Teach me How (Baldi x Principal)

Chapter 10 - Clarity

I arrive to school early to talk to Kenneth. I take a deep breath, trying to figure out whether it's harder to deny my feelings about him or accept them.

Nonetheless, I tread bravely to his office. I get a quick flashback to yesterday's trip to the office upon arrival that makes me feel a bit queasy.

I open the door and step inside. He looks up at me from his desk with a smile.

"Morning, Baldi!" says Kenneth optimistically. "How are you?"

"Morning, I'm doing better," I answer, taking a seat on the chair opposite his desk. I can't help but recall our hug in this very same office yesterday. The good memory from yesterday washes away the bad one. "Yourself?"

"I'm fine. So, here's the plan. The counsellor will talk to the student in between your first two classes, I'll speak to you during lunch, and we'll talk to the kids at the end of the day. Well, at least that's the plan as long as you didn't really beat any of your beloved students."

"Of course not," I say with a chuckle. "Sounds good. Do you have some sort of script ready for the end of the day?"

"Well, two of the grade seven groups have a conjoined class after your math, so we'll be going there and then to the single class. I wanted to do most of the talking, but it would be better coming from you. And it would probably be better if it didn't feel rehearsed. You see where I'm going with this?"

"Yeah, I could come up with something. I've been thinking about this a lot, so it wouldn't be hard."

"Oh, good. Not good that it's been on your mind so much, but good for the talk thingy."

"Mhm," I hum with a chuckle.

"I ought to tell you something I thought of to ease your nerves. It's good that we're talking to the students today – Friday – because that way, they have the weekend for it to process in their heads, and you have the weekend to relax and unwind. Which reminds me; would you want to hang out some time this weekend or are you not feeling it yet?"

"Oh, uh..." The question catches me off guard. But I like everything about what he just said. "Sure! Sounds good. When were you thinking?"

"Tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday."

I laugh. Kenneth has a good sense of humor. I look at him grinning, but he's staring at me patiently, earnestly waiting for a legitimate answer.

"Oh, you're being serious?" I ask, a bit stunned. He nods awkwardly with his lips pressed together tightly. "Oh, I'm sorry, I just didn't think you could stand me for that long."

I catch a hint of a sparkle in his eye as he laughs gleefully.

"I think I can bear having a good weekend," he says sarcastically. "It'll be tough, for sure, but I might just be able to tolerate the company of a friend."

"Well in that case, count me in," I say with a chuckle. I have a feeling that I'm going to enjoy my weekend.

I suddenly remember the drawing of Kenneth that I found in my class. Now might not be the best time to mention it, and neither will it be at lunch, or any time today because I don't want to ruin his weekend with that. Ah, screw it, I'll do something sooner or later. Maybe mention it to the students.

All that matters right now is Kenneth.

#

After I left Kenneth's office, I returned to my classroom and prepared today's review. Both classes before lunch were alright. Mundane, but alright.

An analogy of my students' 'trying to act normal' behavior throughout the past three days including this one could be practicing something. Anything. At first, you're no good at it, but with practice, you slowly get better. Like the shock of the rumor melting away and wearing off until pretending isn't so hard.