CHAPTER 1-2
1060 Words
"What?!!"
Elise exclaimed loudly as she stood in front of Principal Shrew's desk.
"You heard what I said young lady! You will not be given a bonus for this month," said Principal Shrew, sitting steadily in her chair, yet a tiny shrivel of a smile almost appeared on her lips.
"After your numerous unconventional teachings to your students, a few school trips to questionable places, and several warnings, I have all the reasons I need to deny you your bonus for the holidays."
"Unconventional teachings? You call giving my students the avenue to showcase themselves entirely without anything or anyone restricting them is unconventional?" replied Elise, trying her best to keep her anger in check.
"It's unconventional and dangerous!" Principal Shrew shouted, abruptly standing up on her chair as she slammed her left fist on her desk, "This school has been given the latest tools and technology this country can buy so that it could be at the disposal of our students, do you think we need your archaic teachings as opposed to the new and improved?"
"...I"
"Do you?!"
Her hands clenched and her teeth chattered, yet as she closed her eyes and took a breath, she let go, "... No, Mam."
A smirk appeared on the Principal's face, sitting down gently on her chair, satisfied.
"But... I still need the bonus, Miss Shrew. I'm behind on my bills and I still have debts to p-"
"Your poor excuse for an engagement is not my concern, take this as a lesson the next time you endanger our students, good day, Miss Bennet!"
She opened her mouth, yet words couldn't fall out, "I... Goodbye, Miss Shrew."
She turned and walked out of her office, standing still in the hallway, head down and breathing slowly, trying to gain her composure, "... Why does everything have to be harder..."
TING!
A bell sound rang inside her jeans, she quickly took her phone out of her pocket and opened it. It was a notification from a message she just received.
"Heyya Girl!! How's your day been?? Did the treehouse work out okay?" A contact named Jessie Layne appeared on her screen, prompting her to press it.
"Hey Girl! The treehouse worked out perfectly for the most part... not sure about what came after though." she replied, sliding her body downwards on the wall, taking a seat on the floor.
"I know that tone of yours, spill! What happened??"
"Do you remember our principal? The one I told you about?"
"The witch? Yeah, I heard you talk about her once or twice, what about her?"
"She got angry about the treehouse and that I 'endangered' the kids. She called me to her office today."
"So you got another scolding for being a good teacher, so what?! As long the kids adore you, she can't do anything!"
"...She removed my bonus for the holiday."
"... Oh... well, that's different."
"I'm literally panicking over here, Jess! I still have to use my current paycheck to pay the bills but that won't leave much for the debt I need to pay for my freaking botched wedd-"
"Girl, shhh!" Jessie interrupts her, "Don't you dare say another word about things that are already done, I'll pick you up after work and we'll go to a nice restaurant to get your mind off things, my treat!"
"Jess, I can't ask you to do that for m-"
"You're not asking, I'm demanding! Let's go eat your sorrows away and who knows, perhaps you'll find someone better than that dump ex of yours."
"... I don't know about finding somone, but I'll definitely gulp my sorrows away."
"That's the spirit! I'll pick you up after I'm done with this show. Wear something red and with a bit of fur, can't go out without following this month's theme!'
"Hahahaha, I'll see what I can find, meet you later!"
She stood up from the floor, turning her phone off before tidying herself up. She took a deep breath as she stood straight, moving bits of strands away from her face.
"... Everything... will be alright, Elise." She reassured herself, walking back to her class.
After a few hours of doing activities and lessons with her students—roleplaying as santa and his little helpers, decorating their room with drawings and ornaments they made with recycled paper and plastic, and singing festive songs until the end of the school period—she finally left the school building and walked towards the side of the road.
As she strolled, she waved goodbye to her students as they reunite with their families and friends, had small talk with a few colleagues, and gave Principal Shrew a quick glare before facing away. When she arrived at the road, she stood steadily waiting for Jessie, but her eye was caught.
A small image caught her sight just a short distance from the road, towering over the school building beside it. It was the treehouse, yet not quite as festive and bright as she left it. There were a few people taking down all the decorations and Christmas lights they put up, undoing all of their work and effort.
Her eyes widened and her hands turned into fists, she readied herself to run and prepared her throat to shout, "Hey! What are y-"
"Elieee!!" A distant voice called out her name, making her stop.
She looked around to see who it was. There was a black sedan parked just a few steps away from her, with a man waving his hand through the car window. It was Jessie. Short bleached hair with silver piercings on his ears and nose, waving his hand with fingernails coated with dark purple nail polish.
"Come, Girl! We don't want to be late! The restaurant is usually crowded and I don't want to miss out on their signature calamari dish, so hurry up!"
She waved back to Jessie, yet without a smile, though Jessie didn't notice. She turned her gaze back to the treehouse, observing each person stripping away every ornament, candle, and light from the treehouse, fueling her rage even further.
Yet her hand refused to clench, her feet yielded, and her breath escaped, "... Relax, Elise... There's nothing you can do... Just go and enjoy your night," She whispered to herself before turning her gaze away from the treehouse.
"I'm coming, Jess!"
- Writer
