THIRD PERSON POV:
"Both of you, my office now," Evelyn said to Bella and Hazel, then she made her way into the school building.
They both followed her, glancing at each other at every instance. They didn't know what Evelyn would do, and all they could do was rely on their own instincts to get them out of the situation.
Soon, they got to the office, and Evelyn opened the door, ushering them in, then she slammed it shut. She stared at Hazel, her chest rising with each second. She understood her predicament, but did she have to hurt her daughter? "What has gotten into you, Hazel?" she questioned, and Hazel remained mute. "This was never you. Even though you have managed to uphold your grades, I cannot help but wonder what is happening. I've seen you with Fae, and this is unlike you," Evelyn said, then Hazel squeezed her face, looking Evelyn in the eyes.
"You're right, my life was perfect until Bella came into it, and now I can no longer tell who I am," Hazel said, then Bella lightly slapped her shoulder, and Hazel retaliated.
"Cut it out, both of you!" Evelyn's voice came out cold.
They both fell silent as Evelyn paced around her office. It was at this moment that she realized Bella's necklace was missing, causing her to march up to Bella and grab her hand roughly.
"Where is your necklace?" she questioned, and Bella glanced at Hazel.
"She thought she was smart, but I used the bracelet," Bella said, and Evelyn felt the fear in her chest calm a bit.
She couldn't understand the hostility between them. Hazel had been the best thing to happen to Bella, and now Bella had managed to turn her into an enemy.
Evelyn turned to Hazel, trying to fight back the crack in her voice.
"Why?" was all she could say at first.
Then she took a deep breath, sucking in the heaviness.
"How could you even think of doing that to your best friend? You're supposed to protect her, and you were willing to expose her in front of the entire school. Can you imagine if a stake had been driven into Bella's heart?" she asked.
At that moment, Hazel saw how vulnerable Evelyn was, but she wasn't stopping.
"I'm sorry, Principal Evelyn," Hazel started off low, her heart thumping at what her mind harbored. "Can you imagine being with someone who reminds you of a past you want to forget?"
The moment Hazel said this, Evelyn glanced at Bella, and Bella immediately understood what she meant. Evelyn quickly shook the feeling off her chest, but Hazel wasn't done.
"You must know what that feels like."
Evelyn's eyes widened when Hazel said this, and the feeling she tried to suppress came flooding back. She walked away from both of them and slumped into her seat, trying to shake off the ill emotions that were building up.
Hazel had committed an offense and deserved detention, but she was a golden student, and Evelyn didn't want to jump to conclusions. Yet, Bella was her daughter, and she knew Bella would crucify her. The situation made it difficult to overlook Hazel's actions-she reminded Evelyn of the past. A past she could never forget as long as Bella was there.
"It's so difficult to punish you, because I don't want anything to tarnish your spotless record, but you leave me no choice, Hazel," Evelyn said, boring her eyes into Hazel.
She grabbed a paper from her desk and scribbled something on it.
"Here, go to the detention hall and hand this to Ms. Polly. Tell her it's from me, and she'll let you know what do for detention," she said, and Hazel took the paper from Evelyn with trembling hands.
you must
She had never been to detention or gotten into serious trouble before. It was scary, but she was glad she had helped her best friend.
"Thank you, and I'm sorry, Principal Evelyn," Hazel said as she grabbed the paper, turning around.
She winked at Bella with a half-smile as she walked out of Evelyn's office. As soon as the door shut behind her, Evelyn faced Bella.
"Are you going to sit or stand?" she asked, and Bella stood still, watching her mother. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you, Bella, because every time I turn around, you're getting into trouble. It's difficult to defend you when-"
"Defend me?" Bella scoffed, cutting her mother off. "I would believe Fae defended me more than you, because you never have, Mother," she said, and Evelyn became mute, regretting not letting her off.
Bella closed the space, walking to Evelyn's desk.
"What Hazel said, is it true?" she asked, and Evelyn looked at her sharply. "Do I remind you of something or someone you want to forget? Is that why you treat me like I'm adopted?"
Evelyn swallowed hard when Bella said this. Today was definitely not her day, and she hated that the subject kept being brought up.
"Bella, I don't want to talk about that, and I would appreciate it if you left it alone," she said, and Bella scoffed. "Of course, it would help you forget me better. But just so you know, I never chose this life. If the Moon Goddess had asked for my permission before creating me, I would have asked not to live at all, because this isn't even a life. My father, who loves me, sent me away for something I didn't even do, and my mother... my mother hates me."
"I do not hate you, Bella!" Evelyn's voice rose at once. "Maybe when you're older, you'll realize that I've been the one who has loved you all along," she said, and Bella forced a smile to her face.
"Of course, Mother," Bella said, then turned to walk away.