“Because you’re just a little bloodthirsty,” Misty said, grateful to have such a loyal friend.
“No, because it’s what she deserves after everything she’s done to you,” Katie countered. “I can’t believe you still think she should be let off the hook.”
“Not because I’m not mad,” Misty said. “Or because I think she doesn’t deserve it. I just can’t help thinking about what her friends are going to do. They could make my life hell for getting her kicked out of school.”
“Only if they’re idiots like her,” Katie said.
“Don’t you think they probably are?” Misty said. “Come on. Who else would fawn all over her? Just idiots who think she’ll remember them when she’s some big pop superstar.”
“As if,” Katie said. “She probably won’t even admit she came from Serenity. It’s not high-class enough for her. I’ll bet she even dumps Greg the first chance she gets. He might be the big man on campus here, but he’s still from a farm outside of town. She’s gonna wake up one day and decide that he’s not nearly good enough for her.”
“I just wish she’d figured that out because he’s a liar and a cheater, not because of who his dad is. There’s nothing wrong with being a farmer or a farmer’s son, just with being a total jerk.”
“Agreed,” Katie said. “I guess I’d better go to class. I wish I could come to the meeting with you.”
“I wish you could, too. I’m gonna need a friendly face.”
“Hey, everybody in there is going to be on your side,” Katie reminded her. “You’re not on trial. Annabelle is, and she won’t even be there this morning, right?”
Misty nodded. But even though she might not have to face Annabelle this morning, she knew there was bound to be a confrontation before the day ended. It scared the daylights out of her.
* * *
“I want that girl out of this school and far away from my daughter,” Les Dawson declared before Betty could even say whatever comments she’d prepared before the meeting.
Laura regarded the principal with sympathy. She finally had a better understanding of the difficult role of being caught between outraged parents, teachers and the rules. Not everyone always had the same agenda or the same balancing act to achieve.
“Believe me, I totally understand your anger,” Betty told Misty’s father. “If my child had been a victim of these unconscionable rumors online, I’d be out for blood, too. But there are procedures we have to follow.”
“As long as one of them includes kicking Annabelle out of school, I can live with your procedures,” Les said. “Otherwise, I’ll pull Misty out of school and raise a stink that will tear this school district apart.”
“Dad, no,” Misty protested.
“Les, I don’t think we need to resort to threats,” school board chairman Hamilton Reynolds said. “Everyone in this room understands what’s at stake.”
It was J.C. who interceded, “Maybe we need to find out what the next steps are. Betty, do you have a plan? What has to happen next?”
“Since the majority of the bullying took place online and under a screen name—” she began.
“It happened here, too,” Misty said, speaking up so softly it was almost hard to hear her. “In the halls. The stuff she posted was thrown in my face by Annabelle and her friends and Greg Bennett and his buddies.”
Betty sighed. “I was afraid of that, but at least there’s little question then of who’s behind it.”
Helen spoke up then. “I’ve been working with Carter Rollins and a judge. We should have confirmation very soon of who that screen name is registered to. I would be very surprised if it turns out to belong to anyone other than Annabelle. Once that link is established, there will be no way for her to deny that she was behind this campaign to go after Misty.”
“I’d like to have that proof in hand before we call in the Litchfields,” Hamilton Reynolds said, then held up his hand to fend off an immediate protest from Misty’s father. “I know you want this settled immediately. So do I. I also want us to make sure we’ve covered every legality.”
“He’s right,” Helen said. “Better to take a little extra time now, because once this ball starts rolling, it’s going to pick up speed. Mariah Litchfield won’t sit by and watch her daughter be tossed out of school quietly, not if she thinks there’s even a tiny hint that we haven’t crossed every t and dotted every i. She’ll fight like a grizzly to protect her daughter and somehow spin it so it looks as if this is some trumped-up vendetta by a jealous classmate.”
“That’s absurd,” Diana Dawson said indignantly. “She wouldn’t dare to try to turn this around and make Misty the one at fault.” She winced, shaking her head. “What am I saying? Of course she will! She’s already called me once to protest Misty’s treatment of Annabelle at the fall festival.”
“That’s exactly what she does,” Betty said, her tone resigned. “And that’s why this poor child’s behavior is so abominable, because her mother’s never held her accountable for a single thing.”
“I told you it was going to get worse,” Misty said in a small voice. She whirled on J.C. “You should have just given me a note to get out of school.”
J.C. gave her a sympathetic look. “We’ve established that I couldn’t do that. And, though it might not seem like it right this second, this situation is going to get a whole lot better. I imagine by Christmas break, you’ll have forgotten all about this.”
Misty gave him a disbelieving look. “Are you kidding? By Christmas I probably won’t be able to show my face here at all, note or no note.”
J.C. winced under her scathing scowl. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Making things better will take time, but maybe it will help a little if you just remember how many people are on your side. Everyone in this room is here to help you get through this.”
“And Katie Townsend has been a rock for you through all of this, too,” Laura reminded her. “She won’t let you down. I’m sure you have lots of other friends you’ll be able to count on.”
“Who?” Misty retorted. “Katie’s the only one who hasn’t been scared off by Annabelle and her crowd.”
Betty regarded her sympathetically. “I know it must seem that way,
