Chapter Twenty-Two

“Hermione.” Aunt Courtney had a calm look on her face. “Do you have something to tell us?”

I shifted on my seat as Annalise brought mashed potatoes to the dinner table. “I don’t understand.”

My heart was skipping important beats and I was afraid I might get struck with a panic attack. Couldn’t she have waited until after dinner?

“The school called and informed me that you got a one-month detention.” Aunt Courtney sounded like my mother right there. But mother would have been furious and wouldn’t talk to me until the next day when she would be calm enough to address me.

“I can’t say I’m surprised. I saw it coming, I just did not think it would come this soon.”

“Courtney, that’s not fair. We did not even get to hear her side of the story.” Uncle Michael tried to reason.

“Ok then. Let us hear it.” My mother’s sister encouraged.

I cleared my throat then looked at Ken for assistance.

“Mom, those girls have been bullying Maya since she entered into that school. She was just defending