WARNING:
EMOTIONAL CONTENT.
Includes mentions of bullying, immigration, rac*sm, disability and emotional distress.

Early in the morning, Principal Rogerson called a staff meeting in the assembly hall. Aahan saw some teachers he had never spoken to before, and some he had exchanged pleasantries with. Aahan noticed Paige towards the left of the hall, sitting with Ruby, Nalini and Jax. He walked over to them, a nervous smile on his face when a grinning Paige waved at him.

"Hey!", she beamed. "Don't worry, I stashed some snacks in my bag to get us through this meeting."

"You're a lifesaver!", smiled Jax.

"I need to start doing that", said Nalini.

"I don't suppose you have any coffee hidden away in there?", asked Ruby.

Paige shook her head. "No, sorry. I should definitely start bringing that though."

"Um, there's a pretty good cafe near my house. I could bring in some coffee for you guys, if you like?", offered Aahan.

"Dude, I love you", said Jax.

"You're an angel, Aahan", said Nalini.

Paige pointed to Aahan. "We are so keeping you."

Aahan smiled to himself. He was quite proud of himself for winning over some of his colleagues.

"Good morning everyone!", called out Principal Rogerson. "Now, there are a few things that need to be discussed, but arguably the most important one, is the Hartlong Incident."

"The Hartlong Incident?", asked another teacher.

Principal Rogerson nodded. "Yesterday afternoon, a group of students locked Everett Hartlong in a toilet cubicle. Everett himself refused to tell us anything, but some of the students involved have been cooperative."

Everett Hartlong's parents were long time investors in the school, so it was safe to say that funding would be drastically reduced if relations with them turned sour.

"What do you intend to do about the situation?", asked Ruby.

"Well, the situation is a lot more complicated than we initially assumed. So, as you can imagine... it is tricky to navigate", said Principal Rogerson.

Michael Rogerson was out of his depth.

So far out of his depth he'd need a map to find it again.

Aside from Mr. More's hospitalisation, this was the biggest scandal to fall upon the school whilst he was in charge. It was at times like this where he longed to just be a teacher again.

"May I suggest something?", asked Ruby.

"Please, by all means, go ahead", encouraged Michael, desperate for some guidance.

"If there was no evidence of violence, then maybe the offending students should be given detention instead", suggested Ruby. "Detention usually runs for an hour, but you could extend it to a two hour session for them."

Aahan leaned closer to Paige. "They can do that?"

Paige nodded. "Yeah, it's well within the school's rights."

"That's an excellent idea Ms. Boateng", said Principal Rogerson.

"Hold on, how come a lowly receptionist gets to make the decision?", asked another teacher.

The Reception Crew, Paige and Aahan turned to look at the teacher. Ruby looked at them like they were out of their mind and Nalini looked at them like they had just insulted her mother. Jax looked at them with a confused expression.

"Excuse me, have you worked at this school for twelve years?", asked Nalini.

"Let's rephrase that. Have you been the backbone of this institute for the last twelve years?", asked Jax.

"Miss Curtis, who was it that chased up the students who failed to pay for your trip so that you could all still go?", questioned Ruby.

"There's nothing lowly about her", said Paige.

"Alright, I... I think we're getting off topic here", said Principal Rogerson. "Next on the agenda... we need a new after school detention monitor."

Ruby was surprised that Michael didn't have her back. They may be divorced, but Ruby still supported Michael when he needed her. It was professional courtesy.

"Look, I know no one likes to supervise the students in detention, but after Mr. Vallery pulled out, we are in dire need of a new supervisor."

Aahan saw this as the perfect opportunity to step up. To prove to the other teachers that he was a team player. Saving the day would definitely increase his chances of getting that teaching Award.

"I'll do it!", called out Aahan.

Paige furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "You will? You know you don't have to, right?"

"How hard can it be?"

¤¤¤

As soon as Aahan entered the classroom, he was met with twenty faces, seven of which he'd prefer to see anywhere else but here. Eloise, Rowan, Elliott, Spencer, Atlas and Zee were sat to the right of the room. Kenny and Harry were also from the same history class, but they didn't cause nearly as much problems for Aahan as those seven did.

Aahan didn't recognise the other thirteen students, but he wasn't too fussed about learning their life stories. To say he was disappointed would be an understatement. He wanted to yell at them. Shake them until they understood what was at stake here. But he did. Partly because, well, that's illegal, but also because he could see the looks on their faces.

Dejected. Hopeless. Tired.

Because of him.

Aahan couldn't believe things had gotten to the point where his students looked at him like he was the worst person in the world.

"I... I can't be here right now", said Aahan, before hurrying out of the room.

"What was that all about?", questioned Spencer.

Eloise shrugged, placing her hands on the table and rested her chin on them. She sighed heavily.

"Grumpy B*llocks can do what he wants, I'm done with him", said Eloise.

