Chapter Seven: A Mother's Fury

As Alexia's car pulled up to the school entrance, Rachel gazed up at her mom with a mix of excitement and nerves,

her bright blue eyes sparkling like diamonds in the morning light.

"Good luck today, sweetie! You'll do great,"

Alexia. said, her warm and encouraging voice soothing Rachel's jitters.

Rachel smiled, her ponytail bouncing like a golden pendulum as she nodded, her face a picture of determination.

Alexia.smiled back, her eyes crinkling at the corners like a gentle sunrise.

"I know you will. And remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what."

With a quick hug, Rachel grabbed her backpack and stepped out into the bustling school yard, her feet pattering against the pavement like a happy drumbeat.

As she walked into her grade 5 classroom, Rachel's eyes scanned the unfamiliar faces, her gaze darting around the room like a curious butterfly.

She had been at this school for only a few days, but today was her first math class, and she felt a flutter in her chest like a hummingbird's wings.

Just then, a group of boys nearby caught her attention, their whispers and snickers weaving a web of distraction.

"Hey, did you guys see Rachel's mom? She's so beautiful!"

one of them whispered, his eyes wide with admiration, his voice like a sighing wind. Rachel's face grew hot,

her cheeks flushing like ripe strawberries as they made comments about her mom's marital status.

"Keep your eyes off my mom, she's married!"

Rachel warned them, her voice firm but shaky, like a leaf in the breeze.

Ashley, her friend, appeared at her side, her eyes flashing with support, her curly brown hair bobbing like a friendly wave.

"Hey, guys, leave Rachel alone. Her mom is off-limits, got it?"

The boys quickly dispersed, looking sheepish, their faces reddening like sunset skies.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of math class, Rachel's heart skipped a beat, her pulse racing like a galloping horse.

She had struggled with math in her previous school, and the thought of starting fresh made her stomach twist with anxiety, like a tangled knot.

The teacher, Mrs. Patel, walked in with a warm smile, her dark hair pulled back into a neat bun, her voice gentle as a summer breeze.

"Good morning, class! Welcome, Rachel, our new student. I see you're joining us for math today."

Rachel nodded, her eyes fixed on the chalkboard as Mrs. Patel began writing equations, her mind racing like a speeding car.

"So, Rachel, can you tell me what the 10% of 200 is?"

Mrs. Patel asked, her voice gentle as a lullaby. Rachel's mind went blank, her thoughts scattering like fallen leaves.

"Um... 18?"

she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper, her face burning like a hot ember.

Laura, the class math whiz, snorted in disgust, her blonde ponytail bouncing with excitement,

her voice dripping with condescension.

"That's wrong, Rachel! It's 20!"

she exclaimed, the class erupting into snickers and giggles, their laughter like a mocking echo.

Rachel's face burned, her eyes welling up with tears, her heart sinking like a stone in a still pond.

Ashley shot Laura a stern look, her eyes flashing like a warning light, but Rachel just shrugged, feeling like an outsider all over again, her spirit wilting like a parched flower.

It was lunch time, as they filed out into the hallway, Simon approached Rachel and Ashley with friendly grins, his blue eyes sparkling like diamonds,

his voice warm as a summer day.

"Hey, don't worry about math, Rachel! I'll help you catch up,"

Simon said, his voice encouraging, his smile infectious.

"Yeah, and I need help too!"

Alshey added, her eyes shining like stars.

"Let's study together every day after class, okay?"

Rachel's face lit up with gratitude, her heart swelling like a blooming flower, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Thanks, guys! That would be amazing!"

With Simon and Ashley by her side, Rachel felt loved and accepted, her spirit soaring like a bird set free.

Few hours later, school was closed for the day, and parents were already picking up their children. Ashley and Rachel were still in school,

it was as if none of their parents were going to come, and when Alexia arrived, she waved, and Rachel saw her, she rushed out and hugged her mom, her face radiant with joy.

"Mom, I thought you forgot me! They were going to tell the school bus to drop us,"

Rachel said, her voice filled with relief, her eyes shining like stars.

"But how and why would that happen?"

Alexia said, her voice puzzled, her eyes narrowing like a detective's,

her eyes narrowing like a detective's.

