Warning: Deals with sensitive topics relating to sexual assault.
Helga plopped down on the designated plush red-cushioned chair in the corner, prepared to wait out her unfair sentencing. Taking the days events into consideration, she felt unusually unsatisfied.
"I can't believe I missed," she grumbled to herself, crossing her arms across her chest and sinking down into the chair where she waited to be called in to meet with the principal.
"What was that Ms. Pataki?" Helga raised her eyes to glare at the man across from her. She took a quick glance at his nameplate, Principal's Secretary – Bryant Mitchells.
"Nothing, Mr. Mitchells." She put on her best Mary-Sue voice to reply. He rolled his eyes in response, before picking back up his paperwork.
"Good."
'What a pompous bozo' she thought to herself, inwardly deciding that she would make sure she would have the last word. Sucking her teeth loudly, she inhaled before repeating herself.
"I was just saying, I couldn't believe I missed." Mr. Mitchell's placed the papers in his hand on the table and began tapping his pen against the side of his desk.
"So you admit you feel no remorse for trying to hit another student."
"Nope," she responded, popping her p's for emphasis. "The only remorse I have is for not knocking his teeth out."
Mr. Mitchell's opened his mouth, ready to respond to her confession, when the door to the principal's office opened revealing Principal Larry, a short balding man in his 50's. He was shaking the hand of a much taller man dressed in a collared shirt, khaki's and loafers. As they made their exit, Helga saw the extent of their party. Emerging from the office was a tall, blonde woman whose arm was wrapped around the shoulders of a slightly shorter young man.
Helga clutched the handles of her chair to stop from lunging at the blonde-haired blue-eyed monster, willing herself instead to pay attention to the words being exchanged by the older men.
"My apologies Mr. Samuels for what has happened today. I understand that you are concerned for your son and I will be certain to address the situation in a manner that is fair, but in order to do so, I need to take into consideration both sides of the story. As such, I believe your son has a class to attend now. I thank you for coming in, and will keep you updated on the situation."
"Thank you principal Larry for your kind words, but I believe the behavior of the other… student, warrants a suspension." At this, Mr. Samuels looked haughtily at Helga's slouched figure, an expression she herself missed as she was taking in the smirk on his son's face.
"Well, Mr. Samuels, that is for the principal to decide. Now I do believe the bell will ring soon so, John, would you please head back to class. We don't want you missing out on your education."
John nodded to the principal, purposely leering at Helga as he walked pass her and out of the office with his parents.
Helga glared at the trio, tears building in her eyes as her fingertips began leaving imprints on the plush material of the chair.
"What a jack-ass," she muttered to herself before the loud roar of her name drew her attention.
"Ms. Pataki, my office, now!" Helga stomped towards the office before slamming the door closed behind her.
"Do you care to explain yourself?"
"The bastard had it coming…"
"Language, young lady!"
"…he grabbed my boob!"
Principal Larry's eyes widened as Helga paced the room, wildly gesturing with her hands.
"He's lucky I didn't knock him out cold. I can't believe I didn't knock him flat on his …"
" , do you realize how serious these accusations are?"
"Ms. Pataki, do you realize how serious these accusations are" she mimicked in a high-pitch screech. "Principal Larry, do you realize you have a sexual predator in your school." She screamed back.
Principal Larry rubbed at his temples, before gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
"Ms. Pataki, please have a seat." Helga glared at the chair before plopping down in it.
"Can you calmly explain what occurred today?" Pulling out a pen and paper, Principal Larry quietly took notes as Helga recounted her earlier encounter with John. When she was done, he placed the pen and paper on her desk and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Ms. Pataki, as I said earlier, these are very serious allegations. Is there anyone who can corroborate your story?" Helga stared dumbfounded at the principal.
"What?"
"I mean to say, are there any witnesses you can call upon to confirm the truth in what you are telling me."
"Ms. Pataki, please don't cry." Principal Larry took a deep breath in. Pulling a few tissues from his desk he handed them to Helga who was staring deftly at the wall in front of her.
"Given the situation, I will not be suspending either you or Mr. Samuels. I will speak to your guidance counselor and have her rearrange your schedule so that you will not be sharing any classes with Mr. Samuels as of tomorrow. I will also alert staff to your accusations, but you cannot speak of this to other students. Unless there is evidence of your accusation, we cannot unfairly attack Mr. Samuel's character. Do you understand?"
By lunchtime, the word was out and Arnold's eyes were darting around the school looking for a pink bow, but to no avail. He sighed as he exited the school cafeteria with his best friend by his side.
"Calm down Arnold, it's just a rumor. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt. For all we know, the rumor could have started anywhere."
"I don't know Gerald," Arnold muttered under his breath. "Helga hasn't tried to hit anyone in ages." He continued as he pushed through the locker room's doors. "But maybe you're right." He sighed as he turned the corner and headed towards his locker. "It's not like I heard Helga say it herself."
Gerald nodded, biting the inside of his cheeks as he fumbled with his locker combination. His eyes furrowed as he turned towards the raucous laughter coming from a group of guys gathered at the end of their locker row.
"Please, that has got to be the stupidest rumor I've ever heard," Gerald watched as his best friend's head shot up to glare at the speaker.
"As if I would ever grope someone so ugly. I mean, do you see what she wears every day. And that unibrow… I mean come on."
Arnold brushed the restraining hand of his best friend off of his shoulder as he angrily made his way towards the group of boys getting ready for class.
"Arnold, what are you doing?" Gerald hissed.
"I mean, she'd be so lucky if anyone would want to touch…"
"Good afternoon Arnold."
"Hey Phoebe," he mumbled, head buried in his hands as she took a seat beside him on a plush red-cushioned chair.
Silence.
"How's Helga. I haven't seen her all day." He looked up from his hands, eyes filled with worry.
"Well, you know, suspended. She doesn't like to cut any deals to say the least."
"What do you mean?" Phoebe shrugged her shoulders, a small smile gracing her delicate features. Arnold sighed.
"Well, why are you here then?"
"I'm guessing I'm here for the same reason as you." Arnold's eyebrows raised in silent inquiry.
"You've got to hit them where it hurts" she winked at Arnold. He chuckled quietly before being hushed by Mr. Mitchells.
"Thanks Arnold," Phoebe whispered quietly as they waited side by side in the principal's office.
"For what?"
"For believing her."
Author's Note:
This was actually inspired by a dream I had on a plane ride a couple of months ago. I've been really busy with life and stuff so I never finished it, but today I was in a procrastinating mood and decided to finish what I started. I will update my other fics soon.