The Unpopular Popular Girl

Chapter19

"Aria, I am surprised by your behaviour. You've always been a straight 'A' student with a clean slate. I am disappointed in you." Mrs. Benedict said.

I was sitting in the principal's office, across from her. The office was pretty much how every principal's office looks like, clean, official and very boring with the plain walls and minimal furnishing. The only colourful things were the various trophies and awards that the school had won.

"I am sorry, ma'am. This won't happen again." I replied. 

She looked at me for a while and then nodded her head. 

"I am holding you to your word, Aria. I don't want a repeat of this episode ever again."

"I won't disappoint you again, ma'am." I was overjoyed. Being a good student had its perks.

"But I can't let you off just like that." 

I guess I had spoken too soon. I waited with baited breath to hear my punishment.

"You'll have to write a 1000 word essay about why you did this and how you won't repeat this ever again." She looked at me sternly but I thought I could see a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"I'll have it ready by tomorrow."

"I want it on my desk first thing in the morning."

"It will be." I promised.

Then she signed a late pass and gave it to me. "Go now." She dismissed me.

"Thank you, ma'am." I turned and headed back to class through the empty hallways.

I entered the classroom and handed the late pass to Mr. Saltzman who glanced through it and looked at  me in shock but didn't say anything. I guess being a good girl all my life and then having a late pass signed by the principal is a very big deal.

I sat down in my seat and tried to concentrate on what Mr. Saltzman was teaching when suddenly a paper ball landed on my desk.

Annoyed, I opened it and it read, 

What happened? You alright?

I looked around and found Sean looking at me with concern. I smiled at him and he sighed in relief. I gestured to him that I'd explain everything after class.

"Would you like to sit elsewhere, Aria?" I heard Mr. Saltzman's voice.

"Um. No. I think I am pretty comfortable here, sir. Thank you for the offer." The entire class laughed. I don't know what had made me say that. I never, never talked back to teachers. Maybe I'd had enough of shit to deal with so, I was acting out but I had shocked myself and Mr. Saltzman with my reply.

"Detention after school!"

I frowned and kicked myself mentally. Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut? Argh! Now I had to write an essay and stay back after school for detention when all I wanted to do was go home and sleep. This day had been way too draining both emotionally and mentally.

"Sir?" I heard Sean speak up.

"Yes?" Mr. Saltzman sounded irritated at having been interrupted.

"The offer you just gave to Aria, can it be extended to me too?"

"What?"

What the hell was he saying?

"I mean, can I sit next to Aria if you don't mind?" Sean crunched up his eyebrows in a way that made me sigh dreamily and I observed I wasn't the only one with that thought since I could hear many girls sighing at the same moment.