Chapter 13 : The Evidence

Mrs. Hall’s office felt cold, sterile. The soft hum of the fluorescent lights did little to calm the growing nerves in my stomach. Elodie had already started explaining the situation before I could even say a word, and she pulled the video up on her phone.

     “We have evidence,” she said with determination, glancing back at me. “The bullies have been terrorizing Serena for weeks, and this is what happened today. We thought it was time someone saw the truth.”

     Mrs. Hall’s expression was unreadable as she watched the footage, her eyes scanning the screen without a word. As the video played, I felt my breath catch. The image of me, defenseless and surrounded by Felicia, Ivy, and the others, was far too vivid. My face twisted in embarrassment, but Elodie stayed right next to me, offering quiet support.

     Mrs. Hall paused the video and looked up. Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t look angry. “This is serious,” she said. “I’ll need to have a word with the others and get their side of the story.”

     I felt the weight of my thoughts pressing against me. What if they lied? What if they said we were exaggerating or made it look like we were the ones starting everything?

     But Elodie’s steady presence grounded me. "We have proof. They can’t just get away with this anymore."

     After a tense moment, Mrs. Hall nodded. "I’ll take care of this. You did the right thing, Serena. It may not feel like it now, but this is the first step in standing up for yourself. And for others.”

     The words didn’t erase the anxiety gnawing at my insides, but something in me shifted. I wasn’t just some victim anymore. I had a voice. I had a choice. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe again.

     Mrs. Hall folded her hands on the desk and looked between us. "Tell me exactly what happened."

     I hesitated, suddenly feeling the weight of my words. But Elodie gave me a slight nod, urging me forward. So I told her everything—how they had thrown my bag, shoved me to the floor, hit me. How it wasn’t the first time. I kept my voice steady, not wanting to sound like I was playing the victim, but the emotions still laced my words.

     Mrs. Hall’s expression darkened, but she said nothing for a moment. Then she picked up the phone on her desk and dialed. "Send Felicia, Ivy, and Teresa to my office. Now."

     Minutes passed, tense and heavy. Then the door swung open, and the three of them walked in, their usual air of confidence hanging over them like a shield. Felicia spoke first, feigning innocence. "You wanted to see us, Mrs. Hall?"

     "Yes," she said coolly. "Serena and Elodie have made a serious accusation against you three."

     Teresa scoffed. "Us? What could we possibly have done?"

     Felicia gave a half-smile, stepping forward slightly. "Mrs. Hall, I think there’s a misunderstanding. Serena’s been a little... sensitive lately. Maybe she misinterpreted something. We would never actually—"

     "Enough." Mrs. Hall’s voice was sharp, slicing through their words like a knife. She turned to Elodie. "Show them."

     Elodie placed her phone on the desk and hit play.

     The video filled the silence, and I watched the change in their faces. Felicia’s smirk disappeared. Teresa stiffened, eyes flicking toward Ivy, who swallowed hard. The sound of their own voices echoed in the room—cruel, taunting, undeniable. The moment my bag hit the floor, Felicia turned pale. The moment they grabbed me, Ivy’s hands clenched into fists. The moment I was shoved down, Teresa let out the faintest, nervous breath.

     They had nothing to say.

     Mrs. Hall let the silence stretch. Then she leaned forward, folding her hands once more. "Would you like to explain this?"

    Felicia opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. "That’s... not exactly how it looks," she tried.

     Mrs. Hall arched a brow. "It’s a video, Felicia. That’s exactly how it looks."

     No one spoke.

     "Effective immediately, all three of you will write formal apology letters to Serena. You will also apologize in front of the class." She let that sink in. "Additionally, I’ll be speaking with your parents, and we will determine further disciplinary action."

     Ivy finally broke. "But—!"

     Mrs. Hall silenced her with a sharp look. "That is final."

     I held my breath. This was it. They couldn’t talk their way out of this.

     As they left the office, their eyes flicked to me—anger simmering behind them. It wasn’t over. I knew it. But for now, I had won this battle.