Hero?

11

"Ana?" Damon stops short as he was about to walk into his study. "Why is part of your hair blue?" He throws a dirty look at Jacob who just stands in Ana's shadow.

At Damon's voice Ana stops walking. "Some kids at school thought it would be amusing to dye my hair by dumping blue dye in it." Ana is furious. If there was one thing she really likes about herself it was her hair. Neither blond nor brown, but a golden color.

Damon's eyes go to Jacob and bore into him. "And where were you, Jacob, when these kids decided to have their 'fun'?"

"It was during art class and the teacher put me in a group on the other side of the room. I tried to change groups, but the teacher wouldn't listen to me." Jacob knew that Damon would blame him for not stopping the bullying.

Damon's eyes take on a dangerous gleam. It looks like he'll need to have another talk with the principal at the school. "And the kids that did this to her?"

"They were sent to the principal's office. After school I paid them a little visit off school grounds. That's why we are late sir." Jacob responds as fast as he can and still have his words intelligible.

"Ana?" Damon goes to her and lifts her chin up. He sees the tears in her eyes and it makes him angry. "We'll figure out some way to fix this." He makes a few calls and then ushers Ana outside.

Jackson opens the door for them and they enter the SUV.

They go to a hair salon and they are ushered in immediately.

In the end the hair stylist manages to dye her hair all the same color. She tells her that the color will fade in a few weeks and to return then.

Damon thanks her and gives her an extra large tip before they exit the salon.

"Damon, I can't go to school with my hair like this. It's against school policy." Ana says. Although she likes how the blue color looks with her eyes, she's still trying not to cry.

"I've set up an appointment with your principal. I'll be talking to her about what happened and what we had to do to fix it. If she won't allow you in school because of that then you and Jacob will be pulled out and home schooled for the rest of the year." Damon is still very angry about what happened. 

Damon also knows that the school can't afford to have any more students leave. Pulling Ana and Jacob out will cause them a lot of trouble. But neither is he going to put up with the bullying. The school has a strict no bullying policy.

"Damon, what did she say?" Ana jumps on him the minute he comes back from the meeting with the principal.

Damon sighs, "The kids swear that it was an accident, but the teacher saw what happened. It was intentional. The kids are suspended for three weeks. If it happens again they will be expelled. Also there was a warning that Jacob better not take further action against the kids. The school can't do anything about what he did since it was off school grounds. Finally, you will be allowed to go with your hair colored. I warned them that if there are any further incidences of bullying you that you and Jacob will be pulled and home schooled. I'm still not happy about leaving you in school, Ana. I'd prefer you here."

"I need to go to school. Your home is lovely, but I hardly ever get out. Maybe school isn't great but it beats staying here all the time." Ana says it all without being bitter but she feels a bit confined here.

Damon is hurt, "It's your home as well, Ana."

Ana shakes her head, "I'm tolerated here. You are the only one that believes I belong here."