Thanks for feedback of yesterday guys! Here's today's chapter...
"Brandon, Michelle. Can I have a word?" Lena poked her head sound the door where the two teens lay doing their homework.
"Sure, what's up Mom?" Brandon moved up into a sitting position.
Lena smiled and walked over to them. Despite what Callie had said she was still nervous about what Michelle would say. If she was really willing to let them try and remove her Dad without even a hint of fight that would be an unfamiliar display of disloyalty that Lena was unused to seeing.
"Well, basically - Callie has some evidence against your Father, Michelle. I don't really have any choice but to take it to Principal Sanchez - I mean I want to as well. I can't let him talk to my children in the way that he did and now we have evidence..."
Michelle smiled. "Lena, its OK. You don't need my permission. It won't change anything. If he got caught doing something that he shouldn't have he deserves to deal with the consequences."
It seemed like Callie had been right.
"Even if it means he may lose his job?"
Michelle's smile dropped. "He'll survive. I almost hope he does lose his job. He may even be happier."
Brandon looked slightly confused. "But...won't that cause difficulty between you two? If we're the family that gets him into trouble?"
Michelle put her hand on Brandon's knee. "Don't worry Brandon. It's not like I have much of a relationship to destroy with him. Really. This won't change anything."
Brandon was slightly concerned. Not because he didn't want to get Porter - he did - it just saddened him to think that Michelle's distance with her father was so large she wouldn't even attempt to negotiate. She had often avoided conversations about her Dad or made a comment about what a bully he was but he had never really realised the gravity of it. She would never talk about it.
"Well OK then..." Lena said. "I'm sorry we're in this situation. And you know, if he takes it out on you or your relationship - we can help you."
Michelle paused before smiling again - but this time it was genuine. That was rare.
"It really won't be necessary...but thank you." as Lena left, Michelle's mood suddenly changed. She had a sinking feeling, but it wasn't because of her Dad. It was something else. Something she wasn't used to. She felt the tiniest twinge of guilt. A soft touch from Brandon snapped her out of her trance. He was looking at her concerned.
"You are sure about this - I mean, we could probably get Mom to negotiate some kind of deal for him or something."
Michelle looked at Brandon, deep into his eyes. She couldn't take this. Why was he being so nice? This wasn't something she could deal with. She knew he was nice, he was caring and unsuspecting. That's why she chose him. But she wasn't meant to feel guilty. She was harder than that. She needed this for her new start. She needed this to work. He would get over it, he'd move on, it wouldn't affect his life - he may never even find out and even if he did she'd be long out of his life. He was just the bridge. Why was she feeling guilty? She couldn't help but break. Her eyes prickled and she gasped with the shock of it. She couldn't cry in front of him. She had to recover...but he now had his arms around her and she wanted him to hold her. She let him hold her.
Lena twiddled her thumbs furiously as she sat at the chair by Karina's desk. She had played the evidence to her and they had discussed the severity. Karina was on her side. For the first time in a long time she was actually fighting her corner. They were now waiting for Porter. It was going to be a done deal. Karina had warned Lena that Porter would fight - if he did it could be a bloody battle and compromise may be crucial but Lena didn't care about retribution - she just wanted him away from her son.
Finally the door opened and Karina returned with a reluctant Porter behind.
He threw a look at Lena and humped himself into the seat next to her.
"Come on then. Let me guess. Your children would like to accuse me of bullying, for the hundredth time - coincidentally on a day they happen to be in trouble. They've corroborated stories making up some accusation and we need to go through the motions so that you can feel like you're respecting their feelings." He was already on the attack. Lena could see it was his defense mechanism.
She licked her bottom lip with her tongue waiting for Karina to respond so she didn't have to rip his head off.
"Porter - before you say any more - " Karina began before he cut her off.
"Oh I'm not even allowed to defend myself now? Is that it?" he rolled his eyes impatiently. Both women shuffled slightly in discomfort but Karina kept calm.
"You will be able to defend yourself." she stated harshly. "But I thought it may be best - in order to save you any embarrassment - for you to know that unlike other complaints we have evidence of what you said." Porter let out a belly laugh.
"Evidence? What you mean like a witness? Of course. Because teenagers have never been know to lie for each other before. And God knows Lena's children could never tell a lie."
Lena bit firmly down on her lip. "Interesting you know we're talking about my children without us even saying it." She muttered before Karina threw her a look.
Karina's voice grew further agitated.
"Porter, I strongly - strongly recommend you adjust your attitude. Let me make this clear. This is not good."
He stuttered slightly. Something wasn't right here...
"Fine. What evidence exactly are you talking about?"
"It would seem that one of the students in question had a recorder running that captured the whole thing."
Porter's expression dropped rapidly before he collected himself.
"Well that's preposterous. You can't put someone in a position and record their reaction without their knowledge. That's entrapment! It's clearly an orchestrated situation and I want those kids to be..."
Karina cut him off this time.
