Betrayed By Everyone, Loved By Four
Betrayed By Everyone Loved by Four Chapter 4

I sighed a breath of relief when I made it to my next class. What a total f*****g a*****e. I can't believe he thinks I would ever go back to him after what he did to me. And people used to call me delusional.

About half way through my class, while I was helping a freshman boy with his algebra homework, a ding sounded over the PA.

"Would Miss Millie Holmebrooke please come to the principals office. Thank you." Came a womens voice and then another ding sounded letting us know that was all.

The teacher and I connected eyes and he nodded for me to go ahead and go. I gathered up my belongings and apologized to the freshman I was helping. Then I headed to the head office.

Once I arrive the secretary greeted me with a tight smile. Mrs. Oakly. She is a middle aged women who is rail thin and I am pretty sure she has slept with a lot of the underaged students here. Someone should open an investigation against her, seriously. Her lips are painted red and she is wearing a tight black pencil skirt with a navy blue blouse. Her hair is pulled back into a tight bun. She looks like a sexy librarian, not a high school secretary.

"Miss Holmebrooke." She greeted me like I was scum under her shoes. "Principal Melrose will see you now." She said and gestured to the door of Mr. Melrose's office.

I nodded and walked into the office. Even though he was expecting me I still knocked on the door. After a gruff 'come in', I stepped into the room. Mr. Melrose is sitting behind his desk with his arms folded over his large belly. He's bald on top of his head with thin white hair on the sides and back. Mr. Melrose has the same light brown eyes as James. His frown did little to ease the anxiety in my stomach.

What really caught my eye is the crying Vanessa sitting in the chair across from him. Black watered down streaks ran down her pink cheeks. Her bottom lip is jutted out and trembling. When she turned her head to me she scowled. Uhm okay...

"Miss Holmebrooke, have a seat." The principal told me as he gestured to the seat next to Vanessa.

Cautiously, I took the seat and set my backpack on the floor in front of me.

"What's going on?" I asked as I looked between the two of them.

"Miss Elms here has told me that you have been picking on her." He told me.

My eyes went wide. "What?" I breathed out with a laugh.

"Is this funny to you Miss Holmebrooke?" Mr. Melrose asked with narrowed eyes.

"No." I rushed out. "I mean, I'm confused. I'm here because I've been bullying her?" I asked as I pointed between Vanessa and I.

"Don't act like you haven't been picking on me for the last two weeks." Vanessa said and then turned to the principal. "She even did it before the year started. All because she's still mad that James and I are together." She whined out. Wait, so James is with her and Milinda? While also trying to 'apologize' to me? How rich.

"We do not tolerate bullying in this school Miss Holmebrooke." The principal said making me almost snort.

"We used to be best friends Millie, I know what I did was wrong but James and I are in love. You have to get over that so we can make up." Vanessa said with the utmost fakeness.

Yeah, James is in love with you and everyone else apparently. Does she really not know what is going on with her own BFF? Wow. I'm shooketh.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself Miss Holmebrooke?" Mr. Melrose asked.

My eyebrows shot up. "That I'm completely flabbergasted." I said honestly. "I haven't done anything wrong and I think you and I both know that sir." I said with a smile.

Honeslty, I have been waiting for this moment. I'm an extremely smart girl, I knew that as soon as they stopped getting a rise out of me over the lockers that something like this would happen. "Excuse me?" Mr. Melrose spit out.

"I don't mean any disrespect sir, but I do have proof and multiple witnesses to atest that I have been the one being bullied over the last year. I have lots of pictures of all the things they wrote on my locker." I don't, but let's lie anyways. "All of which you did nothing about. My brother has also tried to bring this to your attention on more than one occasion. Never at any point did you do anything about it sir. You let the bullying keep happening to me. As you know my father has lots of connections with lawyers, I'm sure that they would agree you are not doing your job appropriately." I finished with a sweet smile.

Mr. Melrose's face is beat red now, letting me know he's fuming. Vanessa is stunned to silence next to me. I've never been the bad girl type. I don't even want to be now. But enough is enough. I won't be bullied by anyone, not even this adult. "Are you threatening me?" He finally asked.

I shook my head. "Not at all sir. Just letting you know what could happen." I sighed. "Listen, I don't want trouble Mr. Melrose. I just want to finish out my senior year in peace and pay attention to my classes. Nothing more." I said.

Mr. Melrose cleared his throat and nodded his head. "Very well. You may go Miss Holmebrooke." He said dismissing me.

I beamed at him and grabbed my backpack from the floor.

"You're just going to let her go?" Vanessa wailed.

