The School Sabotage
The autumn day was cold, wet and windy, and the mint green summer leaves were just beginning to turn. “JASON! Come on, we're going to be late!” It was the week after school had started, and Grace Waters was attending the annual Church fundraiser as head director, like always, with her boyfriend Jason Banks. Grace’s life was almost perfect with her long dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, tall skinny body, perfect smooth skin, best friends surrounding her, and a sweet boyfriend. Jason and Grace had been dating for almost two years, and had been through alot together. Jason was the reason she had become obsessed with her religion, and had been a part of every single thing that had to do with her Church. He was her inspiration.
For Grace to be a part of this fundraiser, she had to be the director. All of her friends and family members knew that Grace, for her whole life, was a natural leader. Her ideas and opinions were always used, but no one ever argued because, they were good. At only age 16, she had accomplished many things including winning the “Outstanding Achievement” Award, for raising over 10,000 dollars for homeless Christian Children.
“Jay, help me out with this box,” Grace asked her muscular boyfriend.
“Okay, I’ll be right there.” In one hand, Grace held the clothes donations for the fundraiser, and in the other, Jasons hand, as they walked into the park. The first sight she saw was the carousel, then the mini ferris wheel, then the booths set up all over. They always go overboard! Grace laughed to herself. When they arrived inside the gates, the two began setting up their own booth near the bumper cars, and immediately got to work.













“I can’t even believe how many people donated,” Grace said to Jason. “I mean, wow we got over 600 pieces of clothing!”
“I know,” he replied, “You did really good today Gracie.” She smiled. Jason was always complimenting her on her work at the Church.
“Thanks for coming, she replied, and giving me a ride.”
“No problem,” he smiled. They approached the door of her house, and her mother greeted her. “Okay, so tomorrow I'll pick you up in the morning for school.”
“Okay thanks,” Grace said, “Goodnight.”
“Night,” he kissed her cheek, then began walking back to his car. She shut the door, and walked inside.
BANG! Grace shot up from her bed and gasped. She rubbed her eyes and checked her alarm clock, it was 7:45. “Ah NOO!” Grace screamed. How had this happened? I set my alarm to 7:00! She thought, how could she have overslept? Maybe if I hadn’t stayed out late last night! I did this to myself. And now Jasons already here, waiting for me! Grace quickly got dressed and twenty minutes later, was ready. BANG! BANG! BANG! Oh gosh, I forgot about Jason, she remembered. Grace rushed to get the door and apologised. “ I’m actually so sorry Jay, I’m so tired, I think I missed my alarm.”
“It’s fine, but we’re gonna be late now,” He responded.
“Really sorry.”
“It’s fine, really,” Jason kissed her, and they drove off.

