A Hidden Truth

Principal's Office

[Juniper]

    About ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door and the secretary announced our guardians had arrived. Mrs. Shaw came in with a sour look on her face. Teddy followed looking concerned. He checked me over before giving me a disapproving look and turning to the principal.

    “What happened?” He asked in his serious voice.

    “I’m waiting for the SRO to come tell me what he saw in the videos.” Mr. Terry said.

    “Videos? People recorded this?” Mrs. Shaw asked shrilly.

    “The sheriff is on the way to decide what the legal part of this will be.” Mr. Terry told them.

    About twenty or thirty minutes passed and there was another knock. Trace and Carson entered. Now I was feeling more nervous. Jaxon was supposed to be with them. He told me to be good today and I’d gotten into a fight.

    “I spoke with the SRO before we came in so I would know what was going on. Do you girls want to tell us about how you started this fight before I reveal what we found in the video? There was one right near you and caught the whole thing, beginning to end.” Trace said sternly.

    Becca glared at me. I sighed.

    “It was my fault the boys started fighting. It was Becca’s fault I said what I did. We were definitely both at fault, but she was more so. I tried to stop the fight before it started. She insisted on pushing it.” I said.

    Teddy and Carson looked shocked. I didn’t get into fights and they knew I wouldn’t take blame unless I felt it was deserved.

    I explained the fight from beginning to end, as accurately as possible. Becca tried to say I was wrong, but she stopped after she realized she couldn’t lie her way out of it. There was video after all. When I was done, I waited for what would happen next.

    “Juniper, you’ve never been in trouble like this before. Becca, on the other hand, has been in my office about bullying before. I haven’t seen the video. Sheriff, what do you have to say here?” Mr. Terry asked.

    “Looks like Miss Shaw tried to bully Miss Fordyce and it backfired. Miss Fordyce tried several times to end or minimize damage in the fight. I was one of the men who examined that video last summer, Miss Shaw. We checked for any signs of it being fake. We also talked to your cousin, who told us he’d asked Miss Fordyce out and was turned down quite aggressively. He’d also applied for a job with her stepfather and was not hired. Understandably, it was concluded your cousin was mistaken. Otherwise, it was maliciously reported and could be cause for a large lawsuit. I can personally assure it was exactly what Miss Fordyce and Mr. Merritt reported.” Trace said solemnly.

    “She got me kicked out of training!” Becca whined.

    “Like she said, you did that. Clayton Reed said he told you not to harass her further, but you did anyway.” Trace scowled.

    I sat calmly, with my hands folded in my lap. It helped to make it seem like I hadn’t been itching for that fight. I wished I could have punched her the way I saw Clayton punch Randy. But it wasn’t a good idea to be violent, I was just fine with having embarrassed her.

    There was another knock on the door. I didn’t think more people could fit into the small office. Trace opened the door and Mr. Reed stood there. He looked unhappy.

    “I wanted to make sure Miss Shaw and her mother are aware, this infraction ends our association with them. Neither is welcome back at our ranch, or in our training program. We will not be associated with a bully, a liar, or a cheater. Suffice it to say, Clayton will not be going to prom, nor will he be taking Becca. Their relationship is officially over.” Mr. Reed declared.

    “None of the boys involved in the fight will be permitted into the prom. Nor will Miss Shaw. As for Miss Fordyce, you were pushed and made a mistake in starting this fight. I can understand your anger getting away from you, but you’ve been a model student and took responsibility for your part. You may attend the prom as long as there is no repeat of this incident.

If this had been the first time I’d seen Becca in here for something like this, she would’ve been afforded the same option. All students involved will be given lunch detention for the remainder of the week. Next week is all half days. If there’s another incident, the students involved will not be permitted to walk at graduation. I suggest you all keep yourselves to yourselves.” Mr. Terry ordered.

    Mrs. Shaw started yelling about how much they’d spent on her dress and how hard Becca had worked in her riding. How it was unfair that I got to go to prom when she didn’t. And how everything was biased against her baby. Trace stopped her tirade with a simple question.

