Secret Lover

Face the Consequences

"This is unacceptable!" Mr. Stern shouted as a now remorseful Ulrich sat in front of him, "you beat a student up because he thought your friend's girlfriend was cheating?" he demanded.

Ulrich tightened his arms around himself. The school day was almost complete and he had to be sitting with his father outside the head's office. He had only seen red earlier when he went after Herve. Now his life had gone gray. He was going to get expelled. He just knew it.

"I'm sorry," Ulrich said humbly.

"Sorry!" Mr. Stern snapped, "I have to rush over here just to hear you're sorry?" he said, "I was doing business three miles away! And what do I get? A call saying my son beat someone's kid so bad he had to be rushed to the hospital!"

Ulrich flinched at every word. He knew he was in deep trouble. And his father was back to remind of what a disappointment he was.

"Mr. Stern, Ulrich, please step into my office," the acting headmistress called.

Mr. Stern gave his teen son a glare and walked in first.

"Good afternoon Headmistress Miles," Mr. Stern said brightly to the blonde petite woman in her late thirties, "it's so nice that you were bright in to watch over Kadic while Headmaster Delmas deals with the tragedy involving his wife," he said.

"Yes, the vice headmaster agreed to have me brought in and appointed to the position instead of him being appointed," Headmistress Miles said confidently, "now, I realize that this is a serious situation Mr. Stern," she said her tone changing, "but I must say I find your interaction with your son troubling," she revealed.

"My interaction?" Mr. Stern asked incredulously.

"Yes," Headmistress Miles said, "Ulrich, is there any friction at home?" she asked, "anything you need to talk about?"

Ulrich gave his enraged father a fearful look. "No."

"Hmm," Headmistress Miles said, "of course not," she said but was obviously not convinced.

"Is there anything you'd like to ask me?" Mr. Stern asked.

"Ok, Mr. Stern," Headmistress Miles started, "do you have a history of..."

"Let me make something clear," Mr. Stern said firmly, "we are here about my son, not me."

"Dad," Ulrich said hoping to calm him down.

"Mr. Stern, I'm trying to decide if expelling your son might not be in his beast interest," Headmistress Miles spoke, "the board has the final say," she admitted, "but I can make recommendations, strong potentially easy to accept recommendations," she added seriously.

Mr. Stern became dead silent. He could tell the headmistress wasn't playing around.

"This is rare but I'm recommending a lengthy in school suspension for Ulrich," Headmistress Miles announced, "with some stipulations that includes counselling, anger management sessions, being moved to an individual dorm and staying there once not in classes or school designated activities, even on weekends," she listed, "and you and your parents will have to complete at least five three hour sessions of counselling outside school."

"Excuse me?" Mr. Stern asked darkly.

"Unless you have a problem," Headmistress Miles said sweetly, "in which case, Ulrich will just get expelled," she said deadpan, "oh and I'll also be recommending that child services watch over your son because of the dangerous bad temper I've witnessed from you," she told him.

Ulrich looked at his father worriedly. If his father didn't calm down he was going to be outed as an abusive parent. And Ulrich knew no one would listen to a temperamental man like his father when he tried to protest. Or more precisely blow up on anyone who disagreed with him.

"Ok," Mr. Stern said softly, "I'll submit to anything that allows my son to stay in school," he said, "but know this, I am not abusive and I don't appreciate how you've been treating me," he added.

"The safety of my students comes first," Headmistress Miles said simply.

"Then I apologize for making you worry," Mr. Stern said formally, "will my son be able to stay here?" he asked, "you did say the decision is truly with the board."

"The board often accepts the headmistress recommendation," Headmistress Miles pointed out, "Ulrich, you have to admit that this was a moment of extreme duress for you," she turned to the teenager, "that you were so mad that you weren't in your right mind," she said firmly.

"Ok," Ulrich agreed.

"Do you have friends who'll vouch for the even tempered side of you?" Headmistress Miles asked and Ulrich nodded, "Mr. Stern".

"Everything will be arranged," Mr. Stern confirmed.

"Now Ulrich, you have to accept all punishments metered out," Headmistress Miles told him, "no attitudes, no complaints," she said and he nodded, "now gentlemen, I'll be contacting Herve's parents and try to smooth things over so that we can proceed."

"Thank you," Mr. Stern said rising to shake her hand.

"Thank you Headmistress Miles," Ulrich said gratefully.

"Don't thank me yet young man," Headmistress Miles said, "one of your steps towards rehabilitation will be confronting Herve at some point, no one escapes that unless they're expelled," she added.

Ulrich gulped. The last thing he wanted was another view of his crazed handiwork.

