The Upside of Heartbreak

Curiouser and Curiouser

Well, this one took far longer than I'd hoped. Sometimes it can't be helped though. Then I totally thought it was Friday almost all day, until my hubby clued me in. So I'm posting it extra late to boot. Gods, I'm hopeless...

Obviously the title for the chapter is taken straight from Alice in Wonderland. It's that moment where you think things are about as weird and unexpected as they can get, only to find that they can always get weirder. It perfectly describes Hayden's day, and I'm sure you will agree as you read it. Lol. Enjoy :)

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Hayden wasn't sure what to expect from the meeting the following morning. Would it be just he and the Dean, or the entire Board again? Would he have to answer more questions? Or just listen as they read him the riot act before sending him back to work? At least he knew that he wasn't fired, so that was a perk.

Arriving at the school before the city had even really woken up, Hayden was glad to find that Alvin was already in his office. He was getting enough awkward stares from the early risers as he strolled across the foyer. Hayden could only imagine how much more uncomfortable it would get if the rest of the staff started to arrive, and he was still sitting outside the office like a rowdy student awaiting punishment. Not that this wasn't an accurate descriptor, but still...

Thankfully the meeting went as well as anyone could hope it to, given the circumstances. It was only Alvin, Hayden, and some middle-aged woman from HR with a severe chin length haircut that seemed to only accentuate her rather heavy jaw. Her curvy frame stuffed into a peach pantsuit that was a size or two too small. Despite her appearance, she was quite friendly. Smiling warmly at Hayden as Alvin read aloud from a piece of paper on his desk.

It was the typical disciplinary record. The what, when, and where of the thing somehow sounding more unreal and ridiculous when typed up in bland legal jargon. When Alvin finished, he laid the page back down on his desk with a sigh. "This letter will be placed in your file," he informed Hayden mildly. "Aside from the suspension you have already served, the Board has decided that no further action need be taken at this time."

That had Hayden's eyes widening slightly. "Wait, what," he spluttered in confusion. He'd knocked out the star quarterback! Surely there had to be some sort of repercussions for his actions. "Don't get me wrong, I'm stoked, but why not?"

Alvin just rested his elbows on the desk now as he templed his large fingers beneath his beard. "Evidence was brought to light that assured the Board you were pushed into fighting." Before Hayden could ask, Alvin shrugged his great shoulders once. "This was supported by Scott's own statements. He insisted that the disagreement was all his doing, and claimed that he intentionally goaded you into a fight just to try and get you in trouble. While we may not entirely approve of your actions on Thursday night, we also understand that humans are not infallible."

Hayden actually choked in surprise. Scott had tried to take all the blame himself? Though he had likely only done it for Astrid's sake, Hayden still couldn't help feeling a mixture of shock and gratitude towards his cousin now. Something that he had never really imagined he would feel for the boy that had made his childhood a living hell. "Several witnesses were questioned during the inquiry, and they all expressed that, though goaded, you acted mostly defensively. One of them was even able to produce a video of the disagreement," Alvin continued as if he hadn't noticed Hayden's reaction. "After watching the footage myself, I was able to confirm their claims."

"I used to accompany your father to some of your matches Hayden. Remember," Alvin added at the sight of Hayden's raised eyebrows. "You and I both know exactly what you are capable of when it comes to a fight. Scott got off rather lucky in this instance, I think. Especially since he was clearly not taking it quite so easy on you."