Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 107: The New Arrangement

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." -Romans 12:19

          Zachary Goode practically drug his future daughter in law to Headmistress Solomon's office. This is so not what he thought he would be dealing with today.

         "Seriously? Did you have to hit her?" He pressed.

        "That bitch had it coming," Bree fumed back. 

         "Couldn't you have just ignored it?" Zach pressed.

         "I've been ignoring it for years. Enough is enough. She's tormented me since the day I walked through the doors. I caused her a slim amount of pain compared to the amount she's caused me," Bree's voice cracked. Zach snuck a glance at her and saw the tears welling up in her eyes. He sighed.

      "Well as the school supervisor, I am obligated to tell you that I do not condone violence. As someone who is married to a Gallagher girl, I can tell you that you girls are sisters, no matter what. As the son of a Gallagher girl who was tormented by her roommates, I have the grounds to say that I understand why you hit her," he stopped. He turned and faced Bree; she looked back. A huge grin spread to his face. "As your future father-in-law I'm proud to say: nice slap." Bree grinned back.

    Zach opened the door to the headmistress's office and took a seat on the couch. Bree leaned against the stone-cold wall. "I summoned Rachel," Zach said, breaking the silence. "She should be here any minute."

     "On a scale of 1 to 10 how mad do you think she'll be?" Bree questioned.

    "Well," Zach considered. "She is the headmistress, so it's her job to discipline you. I can vouch for the situation, so she'll go easier on you. Besides, she's a mom, she always goes easy on family. I give it a 6." The door opened and they both snapped to attention.

     "Would anyone like to tell me why the hell I had an unconscious girl sent to the medical wing? I'm supposed to be on a legacy tour, not cleaning up messes," Rachel fumed. Zach cleared his throat.

     "I slapped Veronica," Bree stated before Zach could begin.

    "Excuse me?" Rachel asked. Zach couldn't tell if she thought she misheard Bree, or if she just truly couldn't believe it. 

    "She was spreading rumors around the school that she's been sleeping with Chase. The pointing and whispering were hard enough, but when she started saying awful things to my face, I couldn't hold back anymore. She's been nothing shy of awful to me ever since I've been here. I'm sorry that I caused a disturbance, but I'm not sorry that I hit her. She's had it coming," Bree informed. Rachel sighed and ran her hands through her hair. It was at that moment that Zach realized how old she was getting.

    "Bree, you know you're not supposed to harm a sister," Rachel scolded. "But I also know how cruel she's been. Faculty talks. Couldn't you have just waited? You graduated in a couple weeks. Now what am I supposed to do? I'm not going to expel you because you're so close to graduation. I also don't want to keep you girls in the same suite and risk another fight. You've put me in a tough position, honey. What do you expect me to do?"

     "I-" Bree started. Her voice caught. "I don't know." Rachel embraced her and started smoothing her hair the same way Zach had seen Cammie do to all of their children time and time again. 

     "I suppose Anna's suite is meant for 4 people, but there are only 3 of them," Rachel considered. "I'm sure the girls will say yes, but I'll check with them to be sure. Would you be okay moving in with them for the last couple weeks?"

  "Yes. Yes! Please!" Bree smiled. 

    "If the girls agree then I'll have you moved in by end of day on one condition," Rachel continued. 

    "Anything," Bree stated.

    "You have to promise that nothing like this will happen again," Rachel negotiated. 

  "With a slap like that, I don't think Veronica will start something ever again," Zach laughed. Rachel bit back a smile.

    "Dismissed.

*                                                                                         *                                                                                                        *

     Zach helped Bree move her things into Annalise's suite. Rachel had checked with Anna and her suitemates promptly after their meeting. The girls all giggled and danced happily. Bree kept most of her belonging in boxes since she would be leaving soon. They finally finished putting away Bree's things when Zach heard footsteps down the hall. He looked up and saw his son stroll into the room. He looked worried.

    "Bree," he said simply. He opened his arms and Bree got up and practically fell into them. He embraced her and let his hands find her hair. "I heard what happened. I'm so sorry I wasn't there.

     "It's okay. I was fine. I can take care of myself you know," she playfully said.

    "That doesn't mean you have to," Chase replied. There was no play in his voice. 

    "Bree is a strong, independent woman," Caroline chimed in. Zach laughed and rolled his eyes. Typical Gallagher girl.

    "You should've seen it," Anna exclaimed to her brother. "Bree knocked Veronica on her ass!" She shot a worried look at Zach, but when he smiled to let her know it was okay, she grinned back.

     "Now that that's all taken care of I should probably take Jaycee home," Zach said. Anna looked sad to see him go. 

    "Bye, dad," she said as she hugged him.

   "Thank you," Bree said as she hugged Zach next.

    "Be smart," Chase said. He embraced Zach tightly. 'Be smart' was something that the family always said to each other. 

   Zach let the hug linger as he knew it would be his last one for a while. When he pulled away, he said, "Be happy."  Zach started laughing. "And get out of the girls wing, you're not meant to be on this side of the school. You are so my son."