    “Miss Fordyce, would you like to press charges for the attempted assault? A civil suit can be brought for the slander if you like. I’m sure your stepfather would like to pursue that.”

    I almost smiled, but I’d just gotten the lightest punishment, even though I was the main instigator. I wasn’t going to risk losing the upper hand. Becca was going to suffer on her own for talking s**t about my Jaxon.

    “No, sheriff. I just want this whole thing to be over. All I’ve ever wanted was to live my life peacefully. She accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend, when I have one who I love a lot. I’d planned on talking to Becca privately about her indiscretion with Randy, but she made me so mad. I just couldn’t seem to control myself after three years of bullying and the recent rise in her harassment.” I said quietly.

    I wished I could manage fake tears, but my lips were quivering as I worked to keep my laughter in. I was giddy again. Only Teddy would have picked up on it, but I didn’t want to risk busting out with laughter by looking at him.

    “She used to be my friend. I don’t know why she hates me so much.” I whispered.

    There was no noise except the typing of the secretary and the whir of the fan on the principal’s desk. I just waited, there was nothing else I could do. It was a little nerve-wracking.

    “All students involved in the fight are suspended for the rest of the day. Ladies, please return tomorrow with a better attitude. Do you have any classes together?” Mr. Terry asked.

    “No, sir.” We replied together.

    “Good, then there’s no reason for you to be near each other.” He stated firmly.

    “Mrs. Shaw, you can take Becca home now. Mr. Reed, will you please bring your son in here?” Trace requested.

    Becca and her mother walked out in a huff. Clayton and his father entered the room and closed the door. I looked over and saw how bruised and bloody Clayton was. I felt terrible. He hadn’t deserved to learn about it this way. I got out of my chair and checked him over. He looked emotionally broken.

    “I’m sorry, Clayton. I was going to tell you this afternoon. She just made me so mad. I didn’t mean to cause you trouble.” I murmured as I stroked his arm.

    “Juniper, return to your seat please.” Mr. Terry said as more of an order than a request.

    I took my seat again. Red was going to hate me. It was the only time that I regretted the fight. I glanced up at him and he looked really upset.

    “You two were considered the main instigators of this fight. You’re both on much thinner ice. The parents of the other boys have all written this off as boys being boys. There won’t be any charges filed.” Trace said. “Mr. Thompson’s parents agreed that their son showed poor judgement in pursuing a relationship with Miss Shaw. He said he probably deserved what he got as well. In all, everyone who got injured has made up and said they don’t blame either of you. Which is good. I didn’t feel like arresting young people today. I want you both to use better judgement yourselves, in the future.” Trace scolded.

    “Yes, sir.” We replied.

    “Mr. Terry, may we talk with these two alone for a moment?” He requested.

    “Sure, sheriff. I’ll go check over the clean-up in the cafeteria.” Mr. Terry left and closed the door behind him.

    Trace leaned against the desk, Teddy, Carson, and Red joined him in front of us. As I looked at the men in the room, they all seemed angry. I shrunk into my seat, pulling my knees up to my chest. The panic couldn’t be stopped. I had never made this many people angry at once.

    “I’m sorry.” I squeaked and hid my face.

    “We’re disappointed in both of you. This is going to become a big piece of gossip and lots of stuff will come out because of it. I don’t know how much we can hide for you, Juni. We think we got all of the videos, but some might still be out there. The rumors about you and Hank will come back.” Trace warned.

    Hank had to know, this would get worse before it got better. My hand shook as I pulled out my phone and dialed Hank’s number. He picked up and I could hear his anger over the line. I didn’t think it had gotten to him yet. It was probably to do with the journal I’d left.

    “What do you want?” He demanded.

    “Becca Shaw and I got in a fight. She told people we faked the video from last summer and accused me of having an affair with you. I denied it, but the argument was recorded by several people. I wanted you to be aware, this may come up again. I’m doing what I can to fix it. Make sure your wife knows.” I told him. Even though my hand was shaking, I was managing to control my voice.

