SubscribeStar Story: The Teaching Assistant, Part 46

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Part 46

As Amelia looked around the library, desperately trying to think of a solution that didn’t require going back to the dorms and the bonus steps that likely were required to gain access to her room, it didn’t take long for her to accept that this was a dead end for the time being.

The only potential idea that crossed her mind before leaving was that she could try asking one of the nearby students if she could use their unlocked computer. The problem was, the library was so quiet, and Mrs. Gray would still be somewhat overseeing things while sorting through the books that currently had her attention. Now that Amelia had ‘shown her hand’ by asking for a similar favor at the main desk, she would no doubt be told off for distracting one of the other girls who was trying to work.

Unfortunately, the best play was to leave and figure something else out. Either her room, which didn’t seem possible at the moment, or maybe there was another tech option out there. Amelia could use her latest idea in a different context. If there was a student who had a laptop in the courtyard, or in a common room . . . that would be more exposed, although surely the girls Amelia was trying to avoid were all scattered at this point.

Stepping out of the library with a heavy sigh, Amelia took a look around. She had barely been on campus for 24 hours, which meant she hadn’t had quite enough time to fully remember the layout. Without the map or any of the other materials that were in the very binder that would have made her latest and only plan go more smoothly, she would have to rely on her memory. That mostly meant backtracking to the dining hall in order to find her bearings.

Trying not to think about the fact that she looked like every other schoolgirl around, Amelia briskly walked back the way she came. Partially due to the crisp air, and also because she was still determined to sort this out as quickly as possible. This was the only time to deal with the mess Ashley had manipulated her into. Amelia didn’t even have until Monday, as she would have to deal with church the following morning. The traditional academy did push a degree of religion on its students, which she assumed people put up with as a kind of trade-off. An amazing education, in exchange for an expensive tuition check and a couple religious requirements.

She didn’t make it very far without getting held up. As she walked the covered stone path that paralleled the main courtyard, a familiar voice called out to her. “Millie! There you are.”

Amelia reluctantly turned to see Summer and company hanging out around one of the nearby stone benches. She wasn’t sure what to do. No longer having a clear plan, Amelia was somewhat roaming as she tried to figure out where to go. The dorms had been her main idea, as that would put her closer to her room while also giving herself the potential to find a classmate who could help. Now that Summer and her clique had eyes on her, however, it’s not like Amelia could just ignore them or run away. Especially not in the uncomfortable Lost & Found shoes she was wearing.

“Millie. Come here,” Summer insisted. At least she was using the nickname Amelia seemed to be stuck with for as long as she was a ‘transfer student.’ Of course, it’s not like Summer would yell out a swear word in the middle of the courtyard when a prefect could be around. She would save that for when no authority figures were within earshot, just like she had at breakfast.

Reluctantly changing course, and trying not to think about the fact that she was allowing a thirteen year old to boss her around, Amelia stepped out into the sun. While Summer was probably intimidating to her peers, it was less about that for Amelia. Instead, she was still somewhat concerned for Piper, and had also been shown multiple times that power in numbers was annoyingly effective. If all of Summer’s friends backed her up, then Amelia would be the one getting in trouble.

Since Amelia had to ‘prove her maturity’ to Ashley and Claire, she couldn’t let these younger girls get her in trouble in the meantime.

As soon as Amelia was close enough for them to have a normal conversation, rather than one with raised voices across the way, Summer said, “Didn’t I tell you to meet us here in five minutes?

She did, although that was when Amelia had far more important things to do than letting herself get bullied by a teenager. How long had these girls been waiting for her? Without a watch or phone, Amelia had no idea how long her walk and subsequent failure to access a computer had taken. Of course, the truth of why she went to take care of her own agenda wouldn’t serve as a very good excuse. Instead, she blurted out the first lie that came to mind. “Sorry. I had to use the bathroom.”

“Apologize properly,” Summer said, “Don’t forget your place, bitch.”

