Chapter 8
A/N OK I was planning on making Perry friendlier more gradually. I was also going to do a few scenes with Trent. But I can't make something as well thought out as my Star Trek story, because I don't have time to think this one through the same way. Also my dad isn't letting me on as often as my mom does, so I'm starting to get writer's block since my ideas are atrophying. I know this isn't as well written, but I'm trying to make it as good as possible. On with the show! Reviews are appreciated!
In the auditorium, Adam is sitting near to the front. Bree is sitting with Ethan and Leo is sitting with Janelle. You and Chase are sitting alone in the back. Since you both have super hearing, sitting near the loudspeakers might not be such a good idea. Perry walks up to the stage. She seems a little hesitant, worried. You can feel a large range of emotions coming off her and wish you could stand up and say for her what needed to be said. But this was her step to take. You helped her find the right path, but the painful part of getting securely on to it was her step alone. You feel awful for doing it, but since she is sufficiently upset, you can hear every one of her thoughts.
What if they storm the stage? What if they usurp my authority in the school? What if I look weak or mess up? What if I say I'll do something good and go back on it? I hurt these kids, just like I was hurt. Will they be like I was? Will they have fights and commit crime and murder? I hope this speech is good enough to convince them that I won't go back to those bad ways. You feel guilty for hearing these private musings, although you can't control that ability yet either.
You remember when you thought something and Pavel had answered the question without you verbally asking on the Enterprise. You hope you aren't broadcasting your thoughts, although as guilty and upset as you're feeling, you assume that nobody else here has the neural pathways necessary for them to pick up broadcasted brainwaves.
You abandon these musings as Perry walks up and taps the microphone. "Hello my wonderful students! The reason we are here today in the auditorium for first period is that I have some things to say. I have to tell you all a bit about myself in order for you to understand anything I say afterward, but I assure you it's not senseless, self absorbed rambling." The students all chuckle a little.
"So, it all started when I was two years old, I don't even remember much that far back..." You are all sitting there basically listening to Principal Perry's life story, and normally, that would've bored anyone, since she'd have kept all the stuff that actually mattered out and made it sound like her life was this time. This time, she told every grisly detail. Or at least all that were appropriate for high schoolers. Everyone was sitting straight up in their chairs and listening to her speak. They were hearing every word, turning it over in their minds, trying in the utmost way to understand the way these things have impacted her.
After about three hours, she was finally finished and started to explain why things were going to be different now. "Someone, who has requested to remain nameless, even though we can all probably guess who it is, has shown me when the tornado hit the school just how precious life is. Yours, mine, every living thing. There is an energy that emanates from living things, a pulse. It's a beautiful thing. I can't tell you how beautiful. It's a rainbow of more colors than you can imagine." You had decided to ask her not to reveal your identity. Good deeds should be done without expectation of reward, and if you remain unknown, nobody will feel obligated to give a reward. Good deeds should remain unknown unless stated by another person not in your presence. And she doesn't feel life pulse so much as see it. You wish you could see it too. The way she describes it, it's worth dying just to see it once. "I made a lot of mistakes. I hurt a lot of people. I know it can't mean much, but I'm very sorry for the things I've done. I became a principal so that kids like me wouldn't be hurt. I ended up exactly like the people who hurt me. And I'm ready to change. I promise. So everyone, I need you to help me change! What can I do to make your lives better? What can I do to make this world a better place? Will you all help me become the good person I was meant to be?"
There were shouts from all over the room. Everyone stood up and clapped. A few students even ran up and outright hugged her, right there on the stage. You don't want to, but again it's a part of you still out of your conscious control. You feel her happiness. You know she feels loved. You are happy because this is a new feeling for her, and you slowly admit to yourself, a recently rediscovered one for you.