"Porter, the kids have a valid excuse. The recorder was running from a previous use and there's no signs it was set up. Even if it was, some of the things you said have no place in a school. Even if there was any evidence it was entrapment it's no excuse for that kind of conduct in front of children in your care!"
Porter gawped. "Oh really? And what do you think the board would say about this? I mean isn't it a little suspicious that the students involved are not only children of one of my greatest opponents but also one of whom has done nothing but find himself in trouble this year? It has vendetta written all over it!" He protested angrily. "And who exactly gave Callie detention yesterday I wonder?" He swung his head around and looked accusingly at Lena.
"Callie was sent to me by another teacher and I followed school protocol." Lena defended herself, secretly blessing Callie for her forward thinking and meticulous planning. "And if we're talking about vendettas how about the fact Jesus has only begun to consistently deteriorate in your class." Lena's voice was raising and it took another look from Karina to calm her down. She wanted to tear him apart but knew it would only work in his favour if she was too hasty. If Jesus had been able to control himself, she needed to as well.
"Porter, I have considered this very carefully, listened to the full tape and taken the back records of both students under consideration. There was no evidence of provocation, no evidence of malice on their part and no evidence of pre-meditation. What this plays as is a candid account of unacceptable conduct on your part. Now I know you've been with us a long time and I'm not going to discredit the many years of loyal service you've -" Karina was cut off again by Porter slamming his hands on the desk.
"Don't patronise me, Sanchez!" He yelled. "You can't honestly be dismissing me over one recording after 20 years at this school!"
Karina took a deep breath. "For God's sake Porter, let me talk." She warned him with her eyes as he sat back in his chair, his brimming with anger.
"What I would suggest - to keep this civil - is that instead of a dismissal we help to sort you out with a more background role. One away from the classroom."
Porter squinted and gawped again in disbelief. He couldn't quite believe this was being said. "And you don't think I know what that means? A paycut, token role and an easy pay-off so I can't complain? Well what if I go to the papers?" Lena let out a laugh.
"You know for someone who spent last night lecturing my kids on victim culture you sure have this down to a tee!"
Karina intervened before Porter could respond.
"I really would not recommend that Porter. I can tell you from a professional point of view that if this went public things would not be in your favour. I would strongly suggest you take my offer - if you decide to challenge this I will have no choice but to suspend you until a full investigation can go underway." Porter simply gawped again.
"Fine." He grumbled.
"I will go into talks with the board and see if we can get you some sort of administrative role in the running of the school - that should do you till retirement which isn't too far off. If in the mean time you choose to pursue other routes that will be up to you."
Porter shook his head gently his teeth firmly down on his tongue.
"Effective immediately?" was all he growled.
"Yes. You can go. I will be in touch once something is settled."
Porter simply left the room.
"You'll have to organise cover for his classes while I can find a more permanent arrangement." She instructed. Lena knew that Karina would be glad to have removed the problem but she knew that Porter's connections with the board would be weighing on her mind. Hopefully his knowledge deep down that he had lost would prevent him from pursuing a case. They would win - but Lena could do without the stress.
She said her goodbyes and slipped out of the office.
She left her office later than usual that day. She had been trying to arrange cover for Porter's classes as well as catching up with the duties the impromptu meeting had postponed. She was torn between triumph and feeling overwhelmed. She had told Jesus and Callie the news and was looking forward to being able to celebrate with them. She was so proud of Callie for doing what she had done and the level of care and thought she had put into it. She was so happy to be able to call her her daughter. She was also so relieved for Jesus. She hoped that this would spark the return of the confident boy they missed rather than the downtrodden and volatile shadow of him that had been frequenting her office.
These thoughts had distracted her all the way to her car but a strong smell of liquor brought her attention back to her surroundings. She very quickly identified the source and saw Porter lurking a few feet away from her car.
She twitched slightly nervously, unsure of whether he may attempt to attack her but she figured it would be quite careless on his part to do so when Karina had yet to secure him a position anywhere.
"What do you want Porter?" She said putting the key into the lock of her car. She twisted it and opened the door slightly
He stood scowling at her, propping himself up against the building.
"I just wanted to bid my goodbyes." He said sarcastically. "I thought our relationship deserved more than a disgraced flee. Plus, of course now we don't have to be civil I thought it would be a good opportunity to air all of things we've been dying to say to each other."
Lena tried to rise above it but something was holding her there - stopping her from getting into the car.
"That is if you don't have half of juvie at home to feed."
She removed her key and slammed the door shut.
Chapter 32 Preview: Lena and Porter's stand-off end in violence and his taking it out on Michelle sparks some harsh memories
"I don't even understand why you aren't celebrating? You hate teaching; you hate children; you hate everything we stand for here? Why are you so desperate to hold on? To torture yourself? To take out some latent hatred you have for your ex-wife on harmless children because they won't fight back? They can't hurt you? Is it to make yourself feel you have some worth? Are you pissed because you were beaten? Because you were outsmarted by two kids you wrote off from day one?"
Porter stared at her with such anger in his eyes that his lip quivered.