"Yeah, I'm tired of him acting like we're evil or something just because we're not spending every minute of our lives doing stuff for him", said Elliott.

"If he'd ask us why we did what we did every once in a while he'd see we weren't evil though", said Atlas.

"You think a guy like him cares?", asked Spencer.

"Yeah", said Zee. "Teachers don't care about us."

"That's not entirely true", said Rowan. "There are some nice teachers at this school."

"Doesn't mean they actually care about us though", said Zee.

"I think they deserve our respect regardless, but I have to admit... I can't remember the last time a teacher asked me how I was doing", said Irene.

"Do you think Mr. Patel deserves our respect?", questioned Zee.

Eloise expected Irene to really think about her response, like she usually did, but she was surprised to hear the answer slip out of her mouth almost immediately.

"Not after the way he's been treating us."

Eloise turned to Kenny and Harry.

"Hey, I'm sorry you two got dragged into this."

"Are you kidding? That jerk deserved what he got", said Kenny.

"Yeah, any other time you need backup against that d*ck I'm there", said Harry.

Before Eloise could respond, Aahan stormed back into the room. He turned to face the class, his expression unreadable.

"I want to hear it from you", said Aahan.

"Hear what?", asked Eloise.

"What happened to make you end up here?"

The students weren't sure if they could trust Aahan. Was this just another way for him to earn points with the teachers? If he got to the bottom of what really happened, would he been seen in a more favourable light?

Did he really care about their answers?

"Another student was... picking on a friend of ours", said Eloise.

"So you showed him the good ol' Eloise two-punch?", questioned Aahan.

"Mr. Patel, you don't know what he's like", said Atlas.

"Then tell me", said Aahan.

"You mean you'll actually listen this time?", asked Spencer.

The boy's words burned Aahan. Not because they were untrue, in fact, it was the exact opposite. For the first time since starting at the school, Aahan realised he had pride that needed to be swallowed.

"I will", he replied.

The students looked at each other, sharing an apprehensive look. They all looked at Eloise, who nodded in return.

"There's this boy in our year. He... doesn't have the best home life. He came to Marleyport to escape violence in his home country. He got citizenship and everything was approved for him and his family to stay here. Something... happened back home. His parents needed to go back. He was homeless for a while, but he found a hostel. He's been living there for the past year, but the conditions aren't great", explained Eloise.

"This guy in our year, and a couple of his friends, have been bullying him pretty much since he joined in year eight. They take his food, shout rac*st stuff at him because he's Indian. They... they lock him in rooms and in the toilet", said Atlas.

"The last straw for us was when Rowan found him head-first in a toilet, with the bullies watching and laughing at him", said Spencer.

"That's... awful", frowned Aahan. "Wait, all of you knew him?"

"He's been in my English class since year eight", said Irene.

"He's in my maths class and I used to walk home with him", said Atlas.

"We're in the religious inclusion club", said Rowan.

"I used to see him at the Mosque", said Zee.

"I see him around school a lot and we hang out sometimes", replied Eloise.

"I don't know him that well to be honest", said Elliott.

"Same here", said Spencer. "I mean I knew of him, and spoke to him in the halls once, but not much beyond that."

"Why help someone you don't know?", asked Aahan.

Spencer furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, like that was the stupidest question he had ever been asked.

"Because he's a totally cool, really nice guy. He's always smiling at people, always asking how we're doing", said Spencer.

"No one deserves to be treated the way he has", said Elliott.

Aahan couldn't quite believe his ears. These sixteen year olds really cared about this? Cared about someone they didn't really know?

"I don't get why everyone else has to be punished though", said Eloise. "I was the one who punched him. If anyone should be in detention it should be me."

"Atlas and I held them down while you did it though", said Spencer.

"Spencer's right. We were just as involved as you were."

"What did the rest of you do?", asked Aahan.

"I was the one that tricked them to come to the toilet in the first place", said Elliott. "Zee and Irene just kept watch."

"I didn't want to be involved", said Irene. "But those bullies get away with everything. I just wanted them to learn their lesson... just once."

"I wasn't actually there when it happened", said Rowan. "When Miss Green found out, I tried to explain the situation but she couldn't help us. Well, she did tell Principal Rogerson a watered down version of what happened, and that's why we only got detention."

"Rowan didn't actually get detention", said Elliott. "But he knew about the plan, and didn't want us to be the only ones with detention."

Wait. Miss Green. Paige helped the students?

This was all too much for Aahan to process. Memories started to resurface in his head. Memories he thought he had blocked out. Terrible memories. Painful memories.

¤¤¤

TWENTY YEARS AGO.

It was the start of the school year, and the then eleven year old Aahan was one month into year seven—the first year of secondary school. He had been nervous about it, but luckily Kofi was in all of the same classes as him. The pair became friends a year prior, after Kofi and his family moved next door to them, and the pair just got along instantly. It was easy for them. They bonded over being ethnic minorities in a place that didn't seem to like them. Kofi and his family moved to Marleyport from Rwanda when he was eight, while Aahan and his family came from India two years later.

