WARNING: This chapter is rated T for bullying and suggestions of suicide. You have been warned.
This is a prologue for a previous chapter I wrote called "Blue Ribbons", which was based on an event that happened at my college when I was a first year. I haven't learned anything about Audrey since then, but I wanted to write a chapter about bullying and I was reminded of Audrey, vaguely.
This isn't based on personal experience, so don't worry about me. I don't know if bullying was the reason Audrey did what she did, but I figured another chapter about her couldn't hurt. I originally wanted a happier story, but that's not always how it works. Anyway, see you at the bottom of the page.
Chapter 30: Blue Ribbons: Prologue
Audrey hurried through the halls of the monster x human school with her notebooks in hand and her backpack heavy on her shoulders. Hopefully, she wouldn't see them today. Her math classroom was in sight; she was just about to reach it—!
"Heeey, Audrey."
Dang it. Audrey was just about to speed up when Bella grabbed her by the backpack and pulled her backwards, forcing Audrey to turn and face the three girls: Bella, Dana, and Charlotte.
Audrey gripped her notebooks tightly and looked at the ground. Dana, who, like the other girls, was taller than Audrey, reached over and smacked Audrey's books out of her tight grip. Despite Audrey's efforts, they fell onto the floor.
Audrey knelt to gather them up when Charlotte stepped on Audrey's hand. Audrey yelped, then quickly covered her mouth with her free hand. This was bad.
Bella glared at Audrey while the other girls yanked her up by the arms and held in place. "What did we say about making noise? Not that it matters…" Bella glanced at a student standing nearby, who flinched and hurried into a classroom. "Our parents are so rich no teacher would put us in detention."
"You know, you're talking as though you're trying to catch the reader up on the backstory of this chapter…" Audrey mumbled.
"What did you say?!"
It was a good thing Audrey's mom worked late at the Local Fast Food Joint and her dad was always in his office. How else would she be able to sneak into her parent's bedroom and use a bit of her mom's makeup to hide the bruises she'd get at least once a week?
Then, almost by a miracle, Audrey had to go to the PTA meeting with her dad one day. Perhaps now, she could act!
"Alright, the meeting is now in session," Flowey, Flowey the Head of the PTA said. "We have a fairly short one today; not much going on event wise. Does anyone have a topic they'd like to discuss?"
Audrey quickly raised her hand.
"Audrey, put your hand down," her dad snapped. "Kids can't participate in the parent teacher meeting."
"Yes, Audrey, what is it?" Audrey's dad glared at Flowey and leaned back in his chair.
Audrey slowly stood up, trying not to shrink under the eyes of everyone there. "Um…" she began, "I've noticed that, well… I think some students—not saying who—are being… bullied." She sat back down.
"I see," Flowey said, ruffling his petals. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to deal with this?"
The room was silent for a moment. Audrey flicked her eyes over each parent or teacher, looking for a sign. After a moment, a human woman raised her hand. "Yes, Helen?" Flowey asked.
"Why don't we put up posters telling students not to be bullies?" Audrey's heart sank.
"I agree," another woman said. "We could make it into a school wide event: letting students make their own posters for anti-bullying."
"I don't if that'll be enough, Linda," Flowey began.
"Oh, of course it will," Linda replied. "Kids love making art; what's so different about making posters?"
"Linda, that's really not—"
"All in favor of letting the students make posters, say 'Aye'."
Most of the human parents said 'aye'.
"All those opposed?"
Most of the monster parents said 'nay'. There were fewer monsters than humans.
"The ayes have it," Linda declared.
"Well, I veto that notion!" Flowey yelled. "Are you idiots even stupider than I thought? If we're going to do a school wide event for antibullying, we have to make it count! I suggest an actual event with speakers and more than just posters."
Linda rolled her eyes. "Like we have the money for that."
Flowey spluttered, then crossed his leaves. "Oh my gosh fine! We'll stick a poster making event into the next early release day. Are you happy now?!"
Audrey slowly followed her dad out of the cafeteria after the meeting. There was one last option in mind, though she had wanted to avoid using it. Now, however, it seemed it was the only viable option left.
After her parents went to bed, Audrey went downstairs and found her dad's blood pressure medicine.
Head Canon I Don't Actually Think # 35: Before the events of this chapter, most of the monster x human school's funds went to the school's public image: fancy classroom equipment, playgrounds and the like. After the events of this chapter, it was decided unanimously that more of the funds would go to making the school a better place, with security cameras for student/teacher safety, healthier cafeteria food, and paying the teachers more for their work. And, of course, an annual antibullying event in Audrey's honor.
Sad, but truer than you'd like to hope. If you see someone being bullied, don't stay silent. You could be their guardian angel without realizing it.
My birthday was during finals for me, so I couldn't write a chapter to celebrate. However, there is something you can do for me! There's a new poll on my profile, so please take a look. Be sure to read all the options before deciding. Your might find something you'd really like to see!
Anyway, what did you think? Too dark for a PTA Undertale story? Yeah, probably. Leave a review, tell me what you thought, and I'll see you again sometime this summer. Until then!