They arrived at school at exactly 8:20, and were just in time for the morning announcements. Groan. Another lecture to buy the “healthy foods” in the cafeteria, and to stay away from alcohol and drugs, Grace thought.
“STUDENTS! MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION!” Principal Reede shouted over the microphone. Grace jumped. “Last night some vandalism took place. The culprit has broken and shattered windows and doors, wrote graffiti on the first and third floor lockers, stolen personal items, and busted the courtyard doors. This is not funny, we ask that the person guilty turns himself or herself in and we can work this out. If not, severe punishments will be enforced. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, your choice.” The microphone buzzed, and Grace began to sweat.
“Does he actually think the person is going to turn themselves in? I mean, they could be arrested.”Jason spoke.
“I don’t know it sounds pretty serious, I wonder who did it.” Grace responded.
“Yeah, I bet you anything it was Denis, he seems suspicious.” They both glance at him, and saw him awkwardly standing by the bathroom door looking like he was ready to burst. “Definitely!” They both laughed.
“Oh no, now Reede is going to be bugging us all day with these stupid announcements,” Jason said, “And he’s really determined, so I bet you anything he will stop at nothing to find out who did this. They should be scared.”
“I know right,” Grace replied, “I really hope he doesn’t involve the whole town and make this a huge scene, because then that person’s reputation would be destroyed forever.”
“Yeah definitely, I know it’s a serious crime and all but they should just turn themselves in.”
“Yep,” Grace whispered. “Well, I gotta get to class i’m going to be late bye,” She kissed his cheek and ran off.
“Wait! Grace we’re in the same class!” She didn’t look back, Grace needed some time to think. I wonder who did it, she thought.
Throughout the rest of the day, Grace couldn’t focus in class trying to think of the situation, and who could have possibly done this. She hoped it wasn’t one of her friends, because as Jason had said, they would be caught. Walking back to her locker she noticed the whole school seemed at ease. Everyone was staring down whoever they passed in the hallway, and it was too much for Grace to handle. She approached her locker and opened it, avoiding stares from suspicious classmates. With her books in her locker ready to finally leave this place after a long day, Grace’s locker slammed shut. “Hey!” Jason shouted.
“Oh hi sorry I didn’t see you there.” Grace said.
“It’s okay I’ll walk with you outside.”
“Okay.”
“So Grace, seriously you don’t have any ideas of who you think broke into the school? Oh my gosh, Grace thought, i’m pretty sure he’s asked me that like ten times today. What’s up with him?
“No Jay, you have asked me that so many times already. I told you I have no idea.” She replied. “Besides stop worrying about it, it doesn’t involve you.”
“Fine whatever,” Jason snapped. Just then Callie, Rebecca, Rose, Ariel, and Madison, Grace’s best friends, rounded the corner.
“Hey guys! Wait up!” She shouted. “See you later Jay.” Grace wanted to find out their input on the situation, and what they thought about why Jason kept on bringing it up.
“Hey!” Ariel said, “Where have you been?”
“Sorry I was with Jason this weekend at the Church fundraiser.”
“It’s fine, but oh my gosh have you heard about what happened?”
“Yes, who do you think did it?”
“Honestly, I think whoever it was is sad and pathetic, because that is so upsetting. I can’t believe someone from our school would be capable of that much damage,” Madison said.
“Yeah totally,” Rebecca agreed. Like always, Rebecca agreed with whatever Madison said.
“Guys, I have to tell you something, It’s about Jason.” Grace interrupted.
“Good? or bad?” Madison added.
“Bad i guess,” Grace replied. “Okay so whenever I saw Jason today he would always bring up what happened with the vandalism, and ask me who I thought did it. He’s so being obsessive with the situation, and who it could be so I’m starting to think he might have something to do with it. And I know he would never do something like that and I completely trust him, but i’m just a little curious.”
“Wow really, Jason Banks destroying half the school building? He always hated the principal didn’t he? This is bad.” Callie joined in.
“I know, I don’t know what to...”
“Talk to him about it, and tell him everything you told us.” Rose interrupted.
“Okay, but are you sure he won’t be offended?” Grace responded.
“He might but it’s better to be honest.”
“Okay I will, thanks guys!” They all hugged. For as long as she had known them, Callie, Rebecca, Rose, Ariel, and Madison had always been there for her, and had been her best friends. She could trust them with anything, and told them almost everything.
“Okay, so tonight my house?” Rose asked.
“Yeah totally,” Callie and Rebecca responded.
“Yeah,” Ariel said.
“Um, guys I’m really sorry I can’t go tonight I promised Jason i would see a movie with him.”
“Thats okay,” Rose said. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye!” Ariel said, and the five of them walked away. Grace hurried home, and sat on her bed. She needed time to think about everything that had happened today. As much as she wanted to be honest with Jason, she couldn’t stand when he was disappointed in her. She was so sensitive that it was stressing her out, and she didn’t know what to do. Hiding secrets was not like her at all, Grace usually told everyone she trusted everything, and nothing was kept to herself. From school today, Grace was so exhausted that right after she had finished her homework, she went straight to sleep.

The next two days were the same, people walking up and down the hallways glaring at each other, trying to figure out who had the guts to do something like that to their school. The guilt was eating Grace alive, she felt uncomfortable everywhere she went.
On Thursday morning, in Mrs. Oliver’s homeroom class, an announcement was made over the loudspeaker. “ATTENTION! ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS! The culprit has not been discovered and seems to think this is a game, so from here on severe punishments will be at large. I speak directly to you now. The police are coming later this afternoon and each individual student will be questioned on their whereabouts that night.” Groan. “This has never happened before to our school so I recommend that the student turns him or herself in NOW. An arrest can potentially be made. You have two hours.” As soon as principal Reede stopped talking, the room was dead silent. No one moved, no one spoke, and the rest of the morning was miserable. Jason had been acting strange all day, and now he avoided Grace’s eyes.

