Getting to Know You

Simon and Jeanette's story

Part XX

Simon walked into the principal's office knowing full well what was going to happen. He was glad that Jeanette had had the presence of mind to go here. He was still a little blind with rage over what Bill had done. There was no way he could know what it must feel like to be Jeanette, sitting in the cold office, barely covered by his jacket. She was even still trembling from the shock of the assault, but a fierce light in her eyes nonetheless.

"Please sit down Mister Seville." The principal ordered.

When he was seated, she continued, her lips pursed and her voice quiet like it always got when she was furious, "Now, all I heard from Jeanette here, was that she was attacked in the park and she wanted you here to help tell the story."

"Ma'am, I am begging you, get officer Sanderson to the park right now. You'll find a guy there, Bill Jackman; he's the guy that attacked Jeanette. Get him rounded up before he can run off and I'll tell you what happened." Simon pleaded earnestly.

The principal must have seen the sincerity in his expression, because as soon as he stopped talking, she reached down, picked up her walkie talkie, and called the schools police officer to round up Bill. When she put the walkie talkie down, Simon breathed a sigh of relief and Jeanette visibly relaxed. The principal looked at him expectantly, and Simon took a deep breath and told her what he knew of the attack. Her jaw dropped when he told her how he had kicked him off of Jeanette and how he had found her.

When he was done, she thanked him and asked him to leave the room while she talked to Jeanette in private. He looked at her and saw her nod her head in agreement. He lowered his head in submission and stood up to leave the room. As he reached the door, Jeanette shot out of her chair and called for him to stop. He froze and she walked over to him unsteadily. He was about to ask why she had called for him when she leaned in and hugged him close. He hadn't realized it, but he had needed reassurance that she was truly alright. After holding each other for a few more minutes, she let him go and whispered that she would be okay. He walked out of the room satisfied that she could handle herself for the moment and sat with his siblings and the girls.

When the door had shut, the principals voice softened and she took on the air of a concerned mother, "Jeanette," she called gently, "Are you ready to tell me what happened to you?"

Jeanette breathed deeply once, twice, her shoulders shrugged, and she tried to put on a brave smile as she sat down and told the principal everything that had happened from lunch time on. The entire time she was talking, the principal sat there on the desk, her brow furrowed in hard concentration. And when Jeanette reached the part about Bill pulling her back to the ground, her eyes teared up slightly and her voice cracked. The principal tried to calm her down and keep her going, but they were interrupted by the walkie talkie crackling to life and officer Sander's voice telling the principal that Bill was found in the park as described and he had a knife on him that was now confiscated. He was bringing him back to the office as he called it in.

Jeanette breathed a sigh of relief and calmed down when she heard that. She rushed through the actual attack and refused to talk about how Simon had protected her. Partly out of awe that he had come when she had needed him, partly because she had been crying at the time and hadn't seen much of what happened. When it was clear that she wouldn't talk anymore, the principal thanked her and walked her to the door talking about how brave she had been to come forward with this so soon. Jeanette walked out into the reception area greeted by the hugs of her sisters and the attention of all three of the boys.

As they crowded her and tried to get her home quickly, the door opened and there stood Officer Sander's holding Bill by the scruff of his shirt. When they saw his sick, twisted smile, it was all that the poor cop could do to keep them from attacking Bill. The principal even got involved and held back Theo and Alvin. When they had calmed down a little, Bill sneered and walked into the office, his shoulders slouching and a defeated shuffle in his step.

Sander's wanted to come into the room with him, but the principal refused, she said that she wanted to have a private word with him before Officer Sander took him to the police station for battery and assault at the least. When the door shut, he turned to the kids and told them that with the knife he had had on him, he would be expelled bare minimum and wouldn't be bothering anyone for a while. The boys and Eleanor and Jeanette thanked him while Britney stood in the corner muttering things she would do to him if she ever saw Bill again.

Sanders took Jeanette aside for a private word, "Listen Jeanette, I don't know exactly what happened, but I can gather that that punk in there tried to hurt you. So what I need you to do, if you want him to possibly be put in jail, is to come down to the police station as soon as you can, and file a report okay?"

"Thank you sir, I'll do that soon." She promised, trying her best to smile at him and turning to leave with her sisters.

When they got to the parking lot, Jeanette started to get in the driver's side, but Simon stopped her, "You're in no shape to drive." He said.

She nodded her head in agreement and slid over while he hopped in and took the wheel. They drove to her house in silence while Jeanette stared out the window at the sky. When they pulled up her driveway, she looked at him like it was the first time she had ever seen him before. She smiled, and she climbed out without a word, took the keys from his outstretched hand, and walked inside the front door wordlessly.

Eleanor came up behind him and touched his shoulder gently, "You're scared of something?" she guessed

"I'm scared of what happens now." He admitted ashamedly.

"Don't be. A lot happened this afternoon. She'll be herself soon enough." Ellie comforted him.

"What if she wants to break up because of this?" he asked, looking down at the shortest sister.

"Why would you ask that?" she replied, shocked at the very notion of it all.

"Because, she got involved because I was getting involved with something she told me to stay out of. And I wasn't there quick enough. She was hurt because of me!" he said angrily, his fists clenching as he fought with himself emotionally. His feelings running any of a million different directions, all of them hateful, all of them directed at himself and Bill.

"Stop saying that. Listen…" she chided softly, trying to calm him down, "She went through a lot today, none of which was your fault. The only person to blame was Bill. And he'll get his if it's the last thing any of us do." She promised

Simon started to turn and walk to his house, but Eleanor called out one last thing, "Listen," she said, "Give her time to recover and she'll be back to her old self ok?"

He nodded silently and started to walk to his house, taking the long way to think and clear his head…

Jeanette watched from the window as Simon was being talked to by her sister. She hoped he didn't blame himself. She certainly didn't. She just needed to think quietly for a little bit. Hopefully, she hadn't been too brusque when she had come inside, but she really just couldn't be around people for now. She flopped onto her mattress and buried her face in the pillow as the tears that had not been shed started to flow… she cried so hard that she fell asleep in a haze of tears and emotions that had no name…

Well, there you have it. The last of the bridge section; hope you enjoyed reading it as I did writing it. The next chapter will pick up roughly two days after the police report is filed. Also, to answer any confusion about Susan, when Ch. XXI picks up, she will be living with the Chipettes and yes, she will know about what happened. You'll have to see what happens next chapter if you want any more answers… anyways, you know the drill. R&R please so I can improve any flaws or answer any character questions, PM me if you have a personal question or want to request something. And last but not least, a shout out to the anonymous reviewers! Little tip guys, can't answer a question if you don't have an account. Sign up please and join in the fun. We all look forward to new writers and readers.

Happy Reading

Musicalreader