"Ulrich will do everything required," Mr. Stern stated.

"And if it all goes well," Headmistress Miles said, "he can plead to the lowest charge if the police gets involved."

"I'll take whatever punishment that's metered out," Ulrich said formally, "I did a really bad thing, I have to accept the consequences."

It was nearly 4pm and three teens sat in an empty classroom.

"Who is he Aelita?" Yumi demanded as Aelita refused to look at her, "Ulrich might be expelled, you better have an answer."

Aelita turned to her with a fierce face. "I didn't ask him to do anything. This is not my fault!"

"Then whose it it?" Jeremie asked, "mine?" he countered.

"Hey you guys," Odd spoke up, "lay off her a little," he said.

Odd immediately felt Yumi and Jeremie's glared. He didn't approve of Aelita cheating on Jeremie either but he didn't feel the necessity to crucify her. Plus he didn't blame her for Ulrich's actions. His roommate was his own man.

"You'd say that," Jeremie accused.

"Excuse me?" Odd demanded, "you know what I'm sick of your judgement, Aelita has a right to defend herself," he announced, "and Ulrich made his own decision, what is he to you guys, two years old?"

Yumi's face reddened at the accusation. Jeremie however became angrier.

"It's all fine to you isn't it?" Jeremie said, "always seeing another girl then another," he said his voice rising, "you wouldn't know a relationship if it offered you a blowjob!" he exploded, "in fact, that's probably the closest a girl has gotten to your heart besides sucking your face!" he shouted jabbing Odd in the chest with his finger.

Odd was struck dumb. After all they'd been through and despite their differences, he never expected Jeremie to treat him like this. And say such nasty things.

"You have no idea what it's like," Jeremie continued and tears were now flowing down his face, "to dedicate your life to someone and have it thrown back in your face," he said, "you even suggested to Yumi that it was ok for someone to cheat just because their partner's boring," he said incredulously, "what kind of person thinks that's ok?" That going behind someone's back is ok!"

Odd gently reached out his handand moved Jeremie's finger from his chest.

"Aelita," Odd said in a tight voice, "did you cheat on Jeremie?" he asked her.

Aelita who was shaking nodded. "I just wanted more, he just couldn't give it to me," she said tearfully.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jeremie asked turning to her.

"Jeremie," Odd said softly, "let her talk."

"If anyone else asks, like the headmistress," Aelita said, "I'll deny seeing anyone," she declared, "I will not be labelled a slut, never," she said firmly, "but I admit to you, Jeremie, ...and I guess Yumi," she added with a laugh Yumi didn't like, "that I did see someone else and I'm sorry," she concluded.

"That's it?" Yumi asked.

Aelita looked at Yumi coldly. "Butt out."

"As if," Yumi dismissed her, "I'm Jeremie's friend and my boyfriend went out fighting for you," she said, "I'm in this, like it or not."

"Well I don't," Aelita said, "and I love how you got evidence so conveniently," she said in reference to the janitor's closet.

"Don't expect an apology," Yumi said coldly.

"Don't worry, I don't," Aelita said rudely, "Odd, thank you, you really listened to me," she said kindly, "Jeremie," she sighed, "I can't say what happens next but we need to put our relationship on pause," she announced, "at least...for now."

Jeremie who was silent spoke calmly. "Ok, but I'm not sure if I want to press play later."

A shocked Aelita bit her lip. "Maybe we shouldn't."

Yumi wanted to intervene. She hadn't planned for things to end like this. But Odd stopped her.

"Let them talk," Odd whispered.

Aelita and Jeremie looked each other straight in the eye. Aelita soon nodded and left.

"I guess that's it," Jeremie said, "let's go guys..."

"Don't you dare speak to me!" Odd snapped at Jeremie, "and you Yumi, could you be anymore judgemental?" he demanded, "Aelita's not perfect but neither are you," he snapped and stormed out.

Yumi watched him go sadly. She wasn't sorry about what she said to Aelita. But she felt bad about Odd getting hurt.

"Are you going to snap at me too?" Jeremie asked humbly all anger gone like a flat balloon.

"No," Yumi said softly, "but I feel terrible about Odd, you were pretty hard on him."

"You got Aelita good," Jeremie countered.

"Maybe we're both jerks," Yumi sighed.

"Maybe, but I'm not sorry," Jeremie said, "I'm sick of being treated like a door mat," he declared.

"I guess you're right," Yumi agreed, "and I'm not sorry about Aelita so...I guess we both have our opinions."

"Yeah," Yumi said, "let's get going," she said and Jeremie followed her out.

Chapter Completed

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