"Maya Oberoi, please report to the principal's office."

I freeze in my seat, every set of eyes in the classroom snapping to me.

That's not good. I know it's not good.

But I'm used to this. Used to being called into the principal's office for all the wrong reasons.

"Go on," my teacher mutters, the edge of disappointment in her voice. I roll my eyes and stand up, feeling every eye boring into me. As I walk to the door, I can practically hear the whispers starting.

Maya Oberoi. Always in trouble. Always making the worst decisions in her life.

Well, today's my luckiest day.

When I enter the principal's office, the air is heavy with tension.

"Sit down, Maya," he says, his voice cold.

I don't need to be told twice. I take the seat, slouching back.

"You know why you're here," he starts, his tone already dripping with that familiar disdain.

I don't respond. Why should I? I know what's coming.

"You slapped a student, Maya and locked her in the bathroom," he says, his eyes narrowing. "Over a comment? Over something trivial?"

Trivial? No. This isn't about a comment. It's about me standing up for a girl who doesn't deserve to be humiliated.

That girl, she's everything I'm not-innocent, kind, and the last person who deserves to be torn apart by a bunch of bullies. The girl I slapped? Well, she thinks she's untouchable, the queen of everything because her daddy can buy her way out of anything. But that day, I wasn't going to sit back and watch someone get trashed.

"She was bullying an innocent girl," I say, my voice cold. "And you know what? Maybe I am a bitch. But that's not why I did it. I'm tired of watching people like her get away with it."

"That's not how we handle things, Maya," he says, his voice hardening. "Violence has no place here. And now, you've made your decision. You'll face severe consequences."

"But, she should be the one to fac-"

He cuts me off.

"Enough is enough! Go to your house. I'll call your father."

Woah. That's exactly what I want. Mr. Khanna calling my father. He's going to be ashamed for sure.

Oh dear lord, I'm cooked.