Pitch

After three days of being a virtual vegetable in front of the TV, Lucinda was allowed to return to school. The environment she returned to was one of anxiety and chaos. The vibes were different than the usual nervousness and panic that Lucinda usually felt while at school. It was exam time, everyone was deeply concerned over tests. All except Lucinda. She never studied for exams, but still always managed to do quite well in school. The other students seemed too worried about their own exams to bother tormenting Lucinda. Despite the tension in the atmosphere, Lucinda enjoyed a peace while interacting with the student body that she hadn't experienced since she first started this school. Classes and learning were easy, for Lucinda, it was dealing with the general public that wasn't.

Lucinda was developing a deep-seated resentment of people. She hated how humans could be so judgmental, petty, annoying, and so wrapped up in their own lives to care about anyone else. People disgusted Lucinda, which was why she avoided them. If Lucinda wasn't around people, she wouldn't be bothered by them. Lucinda was developing a talent that would allow her to tolerate being in close proximity with people, without being annoyed by them. If at any time Lucinda had to be around humans, she would retreat into her mind, operating mostly on autopilot, so as not to disturb her surroundings. The effect was that Lucinda could essentially be alone even in a turbulent sea of people. It was temporary Band-Aid, that only succeeded in helping Lucinda avoid the real world. Lucinda seemed satisfied with the double-edged sword that was this gift for the time-being. As long as she was able to get through everyday life, that's all that mattered.

Lucinda attended her first three classes of the day, in a numb-like, automatic state. She took her tests with confidence, finishing them, quickly, before the time limit was up. Whenever a student finished an exam, early, after turning it in, the student was allowed free time to do whatever they wanted at their desk, as long as it was quiet or they didn't pull out a text book. Lucinda turned in her test paper as soon as she was done, then went back to her desk to read a regular book in quiet. It was like that for each of her first three classes. Test done and turned in, read a book until it was time to move on to the next class. The only class that an exam wasn't given in was Gym Class. It was here, that Lucinda received her summons to go to the guidance counselor's office.

Having visited Miss Bowen's office, twice before, Lucinda was getting used to chatting with the counselor. So it was no big deal, this time. She obeyed the request, heading to the office. Upon arriving, Lucinda saw another girl waiting to see the school's therapist. Lucinda didn't really recognize the girl, since she wasn't in any classes with her. However, the girl obviously knew Lucinda, as was evident by the irritated scowl on her face. Lucinda murmured a polite "Hello," to the girl, then took her seat to wait for Michelle Bowen to be ready for them.

Libby responded to Lucinda's pleasantry with a rolling of her eyes and a crossing of her arms. She was more than irritated at having her precious, little, life interrupted, just to be brought to Miss Bowen's office to have a chat with her worst enemy. Her father had warned her, earlier that morning, that this meeting was coming. Libby didn't believe him. She thought her father was out of his mind, when he suggested that the meeting was going to happen today. What sane father would pit his daughter in a room with the one person in all the world that she despised? What could he have been thinking, when he came up with the idea? Libby clicked her tongue in disgust, growing impatient for this farce to begin. Finally, after what seemed like forever, both girls were called into Miss Bowen's office.

Lucinda, who had been, curiously, scanning the walls of the corridor, looking for something interesting, was startled out of her revelry. She got up, went to the door to enter Miss Bowen's office, and was pushed out of the way by Libby and Libby's enormous sense of entitlement. Lucinda shrugged off the rude behavior as nothing more than an irrational human being irrational. She started, again, for the room, this time successful. Lucinda walked into the office and immediately wanted to shrink out of fear.

Mr. Chandler was in the room, seated, comfortably, next to a tall bookshelf on one side of Miss Bowen's desk. Lucinda had a feeling the two staff members had been discussing the best way to proceed with this meeting, before the girls had arrived. Lucinda was experiencing a feeling of foreboding. Like this wasn't going to go well. She wanted to run. Wanted to be anywhere but in this office at this time. She was afraid.

Libby took a chair next to Mr. Chandler, pretending not to acknowledge his existence. Lucinda swallowed her terror, taking the only remaining chair in the room as her own. She looked at Miss Bowen, helplessly. Neither Lucinda nor Libby knew where to begin.

Miss Bowen, decided to take the lead in order to open up a dialogue that might get to the root of what's going on with these girls. "Miss Rayne. Miss Chandler. How nice of you ladies to take time out of your busy schedules to meet with us, today?" Michelle flashed her warmest, most cordial, smile. "I believe you girls know everyone in the room. Yes?"

Libby remained silent, keeping her arms crossed. She loathed being in this tiny room with what she believed was her mortal enemy. In her mind, this meeting was a joke. She refused to take part in it.

