Was there anything Jade couldn't get her to do? Did she really not have any sort of strength? Be it emotional, physical or mental. How was it Jade always seemed to know what button to push on any given day? Did she truly not have any self pride? Maybe she had too much.
Tori's head drops into her hands, in an attempt to lose the world around her. How was it that even the smallest part of her could think that listening to the streaked-haired girl would end well? Experience should have taught her better. Experience has taught her better. So why on earth did she this time? And why in the school parking lot, of all places? There was no way that it could have ended well.
"Yes, of course the paint is safe, Tori."
"Yes, it's going to hurt when it hits you, but where is the fun otherwise?"
"Yes, it washes out, Tori! It's completely fine, just stop bitching already, would you?"
And it was fine, it did hurt, and it was fun. For the group at least Principle Helen however, not so much. Turns out that she was allergic to something in the paint; Tori was much too wrapped up in her own guilt and grief to pay full attention.
Why didn't anyone else say anything? Was it another of those things Tori just hasn't been here long enough to know? Or were all her friends totally insane? She was sort of inclined to the believe the latter, because, surely, someone would of talked some sense into them by now otherwise.
Her head jerks up at the sound of the door opening, her parents entering. Disappointment, almost quite literally, written on their faces. As they finally take a seat next to Tori, she once again buries her head in her hands. The sound of the school receptionist typing away the only sound filling the room. She wishes that her parents would come in raging and screaming, ready to yell at their daughter till she could no longer can to hear them.
But instead they are silent. They know her too well. After all, why do what Tori will do for them? For how long the three sit there Tori could not say, buy she was willing to bet it was close to an eternity.
When Lane and the Vice Principle call them all into the office, she can't help but feel as though every step she takes has her dragging a giant ball and chain behind her. Does she have two months of detention? Six? A year? Or worse is she suspended? Expelled? It wouldn't surprise her. Although she would fight it with every fibre in her, she could completely understand if Helen had left explicit instruction to have her expelled, no matter what she or her parents may try.
"Miss Vega," hearing her name, Tori lifts her head, as slowly as she possibly can, to look at the man. He was an old man, fifties maybe? Hair going grey and balding on top, his cheap grey suit had a small grease strain on the lapel. So instead she focuses on the stain rather than his eyes; eyes that make her feel like she just disappointed her grandfather.
Her mother nudges her in the side, the hissed sound of Tori's name coming out at her lack of attention. So Tori's eyes reluctantly rise to meet her mothers, then drag to the Vice Principles own, done with all the enthusiasm of someone going to their own funeral.
"Miss Vega, both I and Principal Helen believe that you should be expelled immediately for the trouble and damage you've caused," Tori was just about ready to break into tears. She couldn't be expelled from Hollywood Arts. She couldn't go back to Sherwood. Everyone from Sherwood was just so... dull and lacking life compared to everyone here. For crying out loud Rex seems more alive than some of her drone-like friends from the previous school.
"However, Lane here," his head jerks in Lane's direction, a small encouraging smile on the councillor's face. "Believes that it would be a loss o the school to expel you. So instead you are to be suspended for three weeks." Now Tori was ready to leap over the desk and hug both Lane and the Vice Principal. "Along with detention after school for five weeks. Those three weeks you've not here you are expected to turn up for detention then too. You can also hand in your homework then."
Despite the terms, Tori was more than happy to just be able to stay at Hollywood Arts. Oh sure, her parents are probably going to ground her for the next two months, assuming that they even know how grounding works. But she could stay! That's what really matters.
Behind her exultant thoughts, Tori was vaguely aware of her parents profusely thanking the man and ensuring that nothing like this will ever happen again.
"I should hope not. With all the trouble she's caused since she came I'm amazed that she's still even here. She is on her absolutely final chance, any other... misdeeds, shall we say, and she is gone quicker than she'll be able to apologize."
Now, if Tori was paying any attention to what was just said, she would know to begin to explain to her parents. Alas, she wasn't paying the slightest bit of care to the words spoken; she was much too absorbed in the on-going party in her head.
"Trouble? What trouble?" her father's voice and her mother's elbow in her ribs returned the mentally wayward girl to reality. Brain only catching up as she saw the bitter man begin to look through her file on the computer; Lane tossing her some sort of grimace all the while rubbing lotion into his hands.
"She hasn't told you?" how was it that Tori initially thought he was a kind old grandfather sort of man? Was she absolutely nuts? Probably, she did listen to Jade after all.
"Let's see shall we? She brought a pet bird an rabbit onto school grounds. Smashing a facility member's car. Ruining a school event and covering two students in hot cheese, one of which doesn't even attend this school. Hitting another student in the face with a cane, followed by skipped out on the detention. Destroying other student's property. And Multiple times she has been caught using a mobile phone during class."
Tori was completely, totally, utterly dumbfounded. She never had most of that even mentioned, regarding punishments anyway. In fact most of the time the school hardly seemed to care what the students did. Her father lowly uttering "Victoria," in that voice that just said she was in for it, forced her gaze from the suited man to her parents. Their entirely mortified faces caused Tori to open and close her mouth several times, unsure of how to even begin to explain all the rules she had seemingly and unknowingly broken. Moments had passed and Tori was still numbly trying to speak. Eventually her father took pity on her, thanking the balding mean man behind the desk and reassuring him that Tori will be there for the detentions and that she certainly won't be acting out again.
Tori followed her parents out of the school, head hanging low. She only glanced up when she heard the footfalls of her friends approaching, but they didn't say anything, Tori's dejected form was enough.
The three sat silently in the car as they drove home. Part of Tori was trying to figure out how to explain, while the rest of was wishing they wouldn't just pull her straight out of Hollywood Arts as soon as they could; you know, bad influence and all.
She knew how the next two hours would play out at least. She would be asked to explain, then sent up to her room for the next two hours of so, while her parents talked it over. Meanwhile, their daughter will drive herself nuts trying to predict the outcome; each thought worse than the previous. Until they call her downstairs, if she's lucky Tori wouldn't of pulled every strand of hair from her head in frustration/anxiety/annoyance.
So it was with the utmost dread that Tori slides out of the car and slowly makes her body follow her parents into the house.
Well I am unfortunately back at work tomorrow so, six days of freedom wasn't nearly long enough. Such is life though.