A Girl Like Her Page #7

trouble for stuff that she did.

Well, I think you just need

to keep your mouths shut

because we have these

cameras walking around.

Hi.

Brian, hi.

They made her

a sign at school.

Oh...

that's so sweet.

How's she doing?

She's... doing

about the same.

How are you doing?

Not so good.

I know.

This all feels

like this weird dream.

I know.

Um, I have to tell you

something.

So you know about all

the bullying

that went on

at the school?

About, uh...

6 months ago,

I told her

that we should start

documenting everything,

like, with cameras

and stuff.

It's been going on

for 6 months?

Yeah.

Jessica... you guys

should've told me.

She was embarrassed

about it.

But you should've told me.

Why didn't you tell me?

Because she made me

promise,

and I couldn't break

that promise.

No.

Sweetie, it's not...

I know. I wanted

to tell somebody.

And you're a good friend.

That's what...

that's what you are.

You are a good friend.

- But I...

- And you held her promise.

You know how much

we care about you.

You know that, right?

I would never, never

want you to feel bad.

Can I talk to her

for a second?

I'm so sorry, Jess.

I had to show somebody.

And everyone's trying to

stay strong for you...

because we know that

you're gonna make it.

I miss you so much.

Let me ask her

the questions

and, uh, give her a chance to

tell us her side of the story,

I mean, because I think

it's important.

Um, been principal long enough

to know there's always

two sides to every story, um...

Come in!

Hi there. Come on in.

Please, have a seat.

OK.

Um, your parents and I

have been discussing

this, uh... this letter.

Well, I'll just

let you read it.

What is this?

Well, it's pretty

obvious what it is.

Your friends have made

a statement here

that you're the cause

of, uh, the bullying

and, um, we're here

to find out

the complete story.

Now I'm giving you a chance here

with your parents here

to tell us your side

of this because I know

there's always two sides

to every story...

I didn't do

any of this stuff.

I didn't do any

of these things.

I didn't... I... let's see,

I did not harass her,

I didn't send her

multiple "mean things,"

I was not "mean to her"

relentlessly.

You didn't... you didn't do

any of these things?

No! I didn't do any

of those things!

I did not harass her

or bully Jessica!

O-OK, all right, if you say

that, then why would

your friends put this

on... on paper,

put their names to it?

This is serious.

This isn't just,

"Oh, geez, she was not..."

I'm not... I'm not joking

around about this!

Obviously I know

it's serious,

but I didn't do any

of those things!

This isn't something

I can just pass off

because you said,

"I didn't do anything."

You understand that?

There are consequences

for actions,

and part of

the consequences are you

have to take responsibility

for things that you do.

Yeah, OK, OK, so... so

maybe I joked around

with Jessica.

Maybe I joked around with her,

just like those girls were.

I was joking

around with her.

Maybe I took it

a little bit too far,

maybe it hurt her feelings;

I don't know,

but that's not my problem

that this girl

can't handle a joke.

- Mr. Harris...

- Everyone blew it way out of...

Mom! Everyone blew it

way out of...

- Don't "Mom" me.

- Mom!

Everyone blew it way out

of proportion

that that's not even true.

None of that is true.

You know, he's

bullying you right now,

trying to get you

to admit to something

- that you didn't do!

- Mom.

I know.

I'm not bullying.

I am asking questions

to find out answers.

My daughter is being

thrown under the bus

by these girls over

something that you know

damn well happens everywhere

in schools across America.

OK, OK, we understand.

I didn't do anything!

Everyone understands

I didn't do anything!

Look, I don't understand

that you didn't do anything.

What I understand is

that I have a very

serious situation here that

I have to take care of,

and I want to know

everybody's point of view,

including yours, so that the

proper actions can be taken.

Did the bullying

put her in the coma,

or did she put herself

in the coma

by swallowing the pills?

Yeah, that's a actual,

logical point.

Thank you,

and I'm telling you

that I didn't do

anything, OK?

- All right, all right.

- I joked around with her!

Seriously, this is

such bullshit!

No I'm seriously

done with this!

If that's what you want

to hear, that I'm sorry

for joking around

with her, then I am

very, very sorry

for joking around with her.

I am so terribly sorry

that I didn't know

that some girl doesn't know

how to take a... joke!

Sorry, a freaking joke!

I didn't know that

somebody can't take a joke!

Seriously.

Like, grow the hell up!

Grow the hell up!

Take a joke!

I am so sorry!

I'm sorry!

I have to get to class

'cause I'm a very good student.

Bullshit.

...I didn't do sh*t!

Calls my parents in there

and tries to embarrass me.

It's, like, honestly!

Does she really think

anyone's gonna buy this?

...of actually getting

to explain...

And this is my way

of actually...

What's going on?

Avery Keller's,

like, gone nuts.

...or people telling me

that I'm lying.

This is the only way for me

to actually put out there

the way that I feel.

Everybody here

at school is blaming me

for this stupid-ass

Jessica Burns bullshit.

I am so sick of everyone

turning against me

and blaming me

for what happened.

This girl did this

to herself!

I did not tell her

to go do what she did!

No one told her!

She made that decision!

For all those girls,

and they know who they are,

you've... with

the wrong girl.

God.

That's so messed up.

Avery? Avery.

Avery, please, will you

come talk to me?

Are you doing OK?

Yeah. Why?

Do you want

to talk to me

about that video posting

that I saw online today?

Why?

That's not really

what we agreed to,

and I'm very concerned.

That was my own

personal thing.

Not your thing,

that was my thing.

I know that,

but I want you

to understand,

it's a very damaging

thing that you did,

- to post that...

- Damaging?

- For yourself.

- How is it damaging?

Because it was

reactionary.

When we react to things,

it's never our best selves.

And you were angry.

Yeah, I wanted everyone

to see that I was angry.

I wanted

everyone to see that,

'cause now, when I walk

around, people are scared

to come up to me and talk

to me about this anymore.

That was what the whole

purpose of this was.

Is that who you want

people to see?

That's how I feel

right now, though, so...

"Right now."

Absolutely

perfect words.

"Right now."

It's going to pass.

I'm here

to tell your story,

and I think it's

a very important story.

The most important

story.

What if I were

to tell you

that I know for certain

that footage

of you harassing Jessica

exists?

Have you seen it?

I have.

We'll come to your house

and we'll watch it

together, OK?

Yeah.

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