Connected to Three Monsters

The gray-haired woman yelled at me, "How could you do that to a student at this college?" I sat in the chair with my arms crossed, not caring at all.

"She didn't mean to," my mom said quickly, trying to protect me like she always does.

"Didn't mean to," the woman said with a sharp voice. "The boy is in the ER, and you have the nerve to say she didn't mean to." She turned on my mom, her eyes blazing. "What are you going to do about this?"

"We're not doing anything." I said, "That idiot got what he deserved." No guilt, no second thoughts.

The woman's eyes got bigger. Her face lit up with surprise. I didn't understand why she should know me by now.

My mom gently pushed me to say, "You should apologize, not make it worse."

I asked, looking back and forth between them, "Why should I say I'm sorry?" "I'm the one who is hurt here. He tried to r*p* me, "And stabbing him with a pen was the best way to deal with it," she said.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms even more.

I yelled, "How else was I supposed to defend myself?" "He tried to touch me without asking. "He should be glad he's in the ER and not something worse.

I would have made sure he regretted trying to hurt me if I could have.

The woman with gray hair sighed in anger. My mom stayed calm because she knew me. I never put up with nonsense from anyone.

"Ms. Bennett, this isn't the first time you've caused trouble. You almost broke a student's tooth three months ago. There were snakes in a class two weeks ago. "Now this," she said.

"I didn't mean any of that." If people had just left me alone, none of this would have happened. I said firmly, "I'm not a girl who lets bullying go."

She hit the desk with her hands. I didn't move. I was prepared for this.

"I'm done with this." This was your last chance. You messed up. She said, "You're expelled , Ms. Bennett."

"Please, give her another chance." "Please, she's a good kid who doesn't take bullying lightly," my mom said.

"I don't want to be here anyway." I said, "No need to beg," and then I stood up and left.

She thought she would get apologies, begging, and maybe even tears. Not me. I didn't say sorry for standing up for myself.

I'm Ashley Bennett, a 19-year-old girl who has been kicked out of too many schools in the last two years. Spring-Crest was the last chance, and it was over.

That might be better. There are no classmates to bother me and no teachers to tell me what to do.

My mom yelled, "Are you happy now?" when she saw me in the car with my feet on the dash and headphones in.

I didn't say anything. I smiled.

"Seriously, Ashley." "Is this the time to smile?" she yelled.

I asked, "Why, Mom?" "Would you rather I let that creep r*p* me "

"That's not the problem," she said with a sigh. "He got what he deserved anyway," she said softly.

That's my mom, and she's always there for me. Calm  but me I'm fire. I guess some things come from my dad, even though I've never met him. Ashley, you've been kicked out. She said, "No more college," and sounded worried.

I said, "College isn't for me," and put my head down.

"I'll look for a different school." She said, "One that fits you," with determination in her voice.

I said, "Whatever, Mom." We drove home after she started the car.

A few days later, I was lying on my bed with my feet up on the wall and my headphones on. Mom came in with a smile on her face, like she had a secret.

She said, "Ashley."

I pulled out my headphones. I asked, "What's going on with the excitement?"

She said, "I found a school that will accept  you," almost squealing.

"But I thought no school would," I said, shocked.

"This one is in Velmora," she said.

"Velmora? I frowned and said, "What is that place?"

"Don't worry about it." Just get ready. "You'll see soon enough," she said in a mysterious way.

I asked, "Now?"

"Yes." As soon as you're ready, get in the car.

I groaned but did what I was told. She didn't like it when people didn't pay attention to her.

"You'll really like Eclipse Academy." She said, "Velmora is a great town too," as we drove.

I asked, "How am I supposed to change?" "You just threw me into this without any warning."

"You'll fit in." And maybe you'll learn who you really are, she said softly, brushing my silver-white hair.

I looked at her, not sure what to think. What was there to figure out?

The farther her mom drove, the blacker the sky appeared. The sky was not cloudy; it was merely dim, as if the light itself were afraid to descend upon the town ahead. A gradual anxiety took up his heart as the automobile passed the crooked signboard that said, "Welcome to Velmora.

She did not like the name. It was like a dream she could not really get herself out of.

"Are you okay, Ashley?" her mother demanded, with one hand on the steering wheel and the other beating rather lightly against the steering wheel.

The voice was low, and Ashley gazed out the window. "I don't like it here, Mom. I suppose we can go back to Greystone Falls.

Her mom's eyes softened. "We've come too far to turn back. It's a wonderful school, sweetheart. I used up half my pocket money to admit you, you won’t want it to waste. Ashley didn't answer. It was difficult for her because of the lump in her throat.

Her mother smiled in an attempt to cheer up the situation. You are g