Principle Spinner called Aileen in the office. She had never been in trouble in her entire life let alone being called to the principal’s office. Everyone in the room looked at her as she gulped and walked out of the room. What could it possibly be about? She was a honors student with a perfect GPA. She was editor of the school newspaper; all around good kid. As she got closer she saw Eli and Sara holding each other and she was crying.

“What’s wrong Sara?” Eli looked up at Aileen as Sara hugged her tight

“I’m so sorry?” said Sara

“What are you sorry about?” Sara wiped her eyes as she looked at Eli who quickly his lips and looked Aileen dead in the eye

“You need to talk to Principle Spinner,” he said to her

“You know what’s going on?”

“You need to talk to him. I’m sorry,” he hugged Sara again as she started crying again. Aileen frowned and furrowed her brows as she walked into his office

“Take a seat Aileen,”

“No thanks I want to stand,” she crossed her arms

“Please sit,”

“Why was Sara crying out there and why did Eli look sick or something?”

“I don’t know how to tell you this so I’ll just say it,”

“What?”

“I’m sorry but Demi…” as soon as she heard her best friend’s name she started laughing

“Did she get lost again? I told her to MapQuest the venue so she could get to her math competition on time,”

“It’s not about that. She never made it to the competition,”

“Omg she got lost? It was a straight shot though…although Demi’s sense of direction is a little off…”

“Aileen please it’s not about any of that. Demi was found in the greenhouse this morning…” she was about to speak when he held his hand up to stop her, “…she’s dead,”

The word dead didn’t compute in Aileen’s head. What did he mean she was dead? That couldn’t be true. She just saw her last night and she was fine. She was happy. She wasn’t suicidal. She wasn’t depressed. She would never have the guts to do something like that.

“How,” she was calm

“I can’t give you the details,”

“Well then it’s not true because she would never do something like that,” she got up

“Aileen we will have counselors on the campus if you want to talk,”

“What for? You’re lying! Demi would never do that!” tears started spilling from her eyes

“I’m so sorry,” he went to hug her

“STOP SAYING YOU'RE SORRY! She would never do that. You’re a liar,”

“I’m not lying,” he gently grabbed her arms but she shook him off

“I want to see her,”

“I’m sorry but you can’t. They’ve taken her to the hospital and her parents have been notified,”

“How could you tell those lies to her parents,” she walked out of his office. All the secretaries and some students witnessed her meltdown

“They are not lies Aileen. I’m telling you the truth,”

“She wasn’t suicidal. You got the wrong girl. It wasn’t Demi,” she was breathing heavy; “She was my best friend. We told each other everything. She would have told me if she was unhappy,” tears were blinding her vision and she got dizzy

“Aileen,”

“No don’t touch me,” she wiped her face and looked around. Demi was gone. Forever, “No this can’t be happening,” she looked at the Vice Principle who came out of her office, “Mrs. Ross tell me this isn’t happening,” she cried in her arms

“I’m so sorry Aileen,” she cried with her

Suddenly Aileen got dizzy and all went black.