Joy For A While

Chapter Five

Quickly, I ran towards George while taking a look back to Eric on his seat. He shrugged his shoulders before going back to his reading session, but I'm in a rush enough to frown for his actions.

As George and I entered the Principal's office, I saw her on the desk table, her hands under her chin. Jinny was seated on the left side, while Joey and Doreen were on the right side.

The Principal, known in our school as Mrs. Rhoda Weiss, is what the students call her as "Miss Tiger." Yes, aside from her ever-spectacled thin face and short, black hair bob, Mrs. Weiss is also terrifying and bad-tempered when it comes to students breaking school rules. Too bad, she doesn't seem to judge whoever she was defending or reprimanding.

As the two of us sat beside Jinny, Joey began to point us and started to cry like a fucking victim, even though I knew she wanted to start a fight with me in the first place.

"Principal Weiss!" Joey cried, as Doreen hugged her in order to restrain her. "Please give these three something they will regret for hurting the daughter of the one who fundraised Redwood Highschool! Please, or else---"

But Principal Weiss began to cut her off. "I know, I know," she said in a calming voice. "Just let me do the talking to the three of them."

Joey nodded, before giving the three of us a malicious grin and a wink.

As I glared in front of her, Principal Weiss caught my attention.

"Miss Joy?" she called me, her face turning stoic. "Did you know why, aside from Jinny and George, you were called here?"

I shook my head. "No, Mrs. Weiss. Actually---"

"Joey told me you called her a slutty bimbo and then kicked her on the legs," Principal Weiss stated. "She was just trying to talk to you about some project."

I felt a tinge of anger as I heard those. Joey, aside from her malicious wits against her opponents, is also a certified liar. She may be beautiful but, I assure it takes one poor, manipulated soul to fall for her and later on, suffer under her grip. The worst thing is, because Mr. Roberts (who happened to be a rich business tycoon who funded our school) happened to be Principal Weiss' closest friend, she easily believes in Joey while the so-called "bullies" who hurt her are far from lucky.

"E-Excuse me, Mrs. Weiss!" I exclaimed, trying to defend my side as Jinny and George looked at me. "That's not true. She went to my locker and tried to mess with me. Yes, I kicked her, but I would never call her a slutty bimbo, whatever."

Jinny added up. "And just what I said a while ago, I was the one who did the most damage to Joey, Mrs. Weiss. I---"

But Principal Weiss began to halt her. "I did not ask for your word, Jinny Bird!"

I saw Jinny began to hung her head low as I stared at Mrs. Weiss, whose stern eyes still burn deep to my skin.

"Mary Joy James, did you just realized what kind of pain you are inflicting on Joey?" Mrs. Weiss glared, as she clasped her hands. "You may not know but, she is also under the state of depression than you may think."

I mentally facepalmed before glancing at my two friends. Heck, the two seemed to cringe slightly, for we are about to hear another story which is meant to sympathize with that wench. Oh God, I thought. Joey has so many fucking excuses in order to get away from the shit she inflicted. 

"One month ago, Mrs. Roberts died from breast cancer in Saint Claire Hospital downtown. She was always known to give speeches during the foundation day of our school, as well as contributing her share by providing food catering from the restaurant she owned. Now that she's gone, not only did it caused a tremendous shock to our school, but it also caused an emotional breakdown for the Roberts family."

Silence followed after Mrs. Weiss finished Joey's story. Not to be rude but, the way the story of Mrs. Roberts' death was told is not just a sign of disrespect to the dead, but also exploitative in order for Joey to be always on the right.

Mrs. Weiss spoke up once again. "And now that you know the tragedy of the Roberts family, let me ask you once question. Don't you feel regret by the way you treated Joey?"

I shook my head. "No," I lied.

Then the principal turned to my two friends. "And you two, partners of crime. Do you feel regret against Joey as well, like Joy did?"

George and Jinny shook their heads.

"Good," Mrs. Weiss finally nodded. "Now, all of you, except Joy. You can get out of the room."

All of them stood up, beginning from Joey. Then Doreen. As George was about to leave, Jinny began to pat me on my shoulder.

"We'll meet you outside," she whispered to me, then left with George.

Now that Mrs. Weiss and I were alone, she began to return to her stern look towards me.

"Joy," Mrs. Weiss sighed. "Because you have done such thing to Joey Roberts, I'm starting to think of something to end this conflict once and for all."

I didn't uttered a single word. Quickly, Mrs. Weiss cleared her throat.

"Look, how about you let Mrs. James, your mother, to meet me tomorrow here on office?" she suggested. "I believe she and I must talk this out concerning your behavior in the school."

Those words alone made me feel like a cold water being poured out onto my back. Of course, like what I said a day ago, Mom will never listen to me or give heed to notice coming from my school, no matter how urgent or important it is. If I force her, she always ends up---well...into something....you know?

"Mrs. Weiss, y-you can't...you can't do that!" I almost yelled, obviously out of fear and anger as I stood up from my seat. "You know I will not just attack anyone, not even Joey, for no reasons. But calling my mom...no."

I almost shook my head out of disbelief, feeling tears running on my cheeks as I went back to my seat. From the corner of my eye, I can see Mrs. Weiss bearing no sympathy over my figure on a weeping mess. No matter how I tell her, she will never believe me and will claim that it just professional business. But to me, this is just bullshit. If Mrs. Weiss claims to be professional, then she should have seen us in an equal way.

"You just brought it to yourself, Joy," Mrs. Weiss muttered. "Just tell your mother that she will meet me tomorrow and talk over what you did."

I nodded as I wiped my tears. "Yes, Mrs. Weiss."

"Good. Now you can leave," was her reply.