Hi there! You are currently browsing as a guest. Why not create an account? Then you get less ads, can thank creators, post feedback, keep a list of your favourites, and more!
Chapter 14, Part 2
Back to: Chapter 14, Part 1 Next: Chapter 14, Part 3

“So, do you think I have a case?” Tiffani asked.

Maya cleared her throat. “Well,” she said slowly, “as the judicial branch of the student government, we’re usually only called upon in extreme cases.”

“This is an extreme case,” Tiffani snapped. “This is discrimination we’re talking about, not some stupid dress code infringement.”

Maya exchanged glances with her fellow club members. Is this really worth the time? she seemed to be saying. Do we need to burden ourselves with her complaints? Maya was not a cruel girl, but she was more than a bit cynical when it came to human nature. She saw people as whiny, lazy fools who were terribly superficial.


Lyle spoke up. Popular, good-looking, and personable, he was a far more pleasant person to deal with than Maya. “I think we should at least examine this situation. It can’t hurt.”

“Are you sure?” Maya asked. “It’ll mean having to do all kinds of research and junk if the case gets taken up.”

“Fine,” Lyle said firmly. Several others nodded.

“Fine,” Maya sighed. “It looks like I’m in the minority. Tiffani, we’ll consider taking up the cause. However, it will help if you have evidence of being discriminated against. Are there others who’ve been rejected for similar reasons?”

Tiffani began to shake her head, but then, a thought occurred to her. She remembered the last tryouts. Cassandra, Angela, and that nerdy chick from my math class… what’s her name… Sara Lowry… a bunch of other girls... they tried out, I think. Maybe if I can call them in as witnesses to testify…

“Yes,” Tiffani finally replied. “There have been.”


____________________________


Valo sighed and reread the letter. It listed her concerns and questions, and it was worded carefully, so as to not offend. But could she e-mail it to her boss? Would her boss even pay any attention to this? Maybe, just maybe, she was getting all worked up over nothing.

“Dude, look at her,” one guy said, turning his laptop to allow his friend a better look.

“Damn, she’s gotta have double-D’s, at least,” his friend remarked.

They chatted back and forth, ogling the picture and looking at similar images. A few feet away, several young men were talking about a recent news story.

“She was totally asking for it.”

“Seriously.”

“I mean, dressed like that, what was he supposed to think?”

“Yeah, and besides that, I heard she’s a tease.”

“God, I hate women like that.”

“Well, some chicks want it; they just don’t want to admit it.”

Valo’s eyes narrowed as she blinked away angry tears. Jerks, she thought. I’m not getting upset over nothing. This is serious business. Someone needs to put a stop to this. I am sick and tired of hearing this crap day in and day out. I’m going to send this as soon as I get off duty. And if my boss gets ticked and fires me, then I’ll go to her boss, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll go to the next on the chain of command. I’ll go all the way up to the chancellor, if need be!

____________________________


“All be seated. Student court is now in session. We’re dealing with case number… err… five,” Maya said, peering at her notes as she acted as judge. “The case is Royale v. Oakdale High School Cheerleading and Dance Team.”

Tiffani bit her lip. She was nervous. Will they take me seriously? she thought. What if they just dismiss my complaints? The jury is made up of a lot of popular people…

“Attorney for the plaintiff, do you have an opening statement?” Maya asked.


Lyle rose and glanced at his notes. “Your honor, members of the jury, and various students who’ve decided to skip class to watch the proceedings,” he began, giving a pointed look towards a cluster of students peeking through the glass on the door. The students shrunk back, and a few of the more cowardly ones ran off. Lyle smirked a little, and continued, “My client, Miss Royale, claims that the school’s cheerleading and dance team forced her to give up her member status for spurious reasons.” He paused, trying to remember what “spurious” meant and whether or not he’d used it correctly in context. “This is apparently not the first time that this school organization has discriminated against members or potential members, claiming appearance as their basis for decisions. I intend to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Oakdale High School Cheerleading and Dance Team is choosing its members for shallow reasons, rather than choosing members who can actually bring something more to the team than a pretty face and skinny body.”

He sat down and smirked at the lawyer for the defense, who glowered back. Maya nodded and asked, “Defense, your statement?”


Sherrie rose and glared at Lyle. He had been cheating on her, and she didn’t even know who the other woman was. All she’d found were a pair of panties under Lyle’s bed, a pair that should not have been there. The main reason she’d volunteered to speak in defense of the team was not because she was a member, but because she wanted to get back at Lyle, in any way possible.

“Your honor…” she began.

Tiffani closed her eyes. Amazing, isn't it? Friends can become enemies in the blink of an eye, she thought. Last year, Sherrie and I were practically best friends, and now... we're up against each other.

Click Next: Chapter 14, Part 3 to continue...

 
Back to: Chapter 14, Part 1 Next: Chapter 14, Part 3
Reply With Quote

Click here to view comments, or to add your own.