She explained her side.

For the first time, she defended herself. She doesn't understand but to Kaycee, she feels like she can confide her feelings. It feels like she can keep her a secret and will never judge her.

"What about Trishia and Phyllis? Do they know?"

"They didn't know it was weeds too. That's what they told me."

"And you believed them?" Kaycee stated cocking one brow and that got her curiosity.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You know I warned you before that Trishia is not that friendly and generous as you think, right? To tell you honestly, I don't believe that she didn't know it was weeds. I mean, why do you have to be friends with those girls? They can't be trusted, Gav. I'm not saying this because I'm upset or jealous of Trishia. Believe me, I've been at your position before. I once became her friend but she betrayed me in the end. Trishia and that girl Phyllis cannot be trusted, Gav. If you're out of use or she cannot gain anything from you no more, she will dispatch you in just a flick of her finger. That's the Trishia I knew. You will end up in trouble if you continue hanging around with her, trust me." Kaycee seriously warned and that left a big knot on her forehead. She look straight in her eyes trying to figure out if Kaycee was telling the truth or not.

"I don't know if I will believe you, Kaycee." She said hesitating and confused.

Is she telling the truth? Will I believe her?

"It's up to you. I was just warning you because I can see myself in you before. I can feel that you are a good person, Gav. I'm just concerned because I am treating you as a friend and I don't want you to get in trouble again."

"Thanks, Kaycee, I am treating you as a friend too but Trishia and Phyllis are my friends as well. I'm old enough to know what's right from wrong. I trust Trishia as I trust you and if someone betrayed or did me wrong, I can forgive but I don't easily forget. Don't worry, I'll keep in mind what you said." She seriously stated.

Kaycee nodded with her answers as if she got finally contented. She was then left thinking if Kaycee was telling the truth. It was pretty obvious that she was mad and was against with Trishia but there might be a chance she was telling the truth. She was new to this school and she was having a hard time who to trust and who the right friends she would be with. She considered both as friends and don't wanna lose anyone of them. There might be a chance that Kaycee was right but what if she was only upset or jealous of Trishia the reason she was slandering the latter to her. Oh, she doesn't know who to believe anymore...