A Spirit Between Us (bxb)

Chapter 6 - Principles office.

There they were. Finn and Archie. Side by side. Again. This time, though, it wasn't because of some ghost related issue or Finn's accidental, or semi-accidental stalking. No, this time they were sitting outside the principal's office. Together. Like two partners in crime.

Finn's brain immediately hit the gas pedal and sped into overdrive. The cogs in his mind weren't just turning, they were grinding, overheating, and probably belching smoke at this point. Why were they here? Both of them? Was it about the ghost? Did someone overhear their conversation and report them for being delusional? Was the school about to suggest some kind of shared therapy for paranormal hallucinations?

His thoughts spiraled faster. What if this wasn't about the ghost? Oh god. What if Archie had reported him as a stalker for following him home yesterday? Finn broke out into a cold sweat. The principal was going to ask him why he'd wandered into town in the completely wrong direction, and then what? He'd have to explain it was because he was too busy staring at Archie like some kind of lovesick idiot? Yeah, that would go over great.

As Finn chewed anxiously on his bottom lip, Archie glanced over at him. "Sorry." the blonde said abruptly, his voice breaking through the whirlwind in Finn's head.

Finn blinked, startled, as if Archie had just appeared out of thin air. Sorry? Oh no. This was it. Archie had definitely reported him. He knew it. Finn's stomach sank like a lead balloon. "Uh... sorry for what?" he asked cautiously, trying to keep his voice from cracking and to sound as least like a creep as possible.

Archie tilted his head, looking slightly confused by Finn's obvious tension. "For making you skip class and getting you into trouble. I should've just waited."

Oh.

Finn felt the tension in his chest pop like a bubble. Now he just felt like an idiot. A gigantic, overthinking idiot. "Oh, uh, yeah. No big deal," he mumbled, waving his hand like skipping class and being summoned to the principal's office were just regular Tuesday activities for him. Which they weren't, he was a huge suck up.

Archie smiled slightly, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a way that made Finn's heart do a stupid little somersault before looking away. Meanwhile, Finn sat there trying not to combust. All that panic, all those elaborate mental gymnastics, and the guy was apologizing for something as simple as that. The universe really had a cruel sense of humor.

As they sat in silence, Finn made a firm vow to himself. He was going to chill out. Just for five minutes. Maybe three. Realistically, he'd aim for two.

When their names were finally called, Finn stood up so quickly he nearly tripped over his own feet. Smooth. Very smooth. Archie shot him a sidelong glance, but if the blonde thought anything of it, he kept it to himself.

The moment they entered the office, Finn's eyes darted around, soaking in every detail of the room. He'd never been there before, he never even had a reason to, and now it felt like he was walking into the boss level of a video game.

The principal's office was larger than Finn had expected, and surprisingly cozy. A massive oak desk dominated the far end of the room, cluttered with paperwork, a mug that read "World's Okayest Principal", and a miniature globe that looked like it hadn't been touched since the Cold War. Behind the desk sat a high-backed leather chair that looked like it had been stolen straight from a villain's lair.

Opposite the desk, a worn leather sofa stretched along the wall, its cushions slightly lumpy, as if it had seen one too many students slump into it with a mix of dread and resignation. Above it hung a series of framed motivational posters, their faded colors and outdated fonts doing little to inspire. "Success is a Journey, Not a Destination," one read, though the water stained edges kind of killed the vibe.