Teach me How (Baldi x Principal)

Chapter 8 - Accusation

Quick warning, this chapter briefly mentions abuse, nothing descriptive though.

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I swiftly turn the doorknob and push the door open.

Kenneth's at his desk, viewing some papers, and glances up to meet my eyes. My head is swimming unhelpfully and my mouth uncharacteristically dry. I walk slowly into the office and close the door behind me. Neither of us say anything.

He shifts his attention back to his papers.

"Baldi, I'm sorry if I'm seeming... off," he begins. "I just didn't want to lull you into a false sense of security. I understand that this has been hard for you, and all I did today was give you grief by not talking to you. I'm really, truly, sorry."

His tense shoulders relax as he sighs and rests his head in his hand, fingers tapping the table with the other. He stares at the floor to his left with his eyes half-lidded. I'm taken aback on why he's apologizing to me. He's been so good to me.

"Kenneth," I say softly, "it's fine, you've only been helping me through this. I'm so thankful for that, okay? Look at me."

"I don't want to tell you this."

"Tell me what?" I question as I sit down.

He stares at me with a helpless look in his eyes. Then opens his mouth as if to say something.

"I..." says Kenneth, trailing off.

"Please just tell me."

I can tell that he's trying to regain his composure as he takes a few deep breaths and folds his hands on his desk, positioning himself into a proper posture.

"Okay. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but, uh, there's some... rumors going around about you."

I feel a pang of hurt in my chest. I was hoping that this didn't directly involve me, but I guess it could be worse.

"Rumors from grade sevens? It can't be that bad," I suggest, trying to convince mostly myself.

"It can, and it is... Baldi, look," he says with a sigh, "these rumors go beyond just name-calling and that sort of thing. These are more of, uhm, accusations."

"What kind of accusations?"

"I..."

"Please, Kenneth."

"Okay," he says with a sigh. "Before I say what it is, I just want you to know that I don't believe any of these allegations and that I'm on your side, alright?"

"You're starting to worry me... but okay."

"Alright, here it goes. Uh, apparently, a kid is going around saying that they talked to one of your former students. This 'former student' claimed that they were... that they were, uh, beaten, by you. With a ruler. And... and they said that the reason why you act so happy all the time is to render students vulnerable, so they would be susceptible to an 'invite to stay after class' or something, where you would... God, saying these words makes me feel sick..."

No.

No.

Why would someone say that?

No. This isn't actually happening. There's no way this is happening.

My limbs feel like my muscles and nerves had been replaced by over-stretched chewing gum.

My body suddenly feels like it weighs a thousand pounds.

I feel like vomiting from the twisted lie that someone conjured up. My career is over. I can practically already hear the angry phone calls from outraged parents, demanding to have me removed from my job.