Playing Games

The Rules

 ‘No, it’s okay, please I’ll….I’ll sort it out.  I don’t want Andrew or Chase to get in trouble’ both girls tried to insist but Marias uncle stood firm. 

The next morning, he drove them to school, ‘I’m not having fighting at my house, and I’m certainly not having you getting hurt’ he was furious, her face spotted a purple bruise and was swollen and sore. Maria just wanted to stay in bed and hide under her covers, something her aunt was happy to let her do, but her uncle insisted on getting this sorted. 

Her uncle sat outside Mrs Austin’s office waiting for his appointment. Maria put her things in her locker and went to join him, she ran into Max on the way, 'Maria what the hell is going on? Everyone's saying Chase and Andrew got into another fight. Is Andrew okay? Are you okay?'

Maria didn't have a chance to answer her friend, instead Mrs Austin came out of her office and said, 'Maria, my office now.'

Inside the office was Chase, Andrew and Marias Uncle. She sat down without looking any of them in the eye, her uncle stood behind her and put a hand protectively on her shoulder. Chase looked like he couldn’t care less, and Andrew looked angry. None of them had spoken since yesterday.

'First of, I think this is a good time to point out I'm not happy. I'm not happy that two of my students got into a brawl like some common criminals. Fighting is zero tolerance and you've been here long enough to know that. I'm also not happy Andrew looks like he's ready to kill, and Maria looks like she's about to fall apart.' Maria only nodded in response.

'So, let’s make a deal, while you're in my office you're telling me the truth. And if at ANY TIME I so much as THINK you're lying; I am going to expel all three of you because frankly I’ve reached my limit. Do you understand?' Her uncle didn’t speak but he tightened his grip, Maria knew he was resisting the urge to get angry. 

‘First question, Maria, who attacked who first?' asked Mrs Austin

‘I don’t know’ she answered softly, 

Her uncle spoke up, ‘Maria tell the truth now; remember we have CCTV and it was on our lawn’

She swallowed, 'Andrew ran at Chase' she answered. She didn't want to betray Andrew, but she knew there was CCTV and her uncle would hand over the tape.

‘And I am pretty sure I already known the answer but let’s just confirm it shall we, why were they fighting?' her headteacher asked her.

'Over me I guess' she answered. She wanted the ground to swallow her up, wishing she was invisible she knew what the next questions were going to lead to. Chase wasn’t speaking and neither was Andrew and she had the impression both were slightly enjoying her discomfort. 

'Did Chase say something?' his mother asked.

'No' she answered quietly.

'You know Maria, whilst I enjoy pulling teeth, I've been in the world long enough to know that people don't just snap. Something happened' Mrs Austin was losing her patience, Chase had refused to answer her questions at home and now this. 

Maria sighed, judgement time, 'Chase gave me a lift home from practice, and we got food and then he dropped me home and me and Chase were talking and..' she rubbed the back of her neck, she hadn’t looked up from the floor yet and didn’t plan to, 'umm well we were talking and then I guess maybe I don't know something happened'

Maria was aware of everyone watching her. Her uncle was staring at the back of her head with mixture of interest and confusion, Mrs Austin looked confused as well. 'you guess maybe something happened?' she repeated.

She looked angry. Maria coughed, 'I guess maybe umm Chase and I kind of kissed because that happened and then Andrew saw it and well, he umm flipped out'

Maira would have chosen death over having to speak, she was mortified. Not only did she have to tell them, but she hadn’t spoken to Andrew, and Mrs Austin was Chases mum.  'of course, you did' Andrew said, glaring at her.

She wasn't happy. Marias uncle was furious, 'you mean he kissed you? He just forced himself on you?' he asked his niece; his voice was deathly quiet. ‘Did he?’ Andrew’s head snapped up and he looked at Maria. 

'No Uncle, I kissed him'

Everyone in the office was in shock. Maria felt awful. She couldn't look at anyone, she couldn't look at Mrs Austin, Andrew and defiantly not Chase.  

'Right,' Mrs Austin eventually said, 'well that makes sense and there are no rules against umm two students being together. I met my husband in high school,' she stammered slightly, she was pretty surprised. 'so, you aren't in trouble, and since Chase was the one attacked neither is, he' she nodded to herself.

'What about Andrew?' Maria asked,

'Maybe you should have asked that before kissing him?!' Andrew exclaimed.

'He shouldn't be in trouble it was my fault' Maria said,

'not according to the rules' Mrs Austin answered.

Chase stood up, ‘it was out of school, so drop it mum’ he said before leaving the office. Mrs Austin excused Maria and her Uncle. She walked him out of school, ‘I’m so sorry this happened’ she said. ‘Oh Maria, you weren’t to know, although maybe you and Andrew should take a break. I didn’t have him down as a violent person, but this behaviour isn’t good. Before you got there Mrs Austin told me he had only just come back from practically being suspended, though she had agreed to call it sick leave. I can’t imagine your dad would be happy, and as for Chase. That lad is like a loaded cannon, not to mention the size of a tank. Maybe stay away from both boys in the future.’ He gave her a kiss on the forehead and left her, she headed towards her class knowing that she would once again be the topic of conversation.