Graveyard silence filled the staff room as everyone listened to Ace's accusations and sarcastic comments. Just then, the school's first bell rang, breaking the tense atmosphere. Taking the cue, Ms. Matthews and Principal Martin quickly pulled Ava off Ace, while the teachers hurried to their classrooms, avoiding his gaze like guilty children. Ace, with a smirk, had the audacity to mutter, "Saved by the bell."
There was a reason Ace was adding fuel to the fire, blowing the situation out of proportion. He wanted the school to reject Ava's transfer or expel her if she was already accepted. Why? There were too many reasons. Among the important ones: ex-classmate, C.I.B mother, and Steal Song Society scapegoat.
This was the only school in the entire town. If Ava wasn't accepted here, she'd have to find another school district or return to her father's school and resume her role as the rebellious princess. As long as she was out of his life he didn't care what she did.
"Principal Martin, please follow me to my office with your daughter," a gray-haired woman in her early sixties, dressed in a J.Crew suit and pearl necklace, said sternly. Turning to Ms. Matthews, she added in a crisp tone, "Ms. Matthews, take the boy to your class. You can complete the necessary admission procedures later."
"Yes, Principal Heyns." Ms. Matthews hurried to her desk, grabbed her lesson plan, and gestured for Ace to follow her. But Ace didn't move. Instead, he locked eyes with Principal Heyns and asked coldly, "Madam, you saw and heard everything that happened here. Until you give me a proper answer, I'm not going anywhere."
"I will speak with your uncle. Now, follow your homeroom teacher to class," Principal Heyns ordered, her voice brooking no argument. The mention of his uncle made Ace hesitate. Realizing he was cornered, he decided to back down. Before he could leave, she added, "If I were you, I'd consider apologizing to all the teachers."
"Thank you, but I'm not you, ma'am," Ace replied smoothly, stepping out of the staff room without waiting for her response, his voice echoing with defiance. Ava, still glaring at him fiercely, felt a flicker of admiration. But it did nothing to soften her sharp gaze.
Seeing Ace go ahead and climb the stairs by the staff room without her, Ms. Matthews hurried after him, calling, "Lander, wait!" Reaching the stair platform, Ace paused, then followed her in heavy silence. He wasn't in the mood to admire her swaying big butt ahead of him, knowing his plan to send Ava packing had failed—and he'd gained a troublemaker status among the teachers. It seemed his school days ahead wouldn't be easy.
Just as they arrived at the classroom door, Ms. Matthews turned, saying, "Lander, things got—" But Ace, lost in his thoughts, crashed into her soft body. Startled, he quickly apologized, "Sorry, ma'am. I wasn't paying attention."
"That's okay. Are you alright?" Ms. Matthews asked gently, her brow furrowed in concern as she recalled the incident downstairs. It was only natural that he'd space out. At least he had stood up for himself—if it had been her, she couldn't imagine enduring the same.
Ace wanted to say, 'Ma'am, your meat bags saved me from a concussion,' but instead, he said, "I'm alright. I'm truly sorry."
"That's good. As I was saying, things got out of hand downstairs, but I promise it won't happen again. All students are equal to me," Ms. Matthews explained, only to see Ace roll his eyes at her. Her jaw tightened, irritation flashing across her face, but she decided to prove herself through actions, not words. She continued evenly, "Now, follow me into the class, and introduce yourself to your new classmates when I give the cue."
As the duo opened the classroom door, they were met with a chaotic chant of, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Ms. Matthews' eyes narrowed, and Ace's gaze swept over the room, quickly taking in the scene. A blonde jock wearing the school's letterman jacket had Danny by the collar, glaring at him in fury. Suddenly, Danny let out an exaggerated cry, "Awhh, ahh!"
"Brock, unhand Danny!" Ms. Matthews shouted, her voice sharp with shock. The students scattered like startled birds, hurriedly returning to their seats. Brock released Danny's collar, his face twisting in confusion. But to his dismay, Danny immediately crumpled to the floor, wailing dramatically, "Ah! Ah! Brock, don't hit me anymore! I'll give you my lunch money!"
Ms. Matthews rushed to Danny's side, shooting a fierce glare at Brock. Brock's shoulders slumped, frustration plain on his face. He raised his head in protest, looking genuinely confused. Aside from grabbing Danny's collar, he hadn't touched him.
Meanwhile, Ace stood by the door, a subtle grin creeping onto his face. He watched as Ms. Matthews tried to help Danny into his chair, unaware of the boy's antics. However, the rest of the boys, including Ace, noticed Danny's deliberate attempt to lean his full body against her, pressing into her E-cup fun bags.
From the corner of his eye, Danny had spotted Ms. Matthews and Ace enter the room. Sensing an opportunity, he pretended to be hurt. He exaggerated his injury, hoping to get Brock in trouble while taking advantage of Ms. Matthews' ignorant kindness.
"Ms. Matthews, he's clearly pretending," Brooke said, crossing her arms with an exasperated sigh. But Ms. Matthews wasn't in the mood. "Shut up, Brooke," she snapped. Then, turning to Danny, she softened her tone. "Are you alright, or do you want to go to the nurse's office?"
"It hurts a little, but I'll manage," Danny replied, careful not to overplay his hand lest the whole act blow up in his face.
"Everyone, take out your textbooks and revise yesterday's lesson. I will return in five minutes," Ms. Matthews instructed the class, her tone firm. She turned a hard glare on Brock. "You, follow me to the Principal's office."
As they passed Ace, she paused to say, "You sit beside Danny. I will get to you after I deal with him."