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Eddie's been in the principal’s office for fighting his entire school career. The only reason he had to repeat senior year so many times was due to his amount of suspensions.
So, sitting across from an oak desk was par for the course really.
What wasn't however, was Steve sitting next to him and Amelia pouting outside the door.
“She did what?” Steve asked.
“Amelia broke Justin’s nose,” the principal repeated. “This type of behavior is not tolerated—”
“Why?” Eddie interrupted.
“What?”
“Why'd she break that kid’s nose?”
“Why doesn't matter, violence is not acceptable,” he replied with pursed lips.
“She’s normally not a fighter, right? So that kid must have done something,” Steve said. “Did you even ask her?”
The principal’s silence said all they needed to hear.
“Amelia, can you come in here please?” Eddie called.
Amelia quietly stepped into the office, eyes cast down, and bottom lip quivering.
“Amelia, why did you hit your classmate?” Steve asked softly. The girl shrugged once.
“Amelia,” Eddie didn't need to say anything else for the truth to explode out.
“He kept shoving worms in Terry’s face!! Terry asked him to stop but he didn't. So I made him stop!” She stomps her little foot to emphasize her point.
“Did you tell the recess attendant?” Steve, ever the guidance counselor, asked.
“Yeah, the first ten times it happened. But they never do anything!” Amelia's red in the face from exertion, moments away from angry tears.
Eddie turned back to the principal with a raised eyebrow.
“Sounds like your school does condone this kind of behavior if you won’t stop bullies.”
“Regardless, she still hit a student,” the man implored. Eddie was done with this guy.
“And I've never been prouder,” he declared. “Suspend her or don't, but she's getting ice cream on the way home.”
“You're going to reward violence?” The principal scoffed.
“I'm rewarding her for standing up for her friend,” Eddie corrected.
“Mr. Munson, you're a guidance counselor, surely you can—” the man tried, but Steve chuckled condescendingly.
“Maybe, if your teachers were more capable of handling bullies, you'd be talking to Justin's parents about their son's behavior instead of trying to get us to punish our little paladin,” Steve shrugged.
“Okay, now I've never been prouder,” Eddie said, beaming at his husband.
The principal sighed and shook his head.
“We'll give her a warning this time, but if it happens again it'll be a three day suspension.”
“Are you gonna make Justin stop shoving worms in Terry's face?” Amelia glared at the man, crossing her arms.
The principal blinked at the girl, taking in her righteous anger. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“I will,” he promised.
“Then I won't hit him again,” Amelia replied, sticking out a hand for a shake. He took it, agreeing to the deal.
They left the office, heads held high.