Amelia still had half a mind to tell Summer off for speaking to her in such a way. Unlike the backbone she had shown at the end of class, however, Amelia was trying a lot harder to keep the peace now that she knew how tough Ashley had made it for her to prove that she was anything but a Westridge student. “I’m sorry, Ms. Summer,” Amelia hesitantly muttered.

“That’s better. Now, come on. We’re late enough as it is thanks to you.”

As if on cue, the surrounding girls got moving. The ones seated hopped up, the ones standing made short work of collecting their things. Summer swiveled on her heel and strutted away with her pack immediately in tow. In a matter of seconds, Amelia was the noticeable straggler. The five girls ahead of her were so in sync, as Summer clearly ran a tight ship for her age. As an adult, it made Amelia want to roll her eyes that even girls at a school like Westridge fell into the cliché teenager hierarchy where the bitchy, popular types ran the show. At the same time, it hadn’t taken long for Amelia to fall victim to that kind of girl anyway.

Feeling the pressure to play nice and minimize potential complications for herself, Amelia hurried after the group ahead of her. It’s not like she currently had much of a plan, and there was also the distant hope that the girls who knew how to keep themselves out of trouble would also be the type to get her what she needed. If Ashley’s presence was necessary to get back into her dorm room, and the materials in Amelia’s dorm room were necessary to log in to one of the public computers, maybe finding another option was the better call. Was it wrong to hope that one of Summer’s friends had a spare laptop that they had taken from a less fortunate girl?

It didn’t take long for Amelia to figure out where they were headed. Generally, at least. Summer was leading the girls to the side of campus with the modest gymnasium and surrounding outdoor sports areas. Amelia hadn’t been taken inside the gym during her tour, although she had been impressed at just how many activities were available for the students, as well as how many different teams there were on campus that competed with other schools. Due to its reputation, Westridge had always seemed like it would host the more academically driven girls.

She really wanted to ask one of Summer’s friends where they were going. Amelia had more or less caught up with the group of five, although she was clearly the outsider amongst them. Deciding to wait until she had a better chance to fit in–one that wouldn’t require interrupting a conversation for the sake of getting a word in–she merely followed in awkward silence.

Apparently they were going to the gym.

That surprised Amelia; she had expected this to turn into a walk of sorts, to get some distance from the prefects and whatever other authority figures were around over the weekend. At the same time, she hadn’t loved the idea of being outnumbered five to one when no one in charge was within sight or earshot. So maybe one of the buildings was better, where surely someone would be around to manage the equipment and various spaces. Of course, there was still the big question of what they were going to be doing there.

Before she got the answer, the petite blonde found herself faced with a series of new issues. They were headed for the locker room. The five girls she was with no doubt had clothes to change into, as she couldn’t think of a single physical activity that would work well in the academy uniforms. And also, it was NOT appropriate to change with students. It was one thing at a public gym, when pretty much every demographic was present and tended to know what they were signing up for before stepping inside. This was different. She wasn’t /actually/ the age that everyone believed her to be.

“Hold on,” Amelia said. Starting with the most obvious, she pointed out, “I don’t have anything to change into.” Gesturing to her lack of purse or backpack compared to most of the girls with her, she hoped that was enough to call off this portion of whatever Summer had planned.

“That’s fine,” one of the other girls replied, “We can loan you some workout clothes!”

So much for that excuse. Racking her brain for something else that might work, Amelia blurted out something she assumed would give the average teenager pause. “Oh. Umm, thanks, but I need to change in a private bathroom. I have this condition . . . ” She prayed they wouldn’t ask for specifics, because she wasn’t quite sure what would require an isolated bathroom vs. merely stripping in a stall.

Summer let out a dramatic sigh. “So, you’re making us wait for you /again?/ Tell you what, Millie. If you really need your own room, fine. Whatever. But you owe me, okay? Say it, bitch.”

Just happy to be out of what could have been an uncomfortable situation, Amelia nodded. “I owe you, Ms. Summer.”

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