idk im bad at titles

4

"So, Violet." The man sitting across the desk from Violet clasped his hands together, wearing a careful expression and looking over at her. He ruffled his left hand through his wavy brown hair, slightly disturbing the part that split down the middle of his scalp. He had a slight tan, making him look almost dark compared to the ghost white girl who sat across from him. He scratched at his stubble beard, his thick brown eyebrows furrowed slightly, most likely trying to look sterner and more serious. However, Violet knew that he was about as serious as a clown tripping over his comically large, bright red shoes.

"I heard about your little incident with one of our teachers today," he spoke softly, a low and noticeable southern drawl present in his words if you listened close enough. Violet slumped in her seat, arms crossed and brows furrowed. He sighed and looked down at his clasped hands, which were placed in front of him on the desk. His desk was considerably tidy for that of a principal's desk; Violet always envisioned it to be riddled with scattered papers and files on students, maybe even a mug that said something stupid like, 'World's Best Principal'.

"Violet, I understand things have been hard for you recently, but this can't keep happenin'." He looked at her with a sympathetic look on his face; he couldn't help but feel pity for the girl. Violet shifted uncomfortably in her seat, knowing where this was going. She was expecting him to talk about her parent's recent divorce, how her dad's a drunk who doesn't give a rat's ass about her, and about Minnie's death. She swallowed back the lump forming in her throat at the thought of her. It's been almost a year now. . . Almost as if he had read her mind and understood she didn't want to talk about those things, he didn't speak on any of the touchy subjects.

"I'm not going to bring up anything you don't want me to, Violet. I just want to help." Violet sat up the slightest amount in her chair, her back hurting from the bent position it was in. Her posture was bad enough to begin with, she didn't need it getting worse.

"I don't need your help," she said bluntly, almost regretting it afterward. Mr. Luke's sympathetic expression turned hurt as if he were personally offended by her words, and it made Violet feel all the worse. She had always really liked him; he was kind and caring and always seemed to be looking out for Violet. It felt nice to have an adult in her life, whether they're related or not, to somewhat care about her. She already knew her mother did not.

"Violet, please, just listen to me for a second," Luke said, desperation in his voice. Violet stared at the man for a moment before muttering out a low "Fine" beneath her breath. He sighed again.

"I know you're a good person, Vi. I can tell you are. You just. . . have things going on that are muddling you up. And I don't put any blame on you, y'know." He sat back in his chair a bit, there was now a pen in his right hand and he was twirling it around his fingers.

"Look, I'm not gonna talk down to you like a child, 'cause I know you're not one. This school, it's to help kids and young adults alike get their crap sorted out before the world sneaks up on them and fucks 'em right in the ass." He cleared his throat.

"Excuse my language." Violet smiled a bit and rolled her eyes,

"I know this is upsetting, but. . . just listen before you do somethin' drastic." Violet scratched the back of her neck awkwardly and stared back at the man.

"I'd like you to apologize to Mrs. Lilly." Violet went to open her mouth, but Luke interrupted her before she could spit out her words.

"And, if you do that little thing for me, I won't tell your mother about your little dispute today." Violet shut her mouth, her canine teeth biting into her skin. She closed her eyes as she suckled on the skin of her bottom lip, taking a deep, drawn-out breath, filling her lungs with air.

"Okay," she said, not looking up to meet the man's face. Luke smiled, reaching over the desk to place a firm hand on Violet's slumped, bony shoulder.

"Thank you, Vi," he said with complete earnestness. Violet couldn't help but smile at him, shrugging his hand off her shoulder in a playfully rude manner.

"You're lucky you're a cool principal," she said, the small but noticeable smile still plastered on her lips.

"So are you," he retorted, resulting in a snort from Violet.

"Yeah, whatever. Am I released from prison now?" Luke shook his head and chuckled deeply in his chest, putting his hands back on the desk in front of him.

"Yes, you are. Lucky you, you got to skip class and hang out with your favorite staff member." He looked down and checked the watch around his left wrist.

"And would you look at that, lunch is in five minutes!" He clasped his hands together once again and stood from the swivel chair on which he sat, walking over to his office door and twisting the knob to open it.

"Well, I don't want to keep you for too long. Run along now, go hang out with your delinquent friends." Violet rolled her eyes as she stood as well, grabbing her backpack from off the ground and walking over to the door Mr. Luke held open for her. Her back faced him as she walked, putting up a hand to wave to him from behind. Luke shouted out to her before she reached out of earshot,

"Don't forget to do what we talked about! I believe in you!" Violet groaned loudly enough for him to hear, landing a big grin on his face. She let her feet guide her to the cafeteria as she let a small smile creep its way onto her face.