Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Twelve

One week later, I'm sitting in a hard chair with the stuffing coming out. I'm in the principal's office at school, swinging my legs and waiting for Principal Adams to stop talking already. My split lip is bleeding just a little, and I have a gorgeously purple black eye blossoming, but I'm pretty much okay.

"Extremely disappointed in you, Kathryn. I didn't think you were the type to pick fights." Principal Adams is looking down at me. Honestly, I'm in a bit of a state at the moment. My hair is barely clinging to its ponytail, and there's a little rip in my hoodie. I'm bleeding and bruised and triumphant, and I refuse to let this guy intimidate me.

"I didn't pick a fight! I only punched him. It's a blur, sir." I straighten my skirt hem.

"Your parents are on their way, young lady. I called them after the...incident. You've made your father come all the way from the President's house, and your father had to leave his first day of work."

I feel a little guilty. John- no, Dad- was really looking forward to his first day at Keller's Diner. I hope he'll understand that I didn't do this on purpose. It just sort of...happened.

Alex and John come bursting through the door into the principal's office. John is still wearing his apron from work, and he and his freckles look less than happy. Alex's suit is rumpled, and there's an ink stain on his tie.

"We came as soon as we heard," John says, standing behind me. "Mr. Adams, what seems to be the problem?"
Principal Adams sniffs. "Your daughter has broken several school rules this afternoon. She got in a fistfight and broke his nose. She was late for class, and extremely disrespectful and rude to me. She blatantly lied about the events of the incident, as well."

Alex turns to me. "Is this true, Kathryn?"

I sigh loudly. "Yes, I punched George. I was late for class because I was detained by you, Principal Adams. I was disrespectful and rude because you're not taking everything into consideration!"
John looks at me. "What do you mean, sweetheart?"
"George started it! Why isn't he in here, too? Just because his dad is a king or something."

The principal shakes his head. "See here, young lady-"
I'm angry now, and when I get angry, I pity the fool who stands in my way. "No! I refuse to 'see here'. It's his fault I got angry in the first place." I cross my arms.
Alex places his hand on my arm. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." So what if they think I'm being stubborn? I'm good at being stubborn.

"I see no other option but to suspend you for the rest of the week. Miss Burr will bring you your homework, but I cannot let this go unnoticed." Adams sits back in his chair.
John, seeing my livid expression, takes my hand. "Thank you, Mr. Adams. Kathryn will be back on Monday, on time and ready to learn."

We walk out of the office, me still seething with rage. It's not until I'm buckled into the car that Alex presses the issue.
"I was in the middle of a cabinet meeting about overhauling our financial system. Would you like to tell your father and I what was going through your head?"

I fidget in my seat. I don't want to tell them, but I don't want them to be kept in the dark forever. "See, there's this British foreign exchange student at our school. His name is George..."

I'm walking down the hall after fifth period, steaming. Theodosia just told me that George London has been saying rude stuff about me. I find George leaning against his locker, hair carefully done and talking to some of the AV boys. When they see me approaching, fists clenched and hair whirling, they clear a path for me.

"George," I spit, glaring. "Would you like to say what you've been saying to my face?"
He smirks at me. "Sure. Your dads are trash and so are you. Your father- whoops, forgot I have to say which one- Alex isn't fit to help run your country." He leans back and raises his eyebrows.

I'm absolutely boiling over with fury now. I take a step forward, get in George's face.
"Take. It. Back," I hiss through clenched teeth.
"No," George says simply, flicking a stray hair out of his eyes. "I can't take back what's true."

In this moment, I feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience. I seem to watch myself glaring for a split second, then driving my fist into George's nose. He screams and then kicks me, and when I fall I pull him down with me.
We're wrestling now, punches and insults flying. His fist hits me directly in the eye, but I ignore the rising pain and concentrate on pummeling George as hard as I possibly can.

He grabs my hair and then whispers in my ear, "This further proves my point. Your 'dads' should send you back to whatever garbage orphanage they plucked you from."
I scream and hit his nose again, connecting with what sounds like bone this time. George flails wildly, punching me in the mouth. There's blood everywhere, and I'm going to have some spectacular bruises tomorrow.

I finish my story, and I'm crying by the end of it. I feel ridiculous now. I didn't need to get in a fistfight and get suspended from school and have this on my permanent record. I got out of control.
Alex pulls over on the road and looks at me. He leans over and gives me a hug.

"Babe, did you punch him because of what he said about you?"
I shake my head, still crying. "I don't care what he says about me. It's what he said about the two of you that made me mad."
John joins the hug. "You didn't have to do that, honey."
"Yes, I did. You guys are my dads. People don't just get to go around insulting you."

Alex sounds like he's blinking back tears as well. "Baby girl, we're so proud of you. You're the best daughter we could have asked for."
"And you guys are the best dads. I love you, Dad. I love you, Daddy."
John kisses the top of my head. "We love you too. Now, do you want to go get some ice cream to celebrate your victorious defeat of George London?"

The car gets moving again, but I can see Alex and John holding hands over the gear shift.
"So...you guys aren't mad that I got suspended?" I'm still a little concerned that I'll get into trouble.
Alex shakes his head. "No. We're mad that you got suspended for sticking up for what you believe in, but we're not angry at you. Before we get ice cream, let's do something about that eye, yeah?"

So half an hour later, the three of us are sharing a massive banana split at Keller's Diner and laughing. John kisses Alex over my head, their arms wrapped around me. I'm so happy right now, because now I have everything.