Chapter 7: Trap

After being caught smoking weed, we ended up in the detention office and our parents were urgently called to school.  Seeing my father's anger and disappointment just suddenly broke my heart.  Overwhelmed with regret and guilt, I stooped my head, unable to meet my father's questioning gaze. I know I had failed him.  Yes, I am upset with him but I never intended to disappoint him. I wanted to make him proud, but I knew this was entirely my fault. Whatever happened today, I knew I have no one to blame but myself.

After the interrogation, we were asked to come out of the room so the principal could meet our parents privately in his office. After an hour, they returned and we were called again to enter the room for they decided to impose the corporal punishment of our actions. The girls, including me, were punished to clean the gymnasium after school for a month and perform community service on weekends.  Chaste Peterson and Kyle Johanson, the two boys with us, were expelled.  The principal explained this was not their first offense; they had a history of breaking school rules and it was not the first time they were caught smoking weeds in school grounds.  Because it was my first offense, the girls and I were given another chance, including mandatory Sunday counseling sessions. Feeling nervous, I expect to deal with my father's wrath at home. Dad remained quiet during the entire trip home, but I knew he was furious with me, biding his time until we reached home to unleash his anger.

"I  can't believe you did this, Gav!" my father shouted upon our arrival home.

"Robert, please calm down. She's just a kid," Chelsea said, soothing him by caressing his back as if the woman's sympathy was with me.

I glared at my stepmother.  There's no way Chelsea will be affected by the trouble I caused. She doesn't care about me, she once admits it. I know she was secretly pleased now that I am in trouble again.

"No, honey, this young girl needs discipline!" My father's eyes softened momentarily when looking at Chelsea, but his anger returned when he looked back at me.

"Why are you even hanging up with those kids? Those boys are older than you! And you're just freshmen! How did you get to know those rascals!"

Dad is walking back and forth in front of me as if he was calming himself while I was seated on the sofa with my head bowed down. Never in my entire life that I caused trouble in school. I knew what I did is a big mistake and I was admitting my fault. This is the first time I saw Dad looked at me very mad and disappointed and it hurts a lot. I never told anyone even the principal nor defended myself that I was against it. That I have no idea what they were about to do and I just got pressured by them but if telling that truth will mean betraying my friends, I'll just choose to keep silent and accept the punishment.

"You were caught smoking weed, not just a cigarette! How long has this been going on?" I got shocked when he grabbed my arm, squeezing it tightly.

"I-I swear, Dad, I didn't know it was weed!" I tried to explain, terrified.

Why does he act as if I'd done this intentionally?;Had he considered that I was a victim, or even asked if I was okay? Why does he focus solely on my actions and judge me accordingly? As if he made up his mind that I was capable of doing that trouble, that he expected the worse in me.

"How long have you been smoking? Answer me!" he roared.

"I-I'm not. I tried it because of peer pressure, Dad." I stammered.

Noticing my fear, he released my arm, but his unconvinced expression remained. He'd already judged me, just like the principal and teachers.

"What about your friends? How long have you been hanging out with them? Leanna, I thought you were watching out your sister?" Dad then turned to Leanna asking for explanations.

"Trishia and Phyllis are good girls. They're from good and respected families and have never been in trouble.  I'm sorry, Dad, it's my fault," Leanna said apologetically, feigning tears.

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?" I angrily fires back at Leanna.

"That's not what I meant, Gav!" Fake tears now streaming down Leanna's face.

Oh, this manipulative lying bitch!  Really a good actress...

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

"So what do you mean then?" I 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 doesn't seem to appreciate it!" Dad scolded.

"Because I know she was celebrating my misery!"

"Enough!" My father shouted full of rage that shocked me.

I can't believe this! Dad is siding Leanna again over me.  Would he ever believe and listen to me? He seemed to prefer Leanna's lies to my words, just like he'd believed Chelsea.

"Robert, oh god, don't shout! You're hurting her feelings, honey," Chelsea said, pulling Dad's hand, feigning concern.

