Safe Hands

48. Triumphant!

The room was filled with a low hum of whispers as parents filtered in, a stark contrast to the looming sense of judgment. The large wooden table at the center of the room was flanked by the familiar faces of the school's administration—Mrs. Turner, the stern principal, and Mr. Patterson, her ever-supportive vice-principal. As the parents took their seats, the door clicked shut behind them, sealing off any chance of escape. The meeting was about to begin.

Mrs. Turner cleared her throat, the sound cutting through the quiet like a knife. "Thank you all for coming," she began, her voice measured and authoritative. "We are here to discuss the incident that occurred last week involving your children. Discipline and order are the pillars of our institution, and when these are compromised, we must act swiftly and decisively."

Her eyes swept across the room, locking on each parent as if daring them to disagree. "The fight that broke out was unacceptable," she continued, her tone growing sharper. "Violence of any kind will not be tolerated, and we will be enforcing severe consequences. And the instigator of this chaos will face expulsion."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Whispers broke out among the parents, some nodding in agreement, others shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Mr. Patterson, seated beside Mrs. Turner, leaned forward, his expression somber. "We have reviewed the footage we received," he said, "and we believe the appropriate actions have been taken. However, it has come to our attention that some evidence might have been tampered with."

Before he could elaborate, the door to the room burst open with a force that startled everyone inside. The parents turned in their seats, eyes wide with surprise, as a group of students flooded into the room. At the forefront were Savanna, Milo, and Julian, their faces set in determination. Behind them, a crowd of nearly fifty students spilled into the room, their presence an unspoken challenge to the authority of the adults.

Mrs. Turner's eyes widened in shock, and Mr. Patterson rose halfway from his chair, stunned by the audacity of the students. Julian's heart pounded in his chest as he caught sight of Alex, sitting among the parents. But he refused to back down. This was too important.

Savanna stepped forward, her voice steady as she addressed the room. "We apologize for the interruption, but we believe Grayson deserves a chance to be heard before any decisions are made. We have evidence that hasn't been considered."

Mrs. Turner, her face a mask of barely concealed irritation, forced a tight smile. "This is no manner to interrupt an important meeting Ms. Lopez! Now leave."

Murmurs erupted from the crowd of students, Savanna stepped forward her brows etched, "Not until we're heard." She said in a low but firm voice.

Mrs. Turner glanced at the parents who watched in anticipation, then she shot Savana a glare, "You may speak, but make it quick. This is a serious matter."

Savanna nodded, her expression resolute. "Thank you." She motioned to a student at the back, who quickly connected a laptop to the projector. The screen lit up with a video, the quality clear enough to capture every detail of the fight.

As the footage played, the room fell silent. The video showed the events from a new angle, one that clearly depicted Grayson's actions as defensive rather than aggressive and the beginning of the chaos. It was impossible to deny—Grayson had been trying to protect himself, and more importantly, Julian.

Julian took a deep breath, stepping forward to stand beside Savanna. "Grayson was only trying to help me," he said, his voice steady despite the nerves gnawing at him. "I was being bullied, and he stepped in. But when Miles and his friends ganged up on him, it escalated. Grayson didn't start the fight—he was trying to defend me and himself. And some other students with good intentions joined to defend us, such as Jerry Williams."