Lucinda was deeply confused and frightened.. She looked around the room at the different people in the room. "Ma'am, I know you and Mr. Chandler…" Lucinda glanced in the direction of Mr. Chandler when she said his name. "Uh… Sir." She paused for a moment. When she started, again, she babbled on really fast. "Um… Am I in trouble? Whatever it was that I did, I won't do it, again. I promise. I just got back from being suspended." Lucinda stopped for breath.

Ignoring a snort from Libby, that signified the girl was failing in an attempt to suppress her laughter, Miss Bowen raised her hands to halt Lucinda's confession of crimes that haven't been committed. "Nobody's in trouble, Miss Rayne. You can relax. I simply wanted to know if you ladies knew each other. Had classes together, were friends outside of school, things like that."

Lucinda looked at Libby. "No, ma'am. We don't have classes together, I don't know her outside of school, we haven't spoken, at all. I might have seen her a couple of times in the lunchroom. But other than that, as far as I know, we don't know each other. I never even knew her name, before today."

Libby was becoming more enraged with every word that Lucinda spoke. Lucinda's voice was grating on Libby's nerves. "How dare you talk about me like I'm not in the room when I'm sitting right here?!"

Lucinda cringed, shrinking, into her chair. "Sorry."

Lucinda's submissiveness only made Libby want to pounce more. But she held her tongue from any further outbursts. Libby hated that she allowed herself to be baited by Lucinda.

Miss Bowen was not liking the interaction between the girls. "Libby. Lucinda. Please, calm down." Michelle looked through the papers on her desk, finding the document she wants. With a sigh. "At least we're getting to the heart of this meeting. Libby, you're here, because you expressed concerns about Lucinda. Claimed she was bothering you in some way. Since you two don't have classes with each other, don't associate outside of school. You two have no contact with each other whatsoever. So what about Lucinda is so bothersome to you, Miss Chandler?"

Libby glared daggers at Lucinda. Her reasons for not liking Lucinda were her own business. If she didn't want to say, she didn't have to. Michelle Bowen looked at Mr. Chandler, to see if he get his daughter to speak about it. Taking the queue, Mr. Chandler put his arm around his daughter, trying to coax her into saying something. Libby responded by brushing the arm away. Libby was determined not to talk.

Miss Bowen glanced at her paperwork, again. "According to the reports, from the first day of school. Mr. Carter was approached by three girls, claiming that Miss Rayne's table manners were lacking and that she left a messy area in the cafeteria. Upon receiving these complaints, Miss Rayne was moved to a spot where she would be monitored more closely by the lunchroom attendant. Since moving, Mr. Carter has not noticed anything out of Lucinda that was in the initial complaint. This only leads me, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Chandler to believe that the original complaint was false. Miss Rayne, do you have any idea why someone would make a false report on you?"

Lucinda shook her head. "No. This is my first year at this school. I don't know anyone, well enough, to be lied about like that. If someone had a problem with me, I'd have preferred they talk to me about it, like a rational person. I'm not a monster."

Miss Bowen smiled. "I know that, Miss Rayne. Perhaps, the person chose not to talk to you about it, because they didn't know how you'd react. You're new to them, they weren't sure about you. That's normal. Now, for the matter, at hand. Miss Rayne, do you have any issues with Libby, that would make it difficult for you to exist in the same school as her."

Lucinda thought it over. "No. I don't know, Libby. I-"

"Would you stop saying my name!! It's annoying!" Libby shot forward, leaning on the edge of her seat to face Lucinda. "You want to know why I don't like you? It's simply. You're gross and annoying. I reported you to Mr. Carter. You chew with your mouth open, like a cow. It was making me sick. I had to say something about it."

Lucinda was too surprised to be afraid. "I'm sorry, Libby, I'll try to be more aware of that when I eat." Lucinda tries to smile, in an attempt to show that she's nice and friendly. "See? All you had to do was tell me."

Libby grabbed her head, in pain, sitting back in her chair. "Oh My GOD!! Will you shut UP!?!" She groaned. "And stop acting so nice. We both no it's fake. You think you're better than everyone, that's why you won't talk to or associate with anyone."

Lucinda was dumbfounded. She frowned at Libby's implication. "Libby, that's-"

"SHUT UP!!" Libby screamed. "What about that don't you understand?"

