Garden of Eden

01 . eden

Eden is in the principal's office.

She's been in here dozens of times before, but this time is different. This time she's actually in trouble.

She steels her breath as she walks into the outer area of the office. It's as bright and joyful as it always is, with flower garlands hanging from the ceiling in preparation for the upcoming spring season. Though she usually takes comfort in the surroundings, today she feels like the whole atmosphere is mocking her with its cheer and happiness. She feels like a force of gloom and doom, barreling through that shiny yellow room with dark storm clouds hanging above her head.

The principal's secretary, Mrs. Rivera, sits at her desk, merrily typing away on her computer. Eden clears her throat to get the woman's attention. Mrs. Rivera looks up, a look of delight overtaking her features.

"Eden!" she exclaims. "What brings you here today?"

Eden grits her teeth behind a polite smile. "Is Principal Martin here right now?"

"Why, yes, of course. He's in his office." She beams. "Are you here to start planning this year's spring fling? Because I have a wonderful idea for the --"

"No, ma'am," Eden interrupts her before she can continue. She takes a deep breath, and then her next words practically slur together as she rushes to get them out into the open. "I punched Vincent Chambers in the face this morning."

A wave of shock flashes across Mrs. Rivera's face, but before she can respond, Eden is moving past her desk to the principal's door. With those few words, she figures she's probably just shattered the reputation she's spent three years cultivating - that of the straight A student, president of three clubs, player of two varsity sports. The perfect student.

Except now as Priceprep Academy's perfect little student, she's gone and punched Vincent Chambers right in the face.

If there was a phrase that meant the exact opposite of "perfect student," Eden supposes it would be "Vincent Chambers." He's imperfect in almost every way, his appearance being the one exception. He's undeniably gorgeous, with those classic, killer good looks that every girl loves to swoon over. Dark, curly hair. Piercing blue eyes. Strong jaw. Tall, muscular frame. Eden herself even admits to having a bit of a crush on him, but that immediately ended following the events of the past hour.

Taking a deep breath, Eden rolls her shoulders back and pushes open the door to the principal's office. His office is darker than the outside room, painted in hues of brown. Somehow, it's enough to relax her - but only slightly. Very slightly.

Principal Martin regards her with a nod as she enters, gesturing to the two leather chairs in front of his desk. He's wearing a brown tie that matches the walls of his office, and she wonders briefly if he did that on purpose. He's an odd, bald man with an infectious sense of school spirit, but fashion has never been his strong suit. Which explains the yellow dress shirt he wears underneath the tie.

"Take a seat, Eden," he instructs.

Eden turns her attention to where he points, and she can't help but roll her eyes when she notices that one of the chairs is already taken.

Don't make eye contact.

But she can't help it.

She looks at him.

Her eyes lock with a wave of startling blue. Vincent is there, in the flesh, already looking right at her. He meets her gaze with a blank stare, devoid of all emotion. He's holding an ice pack pressed firmly against his jaw.

"Eden, are you listening to me?"

Her attention snaps back to Principal Martin. He stands behind his desk with his arms folded, staring at Eden with a look of disapproval. No teacher, let alone principal, has ever looked at her that way before. The perfect student within her recoils at the sight.

"Yes, I'm listening," Eden answers, rushing to sit in the chair.

The principal waits for her to get settled before he continues talking.

"So, Vincent, as I was saying, considering you're already on disciplinary probation, I'm sure you're aware that this behavior is absolutely unacceptable," the principal starts. "Not that you ever seem to listen," he adds as an afterthought, crossing his arms.

"What the hell?" Vincent scoffs, gesturing to his ice pack. "She punched me."

"Watch your tone," Principal Martin orders. "For your involvement in the situation, I'm increasing the amount of your community service. You'll spend the rest of the semester working at the school garden." He paces back and forth behind his desk, his eyebrows knitting together in thought. "I'm sure you know the drill by now."

"Fantastic," Vincent mutters, sliding lower in his seat.

"And Eden." He stops pacing and turns to her.

"Yes?" she answers, her spine shooting up straight. She meets his gaze head-on, fixing her features into the most innocent expression she can muster.

"I'm very disappointed in you, I have to say," he sighs. "This sort of behavior, I might have expected from Vincent -"

"Hey!" Vincent protests.

"But you." He shakes his head, ignoring Vincent entirely. "I expected better from you."

The look of judgment in his eyes makes Eden's blood run cold. She wants to run away. She wants to hide. She doesn't want to be there. But she forces herself to remain calm.

"I know, Principal Martin. I'm so sorry," she gushes. "I just - I don't know what - I apologize."

He nods. "I appreciate that, Eden. But you know I can't just let you off the hook for this."

"I understand. Detention, demerit, whatever you have to do, I understand."

"No." He runs a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. "With an act as... violent as this, we have other mandatory punishments we're required to enforce here at Priceprep. My hands are tied." He takes a deep breath, before staring at her firmly. "In addition to regular counselling sessions, you will also have to perform the required community service hours."

She stiffens.

"You mean...?" she trails off.

"You'll also be volunteering at the school garden, effective immediately," the principal explains. "The work you do there will take place every day after school. And Eden, as a respected leader of this school, I am sure that you are more than capable of handling the job."

She stares at him, trying to wrap her head around what he just said. The school garden. Every day after school. With Vincent Chambers.

"I have to work with him?" She points at Vincent, unable to help the accusatory tone that laces itself through her words.

No way in hell. No. No.

She punched Vincent Chambers in the face, and now they want her to spend every day after school with him? Gardening? With sharp tools?

No.

She looks at Vincent, who continues to stare at her silently. Anger slowly starts to boil through her veins, and all she can do is look back and forth between him and Principal Martin, who just continues to shake his head.

"It is what it is, Eden." Principal Martin sighs. "It is what it is."

"Yeah, I guess," she whispers under her breath.

She turns her head and takes one last look at Vincent from the corner of her eye. She notices that he's looking right back at her, his head tilted slightly to the side. When their eyes meet, she smiles coldly.

Fuck you, she mouths.

Shock flashes across his face for a brief moment, and then he shoots up from the chair, rising to his full 6'2" frame and strolling out of the principal's office like nothing even happened.