Oh, someone is pissed off. How sad that her little plan didn't work. Boo hoo.

"You are dismissed as well Miss Elms." Mr. Melrose said with a tight tone.

"But-" Vanessa tried to say.

"But nothing. Go on." He said.

At this point my back is turned to them and I am walking out the door. The secretary didn't utter a word to me as I walked out and I didn't spare her a glance. Sometimes it baffles me that adults can treat kids this way. I know we're teenagers but damn. If my mother and father really knew what was going on here they really would take action. What I said to Mr. Melrose wasn't a complete lie. No, I did not take pictures and I highly doubt anyone but Caleb and Mrs. Gibbson would be witnesses for me. But yes, my father does know so high end people. In fact, a few of his friends from college have just moved here and started a firm. Dad would be more than happy to take action.

I might not know the ins and outs of being a principal but I'm pretty sure if they found out he has been letting me be bullied this way that he would be in trouble. There were several times that I had went to the nurses office last year with bloody lips or my hair pulled out. I was always able to make an excuse but anyone could tell I was lying. It was a miracle that Mom and Dad never pressed more about it. Mr. Melrose never did anything about that. If I were to tattle on him, he would deserve it.

"Millie wait." Vanessa called once I had started heading to the library.

I turned around and crossed my arms. "What?" I asked.

"Don't have an attitude with me." She started and then rolled her eyes and flipped her curly red hair over her shoulder. "I just want to talk. Like old times." She said with a fake smile.

"Oh, you mean all the times when you were just taking pity on me and pretending to be my friend? Those old times?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Vanessa pouted at me. "Come on, don't be like that. I miss you." She said.

Her voice sounded genuine. If I didn't know better I would have fallen for it. Unfortunately, we have already been down this road. She has already played this card. At one point she pretended to be sorry for what she did. Vanessa tricked me into coming with her to a party to make it up to me. Her and her little popular squad dropped me in the middle of the woods and left me there. It took me three hours to walk home.

"What is it you want Vanessa?" I asked sternly.

Vanessa's beautiful smile faded and she rolled her eyes. "Fine." She said finally dropping the act. "Are you and James dating again?" She asked me.

My eyes went wide and I just stared at her for a moment unable to respond.

"Look, if you are, just know we were together just last night. He doesn't love you. And if this is some kind of revenge against me then-" She started but my laughter had interrupted her.

I doubled over and held my stomach as I laughed. Oh this is too rich. I can't stop.

"It's not fucking funny you stupid whore. You stole him from me once already Millie, just let me have him." Her voice almost sounded pleading.

It's pathetic really. So pathetic that my laughter finally died down. I stared at Vanessa as she glared at me.

"I didn't steal anybody from you Vanessa. He was my boyfriend and was sleeping with you behind my back." I told her and then sighed. "I'm not with James. I would never embarrass myself by going back to him." I told her.

Before I could finish Vanessa scoffed. "You should be lucky he wanted you to begin with." She told me.

My eyebrows shot up once again. "Right." I said and then rolled my eyes. "I should be totally lucky that someone convinced me they loved me, just to take my virginity and dump me." I said sarcastically.

"He took your virginity?" She asked with a soft voice.

I looked up to see that she was genuinely curious.

"Yeah." I said like it was no big deal. "He only told the whole school." I said with a furrowed brow.

"I thought he was just lying to spread rumors." Vanessa said as she looked at the ground.

"Okay." I said and then turned back for the library. I don't care if he lied to her or to me. James is a liar and I want nothing to do with him. Or her.

"Wait Millie!" Vanessa called out as she grabbed my wrist.

I turned around to face her. "What now?" I asked angrily.

"You really aren't sleeping with him?" She asked me.

I shook my head. "No. I would never let him touch me again. But he did get me a present and tried to apologize to me today." I told her.

Did part of me tell her that just to make her mad? Yes. Did part of me say it because my feelings are hurt that she doesn't remember it's my birthday? Yes. Did part of me want to give her a reason not to go back to that scum? Also yes.

I can't help it. Vanessa was my best friend for so long. I really thought it was her and me against the world. I'm not sure what happened on her part, if she really faked the whole friendship or not. But it was all real for me. "Your birthday.. I forgot.." She whispered.

I shrugged. "Well, we aren't friends so don't feel too bad about it." I said.

"Right." She replied.

"Is there anything else or can I go now without being dragged back to this conversation?" I asked annoyed.

Vanessa huffed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever nerd. You should be happy I didn't hit like I used to last year." She stated as she strutted passed me.

I shook my head as she walked away.