“Jason!” Grace shouted.
“Yeah?” He stopped and turned towards her.
“Why are you avoiding me?” She asked.
“I’m not,” He replied almost too fast.
“Yes you are you’ve been acting strange all day.”
“Okay, but Grace look around you everyone is acting strange, we’re all so stressed out because of this whole thing!”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“Whatever, honestly I wish that person would just turn themselves in already! I don’t care who it is anymore, no one gives they just want it to be over!”
“You don’t have to take this out on me! It’s not my problem!” Grace screamed. She turned and ran away, mortified. Fighting with Jason had created something inside of her that she had only felt one other time; rage. She stormed around the corner, heading straight for the principals office. Grace tried not to think of the consequences of what she was about to do, and just kept walking.
SLAM! She slammed the door to the office open, creating a loud booming sound. Grace marched right into Principal Reede office and said, “I need to tell you something, now before I change my mind.”
“What is it Grace?” Principal Reede calmly responded.
“I..I know who broke into the school.” Her fingers moved to her mouth and she began biting her nails. Why am I doing this! I can’t do this to... her thoughts erupted, and Grace knew that the words that came out of her mouth next we’re going to be the most painful. Jason was going to KILL her. “It was me.” she said.
“Excuse me?” Principal Reede choked.
“I broke into the school, I did all those things,” Grace responded.
“No, listen Grace I understand that friends are important to you, and you would do anything for them, but taking the blame for them is not going to get anyone anywhere. They should be responsible for their own actions.”
“No, Principal Reede I’m sorry but I don’t think you understood me correctly. It was me, no one else.”
“Grace Waters, I have a hard time believing that you, a girl who has changed many lives for the better, has destroyed school property. Next time you should think of a more believable plan.” He chuckled to himself. “Now go,” Principal Reede pointed to the door. Outside, Grace sunk to the floor. He doesn’t believe me. Tears began to fall from the corners of her beautiful crystal blue eyes.

During her lunch period, Grace was convinced that she wouldn’t show her face, but ended up going into the cafeteria anyway to approach Jason, and hopefully tell him that she had done it before Principal Reede had figured out that she hadn’t been lying. Grace entered the cafeteria, and right away spotted him. Those hazel eyes would never look at her the same again. I can’t turn back now, she remembered. Half way into the cafeteria, Grace realized that the news had not come out yet, because no one was paying too much attention to her; she had made it just in time. Jason’s back was turned, and as soon as she tapped it, he turned to face her. Because of the look on his face, she could tell that he sensed something was wrong.
“What happened Grace?” Panic was clear in his voice.
“I need to talk to you about something.” She whispered. The worst was yet to come.
“What is it?”
“It was me, Jason.”
“What was you?”
“I broke into the school, I busted the doors open and shattered the windows, I wrote graffiti on the upstairs lockers.” Grace broke down. Tears began to pour out of her eyes in buckets. The look Jason was giving her right now was a scary as a horror movie.
“I...I don’t understand. Why would you ever do something like this I know this isn’t you.” Grace wiped her eyes. “I don’t know, honestly. I was just so tired of being good, being know as the “good Church girl” who always gets A’s and never disobeys orders. I wanted to be bad for a change and try something different. I didn’t even know what I was doing, or why, and didn’t think about any of the consequences.” She started crying again and reached for Jason to pull her into a hug, but he had turned away and now had his hands on his face.
“Do you know, Grace, what you have gotten yourself into?” You’re not that sweet kind lovable girl anymore, that you were when we first met. I don’t understand why you would ever do something like that, and I guess I never will now. I..I think we need a break.” With his hands now by his side, Jason walked away. By the exit to the cafeteria he looked back, but then continued walking. It was all over.

The next few days had been extremely hard. No one would understand or believe what she had confessed to. Grace had told all of her friends, who were no longer speaking to her. She had also told her parents, who refused to listen to her, and had tried to call Jason over twenty times. When she walked into school on Monday after a very long weekend, the word had gotten out. People weren’t talking about how she committed the crime, but that she lied to everyone she loved, and took the blame for someone else who was still unknown. Eventually the realization hit her. What she had done was wrong, completely and utterly wrong, but no one had believed her because it was unheard of that such a “good girl” like Grace could possibly be responsible. That was her punishment. Grace would have to live with it throughout the rest of high school. She had brought it upon herself, and this was her punishment.