Student Council Trial

I know I should still be mad at him for what he put me through today, but I can't help but feel flattered by what I just learned. I made a huge mistake. David and Kier are not together, and it's apparently a running joke in their circle of friends, they almost die laughing about it every time it comes up.

"Why are we in the cafeteria?" I ask Sebastian. After my deathmatch with David, he all but drags me to meet the infamous student council to determine my fate. The way he says it, I was half-expecting to be brought into a coliseum with a den full of lions underneath, ready to gobble me up once I'm proven guilty. Instead, I get brought to the cafeteria to 'sit down and behave'. Like a kid. He even gives me a juice box.

"We're having a meeting about your crimes. This..." Sebastian says, opening his arms wide to gesture at his friends. " ...is the student council."

I pause from sipping my juice, waiting for him to say he's kidding. I look over the crammed cafeteria table. Half of the people in this 'student council' are the ones who had harassed me ever since I first set foot in this school. There's Ari who I thought was nice but turned out to be the backstabbing type. There's Brad and Kier, the evil duo that consists the bane of my existence. There's Simon, the guy who was with David the other day, and who's obviously going to be on his side. There's also an extremely tall and gangly guy named Calvin, who's yet to take his eyes off his Nintendo Switch. I do not trust him at all. This is not to mention that David, who's apparently a member of the student council too.

"Are you kidding me?" I complain. This will not be a fair trial for me. And I don't need my experience dealing with the authorities to recognize that. Plus, why in the hell are they holding a meeting in this deafening cafeteria?

"Calvin thought he can fix the broken air conditioner in the student council room, but he ended up destroying it instead so we're here," Ari reports to me as if hearing my unspoken question.

I give her a disinterested look. "Nobody asked."

"Ohh..yikes." Brad jeers, entertained. I train my scowl at him next.

Ari squirms, "Dina, I'm so sorry. I swear I tried to stop these heathens, but Brad threatened me."

"What did he threaten you with?" Sebastian asks her. Ari turns to him, mouth agape. I can almost hear the gears turning in her head as she tries to make up an excuse.

"Never mind all that. Dina thinks I'm gay." Kier suddenly exclaims, saving Ari from possibly digging her own grave. And just like that, the laughter is revived between them, except for Kier, who visibly slumps down in his seat. Apparently, he has been getting this impression from people his whole life, mistakenly matched with almost all of his guy friends. It first happened with Sebastian, then with Brad, and now with David.

Speaking of, I look around the cafeteria for Mr. Cool. It's taking him so long to get back from the restroom. I am about to give up my search when I spot him near the confectionery table. I gape at what he's doing.

Ari snickers beside me. "That's Dave for you. His heart aches every time he doesn't get to help someone," she tells me as we both watch David help an elderly janitor, mopping the floors like it's the most important thing he did all day.

"He's especially quick to help when it's old people." Kier supplies.

"That's 'cause he's close with his grandparents. I mean, they practically raised him, and me, too." Brad explains to me slowly, like I need the information for some kind of test later on. I roll my eyes at him. I still want to kick him for the stunt he pulled with the handcuffs. Brad's statement makes me curious though, remembering the photo that I saw on David's wallet. I wonder what happened to his parents if his grandparents ended up raising him.

"And by that, I mean we've known each other since we were kids. All of us do." Brad continues, staring at me rather accusingly. "And so we're mad at you for stealing his wallet. Well, except for Ari, who has taken a weird liking to you. "

"I kinda like her too," Sebastian says in response to Brad.

"What? Why? She's so mean." Brad counters, but I feel no need to defend myself. I don't care what he thinks of me. I just need David to get back here so I can make him deal with his friends. I glare at him from afar, as if I can summon him at this table from sheer mental strength.

"Hey, stop staring at Dave and listen to me when I talk to you," Brad says, still persistent with his scolding of me.

"Look who's talking," I tell him. "Do you even remember the trouble you caused with the handcuffs? Also, you chased me down hallways. I mean, who does that to a person without even talking to them?" I spat at him, hoping it would shut him up. I can already feel my head starting to ache.

"I wouldn't have had to chase you if you didn't start running." Brad defends himself, pointing a finger towards me. I look at it in disgust. Dear, Lord. He's wearing black nail polish. As if the black eyeliner is not goth enough.

"That's true." Simon agrees, though a bit preoccupied.

"Yeah, get a doctor." Calvin pipes up, clearly not getting the conversation. Or maybe he's talking about whatever game he's playing. I don't even know anymore. I look at the heavens, wishing for divine intervention to take me away from this place. I know I've done so many horrible things in my life, but I don't think I deserved to be punished like this.