Taken

Chapter 24

HAILEY

October 1, 2013 8:45 a.m.

As Hailey sat in her geometry class, bored out of her mind, she thought about Rikki. Rikki had been missing for 25 days now. That was a long time for someone to be missing. Hailey wondered if Rikki was even still alive.

Hailey didn't have many friends in school, and she was definitely part of the unpopular crowd. Even though Rikki hung out with the popular girls in school, the girls that were dating the star athletes in Edina, she had always been kind to Hailey. Rikki had always invited Hailey to her parties despite her friends' opinions.

Hailey really hoped that Rikki was okay. Even though Rikki wasn't her best friend, she was still a friend nonetheless.

"Hailey," said Mr. Clinton, the geometry teacher.

"What?" asked Hailey, suddenly returning to reality.

"What is the answer to this problem?" the teacher asked.

"Oh, sorry, my mind was somewhere else," said Hailey embarrassedly.

"Well, pay attention next time, or else I'll have to give you a detention," Mr. Clinton said sternly.

"Sorry, Mr. Clinton, I was just thinking about, you know, the kidnappings."

"Hailey, we're all worried, but that doesn't give you an excuse to not pay attention in class. Okay, since you don't know the answer, Cameron, what is the measurement of angle C?" asked Mr. Clinton, continuing with class.

"The measurement of angle C is 38 degrees," replied Cameron like the know-it-all he is.

How can anyone focus on math class when one of our classmates is missing? Hailey wondered to herself.

The bell finally rang, much to Hailey's relief. Cameron walked up behind Hailey as she walked out the math room's door.

"Daydreaming in class again, are we?" he mocked. "Wishing you could be popular, like Rikki, or smart, like me? Well, that's never going to happen, so give it up. Maybe you'd do better in school if you actually paid attention in class."

Bailey heard everything Cameron had said. She couldn't believe that anyone would be that mean to someone, so she walked up behind Cameron and smacked him in the back of the head.

"What was that for?" exclaimed Cameron as he clutched the back of his aching head.

"That was for being mean to Hailey. No one should talk to anyone like that. Hailey is Rikki's friend, so she's my friend, too," said Bailey with a kind glance at Hailey. "I don't know about you, but I need to get to class."

"Not so fast, little lady. I think you and I will be taking a trip to the office," said Mr. Clinton.

"What? Did you hear what Cameron said to Hailey? He was totally bullying her!" protested Bailey.

"I don't care what Cameron did, there is no need to be hitting people in the head. Now let's go!"

"This isn't the end, Cameron!" yelled Bailey as Mr. Clinton practically dragged her in the direction of the office. "If I go down, you're going down with me!"

"Come on, Bailey, unless you want to get in more trouble," said Mr. Clinton exasperatedly.

After Bailey and Mr. Clinton turned the corner, and Cameron headed toward class, Hailey just stood in the hallway for a minute.

Did that really just happen? Hailey asked herself. Then she turned around and headed for the science hallway, still thinking about what had just happened.