Thanksgiving was fast approaching. The kids at the School liked this time of year for one major reason -- Edna was given the whole week of the holidays off, and real food was shipped into the School for the kids to eat. It was the one time of the School year that the Cafeteria was filled up.
Each Clique still held their own place. The uneasy truce which had settled over the School was still fresh and new, with the same tensions still under the surface. The word had leaked out about the unseen ‘Terrorists’, and had most everyone on edge. Even with the assurances of the administration that everyone was safe with the increased security measures, most of the Students knew what that was worth.
The chatter in the room was interrupted at the sight of a familiar figure coming down the steps. With her red hair and shitkicker boots, she was immediately recognized by those who had been at the School the year before. It was Zoe, the girl who had been Jimmy Hopkins' Girl. She had returned to Bullworth. Walking down the steps beside her was Trent. They both made their way to the Bullies section and sat down. As they did so, the talk and chatter picked up again.
Most of the girls were afraid of Zoe, and with good reason. Zoe could kick ass better than some of the tough boys, and didn’t take crap off anyone, boy or girl alike. That she had started stomping the ass of any girl who got around Jimmy before the end of School in the spring was still fresh in their minds, especially Mandy, Christy, and Pinky. But the buzz wasn’t about that….It was about her apparent relationship with Trent.
A more unlikely pair they just couldn’t imagine. What on earth was going on there ? There were some rumors of something that had happened with some Townies over in Blue Skies, and that a deal had been worked out for Zoe’s return to school…But none of them knew much about it. What was apparent though, was it had something to do with Trent.
Karen, however, was glad to see Zoe. Sitting at the far table with Tony, she waved at her, and Zoe saw and waved back. Zoe had been kind of a mentor and protector of hers, and the other younger girls. Karen had even learned some of her moves from Zoe to protect herself. Excusing herself from Tony for a moment, she went over to talk with Zoe.
As Tony watched her go, his mind went back to what he had learned the night before. It seemed that for someone in Pete’s position, he had come across a number of things that had to be kept secret. Incriminating stuff, against students, prefects, staff, and even teachers. All, it seemed, except for one……
Tony frowned, trying to think. If Jake had been the ’Panty Planter’, and it sure seemed as if he had, it seemed highly likely that he would have had enough time to do just what Tony himself had done…Go through the files in Pete’s office. Tony had looked through every file and scrap of paper, only taking what had looked like contained adverse information on any person, plus that sheaf of Student Files. But as he had laid it all out in the bed in the privacy of his room, he realized that there was a file missing on one prominent person at the school.
He had searched everything in his time at the Office, so there was no sense in returning there. Besides, he had to return the key to Mr. Luntz today. He wouldn’t risk raising his suspicion, as Mr. Luntz always seemed highly suspicious of everybody. If asked, he would say he didn’t find anything. Tony also doubted the stupid-ass Prefects had even looked at any of the papers, as they had been sent there to uncover the panties hidden in the office. If they had been after anything else, they would have just stripped the place bare.
No, only Pete alone had access to what was contained in those Files. Pete knew enough about the Students and adults at the school to have the place shut down and maybe even send some of them to Jail if the contents of what was on those documents were made public. Pete, however, was a squeaky-clean boy who would never divulge that type of privileged information, which was probably why he had been picked for that position, after the antics of Gary Smith had forced the administration to do something. It seemed, though, that maybe even the administration didn’t even know the extent of the Information that Pete had collected on everybody in the short time he had been on the job.
Which made the missing document all the more mysterious. If Jake had taken it, which Tony believed he had, then there had to be a reason. The file on Jake himself was still there, although Jake may have left that to deflect suspicion away from him. The only reason Tony even knew he had been there is that he dropped his Student I.D. Card after picking the lock with it. Probably hadn’t missed it since he wasn’t at School anymore as a Student.
Tony had secreted the papers in his secret hiding spot at the cave, for the time being. He would have to find Pete and talk to him about all this. And before he went to Dr. Crabblesnich with the evidence to clear Pete, that boy was gonna level with him, for only Pete would know what was in the missing file.
Karen came happily back to the table. She and Zoe had arranged to temporarily room together in the new Dorm arrangement. When the new semester came in January, Karen would room with her friend Melody Adams, a girl whom Tony only knew slightly. Karen chatted away about how glad she was that Zoe was back at School, and how well they would get along. Tony smiled and nodded, but his mind was still on the mystery. The bell finally rang, calling Students back to class. Tony walked Karen to her class, kissed her goodbye, then sprinted to the School Store to return the key to Mr. Luntz.
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