SOFT (egobang)

3: Come and Get It

Danny POV

Me, Arin, Holly, Brian, Ross and the security guy in charge of watching the lunch room were all in the principals office. Ross had an ice pack that he moved around to various places as he saw fit- I may have gone a bit overboard. I was sat quite far away from Ross and Holly, but Arin seemed to have chosen the seat right next to me and Brian was standing right behind me.

I wasn't entirely sure why Brian was here, I don't remember him getting involved, but oh well. At least I had one friend on my side. Two if you count Arin.

The principal started speaking. "So one by one, starting with Brian run me through what happened." His expression was stern, and he looked at Brian expectantly.

Brian spoke confidently. "Dan was showing me some music on his iPod when Holly and Ross started yelling things at Arin calling him names. Dan got upset and to me it looked like Ross was about to put his hands on Arin, so Danny did the only reasonable thing and tried to stop that from happening." I was always envious of his ability to eloquently twist a story in his favour, and very glad to have that power on my side.

Arin spoke up at that moment saying "he was defending me, so I should take the blame"

The principal shot a glare at Arin before deciding to drop it- Arin was a victim in this too, after all. "Anything to add to that, Mr. Avidan"

"No, sir, Brian's correct that's what happened."

"Mr. Hanson?"

He shook his head, looking quite nervous.

"Moving on, Mr. O'Donovan? What do you have to say"

He immediately leapt to his own defence. "I never tried to hurt Arin! They're lying about that."

Brian spoke up again. "It really looked to me like you would have grabbed him if Dan didn't stop you. Arin thought so too."

Arin nodded at that.

"Well I wasn't gonna..." he seemed a little defeated. He wasn't the brightest, and there was no way he was talking his way out of the charismatic powerhouse that was Brian.

The principal nodded. "And ms. Conrad?"

"All I did was meow at him... I wasn't even near any of them so I shouldn't even be here." She had her arms crossed over her chest and her legs were also crossed. "Neither should Brian, he was literally just sitting there listening to music."

Brian spoke yet again. "But we both saw what happened."

"Yeah, but like it's not my fault Danny went batshit on Ross."

The principle glared. "Language."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "All I did was meow."

"If I may?" The security guard spoke and we all turned to look at him. We forgot he was here. The principal nodded. "I didn't really pay it any attention but I did notice Ms. Conrad get up a few times before the... incident."

She groaned. "Like I said I meowed at him! It's our mascot and he was wearing cat ears what's so bad about that?"

I got angry again "you were mocking him!"

She shut up and mumbled a quiet "whatever."

The debate continued like that with Brian bringing up a point, Ross scrambling to defend herself and Holly saying she shouldn't be here.

Eventually the principal decided he heard enough.

"Arin, Holly, Brian. You can all go."

"Thanks sir" Holly said and immediately grabbed her bag and left.

Brian put a hand on my shoulder. "If you need anything call me." I nodded and thanked him, he left as well.

Somewhere in this Arin managed to leave without me noticing, oddly enough, leaving just me and Ross.

"Mr. O'Donovan. One week of in school suspension." The principal is writing on a slip of paper. "You can go home for the rest of the day, my secretary will be calling your parents to come pick you up." He handed Ross the slip of paper detailing his punishment, and sent him on his way. "As for you Mr. Avidan" he looked at me, seemingly quite cross. "One week as well, out of school suspension. Your work will be emailed to you by your teachers and you will be expected to complete it in a timely fashion. You may also go home for the day and I'll be calling your parents personally." He picked up the phone.

Fantastic.