"Isn't her mom coming?"

She asked, her gaze turning to Ashley, who was standing and watching them, her eyes wide with uncertainty.

"I don't know, Mom,"

Rachel replied, her voice filled with concern.

"Her mom usually takes time to pick her up."

Alexia's expression turned thoughtful, her mind racing with possibilities.

"Okay, if that's the case, let's just drop her off,"

Alexia said, her voice decisive, her eyes locked on Ashley.

"Rachel, go and call her,"

she instructed, her voice firm but gentle.

Rachel walked up to Ashley and told her, and Ashley agreed immediately, her face lighting up with gratitude.

The school authority called Ashley's mom to inform her, and Alexia could hear the conversation, her ears perked up like a alert dog.

"Hello, Mrs. Sylvester, this is Miss Michelle from school,"

the voice on the phone said, the tone professional but firm.

"Yes, what do you want?"

Ashley's mom replied, her voice rude and dismissive, like a door slamming shut.

"Well, Ma, Ashley is still in school, and her friend's mom wants to drop her off,"

Miss Michelle explained, her voice patient but firm.

"Let her take her home, I know them,"

Ashley's mom said, her voice dripping with indifference, like a cold breeze on a winter day.

Alexia's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with anger and frustration. She could not believe Ashley's mom was so careless and irresponsible.

She glanced at Ashley, who was watching her with wide eyes, her face filled with worry and fear.

"Don't worry, Ashley, we'll take care of you,"

Alexia said, her voice warm and reassuring, her eyes locked on Ashley's.

"Let's go, Rachel, we'll drop Ashley off,"

she instructed, her voice firm but gentle.

As they drove away from the school, Ashley turned to Rachel and whispered,

"Don't mind Laura, she's just a bully."

Alexia's ears perked up at this, and she glanced in the rearview mirror, her eyes narrowing.

"Rachel, what's going on?"

Anderson asked, her voice firm but concerned.

"Is Laura bullying you?"

Rachel hesitated at first, but then the truth spilled out, like a dam breaking.

"Mom, Laura's been mean to me since I started at Oakwood Academy. She makes fun of me in class and calls me names,"

Rachel said, her voice shaking like a leaf, her eyes welling up with tears.

Alexia's expression turned stern, her eyes blazing like a fire, her voice firm and determined.

"That's it, I've had enough,"

she said, her voice firm.

"I'm calling the school owner right now."

As she dialed the phone, Ashley looked on nervously, but Rachel felt a sense of relief wash over her.

Finally, someone was taking her concerns seriously.

Alexia was determined to put an end to Laura's bullying, and she knew the school owner would take action.

The next day, Laura's parents were summoned to the school, and Alexia felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that justice was being served.

Rachel deserved to feel safe and supported in her new school, and Alexia was determined to make that happen.

As the meeting convened, Laura's mother, a stern-looking woman with a sharp tongue, took a seat beside her daughter.

Alexia and the school owner, Mrs. Thompson, sat across from them, determined to address the bullying allegations.

But to Alexia's dismay, Laura's mother began to defend her daughter's actions, downplaying the severity of the situation.

"Laura's just a strong-willed child,"

she said, her voice dripping with condescension.

"She wouldn't hurt a fly."

Laura, meanwhile, put on a convincing act, her eyes welling up with tears as she claimed to be the victim of Rachel's

"false accusations."

Alexia's anger simmered beneath the surface as she watched the charade unfold.

But when Miss Michelle asked the class for testimony, the room fell silent.

Not a single student spoke up, their faces frozen in fear or indifference.

Alexia's heart sank, realizing that the school's hands were tied without concrete evidence.

To make matters worse, Simon was absent that day due to a family emergency,

and Ashley was barred from defending Rachel since she was deemed a "biased" friend.

The meeting ended with no resolution, leaving Alexia feeling frustrated and defeated.

As they left the school, Alexia turned to Rachel and whispered,

"Don't worry, sweetie. We won't give up. We'll find a way to make this right."

Rachel nodded, her eyes still brimming with tears, but Alexia knew she had to keep fighting for her daughter's sake.