School Days (ii/bfdi crossover)

Chapter 4

Where was 4 when you needed them? X thought. They had been grouped with the worst group of students they had ever met in their life.

X's group of kids was Trophy, Salt, Pepper (who didn't belong in the group, she had snuck in to be with Salt) and YinYang from the other school, and Fanny, Snowball, and Firey Junior from their school. So far, this had proved to be the worst combination of students possible. Snowball and Trophy were mercilessly bullying each other and everyone else in the group, YinYang was half trying to make friends with Fanny, half trying to strangle her, Firey Jr. lagged behind the rest of the group complaining, and X was certain that Salt and Pepper were mocking them. They kept whispering and giggling and every time X looked back at them they'd suspiciously stop talking and refuse to make eye contact.

X was on the verge of tears.

This was so frustrating! Why couldn't they just behave?

They stopped, closed their eyes, and took a deep breath. You'll be okay.

"Hey, guys, this is my classroom! I teach art, and--" X tried to control the wild group, but to no avail. Things had escalated-- Trophy and Snowball looked moments away from a full on fistfight, with Fanny and Firey Jr. cheering them on.

"Guys, please, stop!" X tried to get between the two fighting boys, but they were too small and easily pushed away.

"Stay out of this, you fucking fifth grader!" Trophy screamed at X.

"Hey!" X retorted, feeling tears stinging the corners of their eyes. "I'm a teacher, and you'd better start treating me like one!"

They were never the best at standing up for themself, but they felt like this was too much. They looked over at Salt and Pepper, who weren't even disguising the fact that they were laughing at them anymore.

X didn't even realize they had sunk to their knees until they already had. They sat on the floor, near crying, watching as a fight broke out among their group. Why am I so bad at this? I never should have become a teacher.

"HEY! BACK OFF!" a familiar voice rung through the hallway, sending hope through X's heart. Sure enough, 4 and their group came storming over to the fighting boys. 4 threw themself in between them, making them stumble backwards. 4 then held their hand out to X, which they took. X noticed 4's group murmuring.

"What the hell's happening?"

"Yikes..."

"Classic Trophy," Paintbrush rolled their eyes.

"Poor X..." Leafy trailed off, eyeing the teacher.

"Thank you," X said, tearing their attention away from the murmuring group. wiping their eyes with a sleeve of their oversized coat.

"Any time, X," 4 replied with a smile. Then they turned to the boys, their smile turning into a grimace.

"Who is responsible for this?" they hissed, clearly pissed.

"He is!" Both Snowball and Trophy said in unison.

"Well then, you BOTH get a suspension. But we'll deal with it after the tour. X, would you be okay if my group tagged along with yours?" 4 said, directing the last part at their smaller co-worker.

"Oh! Yeah, I'd be okay with that," X replied. 4 attempted to play it off like a nice gesture, but X knew it was because if another fight broke out, they wouldn't be able to stop it.

"Alright then! Let's keep moving then. And if anything else goes on back there, I'll personally make sure you get proper punishment for it." 4 said with a grim smile. With that, the group took off.