It always goes like this. She pretended to be sympathetic, manipulating the situation to make me look bad.

"I'm so sorry, honey. I can't believe she's not repenting. Instead of admitting her mistakes, she's even blaming Leanna."

Tears streamed down my face. This was more hurtful than the detention. My father treated me like I was such a big disappointment. His love for Chelsea and her daughter blinded him.

"From now on you're grounded! Your allowance will be reduced, and you're not going to the Annual Volleyball Competition this Sunday. I forbid you to attend that event, you understand!" I gasped in disappointment.

This is too much  and he was so unfair! He knew that I have been waiting for so long to attend and watch the Annual Volleyball Competition. I remembered asking permission to attend the event and he already agreed with it and even bought me a ticket for the game. And now he forbids me to attend so he can punish me?

"You can't do that, Robert! You know how much she wanted to go! You even bought her a ticket!" Chelsea protested dramatically.

"You heard me, Gav. You're not going, and from now on, you'll tell me where you are and who you're with after school. Understand?"

Blinded by my own tears, I shook my head and ran upstairs. I heard Dad's angry voice shouting my name but I ignore it. I went to my room never minding the tears that keep on steaming down my face.  The pain in my chest was unbearable. I missed my mom; she would have believed me. How I wish she was here to listen and dry my tears away. Mom will not unfairly judge me without hearing the side of my story. She was the only person who believes and knows me well. How I wish she had taken me when she left. I know it is not good to wish to die but living life without believing and caring for you was worse than dying. Though I never noticed how I fell asleep in that condition while crying, all I can remember when I wake up in the morning is I still feel the same pain and bitterness in my chest.

*   *   *

"Heard what happened to you and Trishia's friends," Kaycee suddenly approached me.  The first subject was about to start and we were currently waiting for our 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." I answered honestly.

"How about you? Are you okay?" Kaycee is the only person among my classmates who asked me if I was okay and I appreciate it.

I felt Kaycee's genuine concern, unlike others who just gossiped. Some will ask me what happened and won't mind it after. Some crazy classmates even commented that what we did is cool but deep inside me I don't feel like it. I just wanted to be a normal student. I was glad the incident didn't become a major embarrassment. It seems like in this school, the issue is not something to be embarrassed about. They even think what we did was cool but I don't seem to think it is.

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

"Oh, that's bad. How did your parents react?" I sighed remembering my father's rage.

"My dad was upset and disappointed. I'm grounded. Let's not talk about it, please…" I said irritably.

"You were caught smoking weed. What punishment can you expect will be imposed? You're lucky you weren't expelled."

"I didn't know it was weed, okay! I thought it was a cigarette. If I had known, I wouldn't have tried it," I explained, defending myself for the first time.  With Kaycee, I felt I could confide. It feels like I can keep her a secret and will never judge me.

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

"They didn't know it was weed either," I answered.

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

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I warned you Trishia isn't as friendly as you think.  To tell you honestly, I don't believe they didn't know. Why are you friends with those girls? They can't be trusted, Gav. I'm not saying this because I'm upset or jealous of Trishia, okay? 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. She'll drop you if you're no longer useful. You'll only get into trouble if you continue hanging around with them." She seriously warned and that left a big knot on my forehead. I looked straight in her eyes trying to figure out if she was telling the truth or not.

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

"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 consider you a friend, but Trishia and Phyllis are my friends too.  I think I'm old enough to know what's right from wrong. I trust Trishia as I trust you and if someone betrays me, believe me, I can  forgive, but I don't easily forget. I'll keep what you said in mind." I seriously stated.

Is she telling the truth? Will I believe her?

Kaycee nodded.  I wondered if she was telling the truth.  Though it was pretty obvious that she was mad with Trishia but there might  be a chance she was telling the truth. I was new to this school and struggling to know who to trust with. I considered both as friends and don't wanna lose any of them. Maybe Kaycee was right, or maybe she was just jealous of Trishia. I didn't know who to believe anymore...