Before things can escalate further, Miss Bowen speaks up. "I think this is a simple matter of personalities clashing. It happens. I think I have a solution that would be beneficial to both you girls." She pauses waiting until she has the attention of both Lucinda and Libby. "Since the only place you ladies come in contact with each other is the lunchroom, the plan is simple. During lunchtime, Miss Rayne can sit at any table she wants, as long as it's not by Libby and Miss Chandler can sit at any table that is not by Lucinda. If Libby doesn't see Lucinda, she can't be bothered by her. Right?"

"whatever." Libby's voice drips with apathy.

Lucinda doesn't look hopeful. "I guess."

Miss Bowen, smiles. "Good. I think that's all for, today. I thank you ladies for your time."

Libby had been stung by what, she thought, was a betrayal. Libby sprang from her chair. She couldn't get out of the room fast enough. Her mind was twisting and turning to try to come up with new ways to torment Lucinda. It's obvious, by now, that her tricks have only succeeded so far in getting herself caught. Miss Bowen and her father had sided with, what in her mind, was the evil that was Lucinda. She'll have to change tactics. Lies, rumors, and complaints were no longer viable means of effectively messing with Lucinda. But who does she trust? Family was out. School officials were out. These were Libby's closest allies when it came to defeating an enemy. Libby needed time to think on how to proceed. When Libby sat with her friends, today, the lunch table was, eerily, silent from all chatter.

Lucinda left the counselor's office, feeling perplexed. She was happy she didn't get in trouble, but at the same time she was sad about what happened with Libby. Lucinda didn't know Libby. Libby didn't know her. However, Libby had convinced herself that Lucinda was her enemy. Lucinda didn't know what she did to garner such raw, unbridled hatred. Lucinda had an uncontrollable urge to apologize, to make things right. She wanted to make amends with Libby, but didn't know how to do it. Lucinda had never been hated like this before. The whole situation was baffling. Eye opening. She had to figure it out. How? Lucinda didn't know.

The lunchtime bell rang, flooding the halls with students. Lucinda allowed herself to be swept away with the tide. Upon arriving at the cafeteria, after retrieving her food, she noted that Libby was sitting at a table all by herself. Lucinda moved to the other side of the room to find her own empty table to eat and contemplate in peace.

---

When both girls had left, Miss Bowen and Mr. Chandler, decided to have their own meeting to discuss what happened. Neither was sure how to start. Finally, Michelle took the initiative. "I've had two meetings with Lucinda, prior to today. You met with her, during that incident with Max Spencer. Lucinda doesn't act out unless in rare occasions when she's been provoked. The rest of the time, she's as timid as a mouse. At least we know the source of the weird things going on around here. False reports, Rumors, bullying. I'm as surprised as you are that it was Libby doing those things to her."

Mr. Chandler looked ashamed. "Yes, Michelle. I'm shocked and embarrassed. I had no idea that Libby was even like that. She's not even in High School, yet, and she's pulling stunts like this. Is there something I can do to help her?"

Miss Bowen shrugged. "I've never seen Libby in my office, regarding a behavioral matter. You've never seen her in your office for a disciplinary issue. It could be something as simple as growing pains in a pre-teen girl or she could be crying out for more attention. Since I know you're her father. You love her and are devoted to her every want and need. I think, that since she's never had a problem, before, it's just a phase. Support her and she'll, probably, grow out of it in time. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Mr. Chandler listened to Miss Bowen's advice with interest. When she had finished speaking, he had a relieved look on his face. "That's most likely it. For a moment, I thought it was something more serious. She'll be okay. I'll keep loving her and giving her all the attention she needs. Hopefully, she'll mellow out and get better. Thanks, Michelle." He gets up and starts to leave.

"You're welcome. Good luck with Libby." Miss Bowen calls after Mr. Chandler.

Mr. Chandler went back to his office, feeling comforted by Michelle's advice. He sat behind his desk, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, it's probably just a phase Libby's going through. Kids have phases. Goodness knows, I've taught enough of them to know that." Trying to cheer himself. "Pull yourself together, Ted. Libby's going to be just fine. She'll grow out of this mean streak. She'll stop picking on other girls. She has to. She has an image to uphold. She knows that. She'll do it." Mr. Chandler smiled to himself, satisfied in his knowledge that things were going to turn out well for his daughter.

A couple weeks later, results of the midterm exams were released, in the form of report cards being sent home for parents to sign and return, with their children. Out of curiosity, Michelle Bowen decided take a look at Lucinda's grades. To Miss Bowen's surprise, Lucinda received perfect or near perfect on all her tests. "Wow. She's smart! Hmm." Michelle thought for awhile. "Yeah, I think that would be a nice thing for her. It'd be something challenging and fun all at the same time. I think I'll recommend she go into that class." Miss Bowen picks up the phone on her desk, calling the principal, she begins arranging a schedule change for Lucinda.