    “Seriously? After everything, it’s someone’s imagination that’s gonna mess me up. Why are you callin’ me about this?” Hank asked.

    “Because you’re my brother’s father and it wasn’t true. If it hurts you and his mother, then it hurts him. I’m willing to do what I have to in order to keep that from happening.” I replied.

    “I’ll get on this. Thanks for lettin’ me know. Even though you hate me.” Hank sighed.

    “You’re welcome, Hank. Have a good day.” I hung up. He definitely read the journal.

    “He will deny it, his wife will deny it, and I will deny it. They’ll make more appearances together as a couple. And I’ll be polite and civil in public. I was never all that affectionate to him to begin with, it makes it easier to say there was no affair. It may mean I have to see them in public. I’ve already established my story about leaving to let her get used to taking care of Remy while I’m still around as a safety net.” I responded.

    “And if someone says ‘what if it wasn’t an affair’?” Trace asked.

    “I’ll make an appointment with my doctor for this week. She can verify that I have never had s*x. It can be used in any investigation as long as I sign off on it.” I blushed. “There’s nothing more I can do.”

    “We can get the members of the Cleaners to say it sounds like a jealous girl tryin’ to attack with the only thing she had, which was an old, disproven piece of gossip. The women’s side of the group has some of the biggest gossips in town. They can spread other stuff about Becca and why what she says isn’t worth listenin’ to.” Clayton offered.

    The men nodded to each other. He had a point. We needed Hank to be caught off guard. He had to be going about business as usual. This needed to be handled.

    “I’ve got people here at the school who are pretty big in the teenage gossip circles. And many of them don’t like Becca. They can get us the info we need.” I said.

    “Good. As long as we can discredit her and keep everythin’ on track. Jax is worried about you, Juni. What are you gonna tell him?” Carson asked.

    “The truth. Anything less would make our relationship weak. I can’t have that. I need him.” I replied softly. “I’m sorry. I tried to get her to leave me alone. She insulted Jaxon. The attack on me was just the last straw.”

    “You gotta keep your anger in check, Juni. It doesn’t help anyone if you’re out startin’ fights.” Teddy told me with a disappointed tone.

    “Yes, sir.” I said meekly.

    “Clay, are you alright?” Teddy asked.

    “I thought things were gettin’ strained. I thought it was just the end of school stress. I didn’t think she was cheatin’. Becca was always jealous when I even looked at another girl. How long was it goin’ on, Juni?” He looked at me with big sad eyes.

    “As far as I know, a couple weeks. I just heard about it this morning. That’s why she’s been skipping out on practices. I really am sorry, Clayton. I would’ve told you sooner if I’d known sooner. I would’ve told you Saturday, if I’d heard of it then.” I admitted.

    It was the truth, too. I would have used it to get him away from me. I’d just heard her bragging to one of her friends in the bathroom during the morning break. I knew she was skipping practice because of other people talking about it, but I had no idea why.

    “Thanks, Juni.” He said sadly.

    “Clayton, you’re an attractive boy. There are dozens of girls in this school just waiting for a chance at you. She’s always been a b***h. You deserve better.” I told him honestly. At one point, I had been one of those girls. “Maybe try dating outside of your comfort zone. You’d be amazed how loving and supportive other girls can be.”

    He chuckled. “Thanks for the advice, Auntie June.”

    “Anything for my favorite nephew.” I laughed.

    Red and Trace looked at each other with confusion.

    “Was there a wedding we were unaware of?” Teddy asked.

    His question made me and Clayton laugh pretty hard.

    “I thought I was your favorite nephew.” Carson murmured.

    That did us in. We slid down our chairs laughing. My ribs and stomach were burning from laughing so hard. I’d forgotten that Camille was Trace’s daughter and if Carson married her and I married Jaxon, my brother would become my nephew by marriage.

    “Alright! Time to get you kids home. Clayton needs to ice, like, everythin’.” Teddy announced.