Chapter 6: Trouble in the Air

“Mum… what are you doing here?” Stacey’s voice cracked as she stepped into the principal office, her stomach dropping.

A moment ago, she had walked into the office with shaky hands and a racing heart. The hallway had already felt too long, too quiet, and every stare along the way made her chest tighten. She’d braced herself for trouble… but the last thing she expected was to see her mum sitting there, arms crossed, eyes blazing.

The shock hit her so hard she almost forgot how to breathe.

“Sit down, Stacey,” Mrs. Hollins said.

Stacey sat, her eyes glancing between the principal and her mother, whose anger was very visible.

Mrs. Hollins cleared her throat and looked up at her. “Care to explain why you left school before closing time yesterday?”

Stacey’s eyes widened, her mouth slightly parted as shock gripped her. She looked down as she fumbled for words. 

“This is a serious offense here. Studies are taken seriously in Blue Ville. And taking into account the fact that you’re a new student — well, it’s beginning to look like you might not be fit for our school,” Mrs. Hollins said.

Dread washed over Stacey. Her world felt like it was turning upside down, was she going to disappoint her mother again. 

“No ma’am, no ma’am — it’s not what you think,” she stammered, tripping over her words.

“Then tell me, what exactly am I supposed to think?” Mrs. Hollins asked, her tone sharp and no-nonsense.

“Ma’am, please, this is the first time something like this has ever happened. If anything, Stacey loves school,” her mother cut in, her voice still laced with irritation.

“Stacey, I want to hear from you,” Mrs. Hollins said again, her tone stern but measured.

“Ma’am, I…” Stacey turned to her mother briefly before facing the principal again. “My first day wasn’t good. If anything, it was my worst. I got no help. I was missing and walking around for the first hour…”

As she spoke, the anger and embarrassment from yesterday rushed back, tightening her throat.

“I was just trying to find my class. Finally, after all the chaos, I got in — but it was already over. And then I tripped and fell, and everyone laughed at me. I couldn’t stand the embarrassment… I didn’t even realize when I took off. It just happened.”

She blinked fast, her voice small. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. This school is so big, ma’am. New students are supposed to be helped or at least directed by the older ones. But no one cared. Instead, I faced animosity.”

Loud silence dropped in the office. The principal’s expression softened — only slightly. Her mother’s brows remained furrowed, though a flicker of something unreadable passed through her face.

“That still doesn’t change the fact that you broke the rules,” Mrs. Hollins finally said. “We can’t have students running off whenever they feel overwhelmed. Why didn’t you come to my office? Or even the staff room?”

“I just…” Stacey lowered her eyes. “I was so overwhelmed.”

“Overwhelmed?” her mum repeated, voice sharp. “You know better, Stacey. You don’t just disappear and expect us to understand.”

“I wasn’t thinking straight,” Stacey whispered. “Everything was just too much.”

“Clearly,” her mum said, folding her arms tightly. “I took time off work for this. I don’t want to get calls like this again. I told you before, new school or not you’ve got to toughen up.”

Mrs. Hollins looked between the two of them before she sighed and leaned back in her chair.

“Stacey,” she said, “I believe you. I really do. But this is a school, and structure matters here. That said, I’m not giving you detention.”

Stacey blinked, surprised. “I’m not being expelled?”

“No. But you’ll serve one week of community service after school. Helping in the library, organizing art supplies, whatever we assign.You would also get assistance from the student board. I want you to feel part of this school, not punished, but responsible.”

Stacey let out a shaky breath. “Yes, ma’am.”

Her mother exhaled beside her, her expression still tight. “That sounds fair.”

“Let’s make this your first and last offense,” Mrs. Hollins added. “Blue Ville is a fresh start. Treat it like one.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

“You may go.”

Stacey stood, nodding. “Thank you.”

She turned toward the door, but her mum’s voice came sharp behind her. “We’re not done talking. You and I — we’ll talk when you get home.”

She flinched but nodded.

The hallway outside buzzed faintly with voices and footsteps, but her mind was far louder. Everything inside her felt raw and heavy. She couldn’t go back to class — not yet. Not with everyone whispering, and Monica’s smirk still burned into her memory.

She wandered past the stairwell and paused in front of the girls’ bathroom. The door creaked open as she pushed it, the tile cold beneath her shoes. 

She slipped into the last stall, locked the door behind her, and sat on the toilet lid. Her knees curled to her chest. 

The tears didn’t fall.

But the weight in her chest grew.

Then, a knock at the door sounded.

“Stacey?” a familiar voice called. It was Lily.

“Leave me alone!” Stacey screamed, her voice sharp and jagged, bouncing against the tile walls. She heard Lily’s hesitant footsteps retreat. A beat of silence passed. Part of Stacey wanted to call her back. But the part that still felt broken stayed silent.

And then, the tears came.

Not silent this time.

They ran freely, hot, messy, real — as she sat curled into herself, her heart pounding, everything crashing in.