Teaching | Eddie Munson

The Consequences

The classroom buzzed with the usual energy of a late morning, laughter mixing with the rustle of papers. Victoria sat at her desk, trying to focus on her notes, preparing for the class before the bell rang, but her mind drifted restlessly. Just when she thought the day would pass without incident, a tension began to creep into the air, as if something was about to shift. Then, without warning, the door swung open, and a woman stepped into the room.

"Victoria Hargrove is asked to the principal's office." The voice of a woman standing in the classroom doorway cut through the chatter, causing every pair of curious eyes to turn toward Vic. Whispers and snarky remarks circulated around the room, amplifying the pressure on her.

Victoria glanced at the woman, trying to decipher her expression, but to no avail. The woman stood there with a polite smile, revealing nothing. To an observer, she could have been announcing a special event, while Vic felt as though she was facing a judgment day. Perhaps it wasn't as serious as it appeared, but deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was no trivial reason for the principal's summons.

She gathered her belongings from the desk, shoving them hurriedly into her bag, the movement almost frantic. As she stood up, the woman beside her maintained a steady pace, her demeanor calm despite the tension in the air. When Victoria asked her why she had been called into the principal's office, the woman simply shrugged, claiming she had no idea with a nonchalant smile that did little to ease Vic's anxiety.

The walk to the principal's door felt like an eternity. No matter how hard she tried to calm herself—taking deep breaths and reminding herself that everything would be fine—a sense of urgency washed over her.

Just as she reached the door, her last desperate attempt to convince herself that it would all be okay shattered in an instant as she saw Jason Carver emerge from the office, a smug smile plastered across his face, one that only widened when he spotted her. The look in his eyes sent a chill down her spine.

So that was the point? Carver hadn't let go of the fact that she had punched him? It had to be it, but it didn't make any sense. Two weeks had passed since that incident. Why bring it up now?

Regardless of his motives, a sinking feeling settled in her stomach. His words confirmed her worst fears. "You didn't think you'd get away with it?" he hissed, his sneer low enough that only she could catch it. "Your actions have consequences, Hargrove." The warning dripped with menace through his clenched teeth before disappearing around the corner.

Just moments later, the principal stepped through the door, his expression unreadable as he gestured for her to enter. The weight of the conversation with Jason lingered in her mind, intensifying her anxiety as she prepared to face whatever awaited her inside.

The entire conversation could have been better described as the principal's monologue—filled with empty words about community and solidarity during tough times. He underlined Hawkins High's commitment to these values, proclaiming them as the school's highest virtues.

He made it abundantly clear that while he acknowledged the hardships she was facing, violence was unacceptable and would always be condemned in a community as noble as theirs. Moreover, the person she had attacked was the embodiment of everything the school stood for: righteousness, faith, devotion, and loyalty.

Victoria strongly disagreed, especially with the last point. She had seen more than enough parties thrown by Carver, events that stood in stark contrast to those so-called qualities. But she bit her tongue, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes or smirk sarcastically at the principal's words.

He continued his scolding, explaining that he could expel her at this very moment for her reckless behavior. She had endangered the school's reputation by threatening the captain of the basketball team—the pride of Hawkins High. It was as if she had tried to murder him, rather than merely punch him in his stupid face.