Aahan and Kofi arrived early to their first class. As the students started entering the class, Aahan noticed a new face. A girl with bright blonde hair and eyes the deepest shade of blue. What struck Aahan as different, was the fact that she only had one arm. Her right arm, more specifically her forearm, was missing.

"Ugh, that's disgusting!", gasped one of the male pupils, pointing to the girl's arm. "Were you in some kind of freak accident?"

"Says the one with donkey teeth", she insulted back.

Aahan was surprised at how quick her response was. He looked at his fellow classmates, some of which laughed at the boy, but most of them continued to stare at the girl.

The teacher walked in, and all chatter ceased.

After the class ended, Aahan went to the toilet while Kofi spoke to the teacher about homework. A boy with blonde hair and dark brown eyes cornered him.

"What are you up to then?", he asked.

"Just using t-toilet", replied Aahan.

"What's with the funny accent?", questioned the boy.

Other students had pointed out Aahan's Indian accent before, as if he wasn't aware that he had been living in India for ten years!

"I just want to use to toilet, Thomas", said Aahan.

"My dad said people like you need to leave Marleyport", said Thomas.

That wasn't the first time he had heard that. His parents had tried to shelter him and his siblings from the hate. This wasn't the first time someone at school had said that either. Snide remarks, comments muttered under breath—things that were all too common.

But Aahan wasn't ashamed. Not of his home country, no. He was not ashamed of the food he ate. The traditional clothes his parents wore. The language he spoke.

It was his link to his home.

"It's people like you that shouldn't be welcome", said Aahan.

He thought saying that would make him feel stronger. Feel powerful. But his stomach just twisted into knots. The bully's eyes grew darker, a menacing smirk appearing on his face. Without warning, Thomas lunged at Aahan. He grabbed Aahan and pushed him into a cubicle. Thomas slammed his back against the wall.

"You think you're so funny, don't you?", sneered Thomas. "Your kind ruined everything for us. The people who actually belong here."

Fear running through his body, Aahan covered his face with his hands, scared Thomas would punch him. Instead, Thomas shoved his head into the toilet, laughing loudly when Aahan's screams became muffled. Aahan frantically tapped his hands against the side of the toilet, his struggle for breath getting more intense. The school bell rang, signalling the start of a new class. Thomas let go of Aahan's head and stood up. Before leaving, he turned to face Aahan and spat at him.

¤¤¤

"Mr. Patel, are you alright?", asked Atlas.

"Huh?"

"You sort of... zoned out", said Atlas.

"Right, sorry, I... I'm ok. I have to say, what you did was stupid", said Aahan. "It was cruel and wrong."

An uncomfortable silence crept up on the group. They knew Aahan wouldn't get it. Of course they shouldn't have resorted to violence, but no one was doing anything to help!

"But... I am proud of you", said Aahan.

Wait.

What?

Did Aahan just say he was... proud of his students?

"Y-You are?", questioned Rowan.

Aahan nodded. "That friend of yours must've been feeling at his lowest point. With no family to comfort and protect him... you all became his family."

"I guess I didn't really think of it like that", said Elliott.

"Yeah, we were just looking out for a friend. It didn't seem like that big of a deal", said Spencer.

Aahan smiled. "Well, it was. I have to admit... I got you all very wrong."

The group never, ever thought they'd hear those words. Not from Aahan.

"I'm... so sorry for the way I've been treating you", apologised Aahan.

The students looked at each other, still in shock about what just happened.

"I can't believe he actually apologised", said Eloise.

"And with the actual words too", said Irene.

"Yeah, he didn't even half-arse it", said Spencer.

"I thought I was hearing things", said Elliott.

"We shouldn't rule out the possibility of us somehow being an an alternate universe", said Rowan.

"Right, like we could've messed with the fabric of time when we got detention", said Kenny.

"Guys! I am standing right here", said Aahan. "But... I probably deserve all the suspicion."

"Do you really mean it? You're really sorry?", asked Eloise.

"I am."

"And you're not going to push us or overwork us again?", asked Atlas.

"No, I won't."

"Then I forgive you", said Eloise.

"Me too", said Atlas.

"So do I", said Spencer.

"I forgive you too, Sir", said Rowan.

"I do as well", said Irene.

"Same here", said Elliott.

"Yeah, I guess I do too", said Zee.

Aahan exhaled softly, a wave of relief washing over him. He had to admit, it felt good to own up to his mistakes. Yuvati was right. These students were so much more than just pesky hurdles on his road to success.

"I have an idea", said Aahan. "Detention is officially going mobile."

"What does that mean?", asked Kenny.

"You said your friend is in a hostel and the conditions aren't good, right? Well, let's head into town and see what supplies we can pick up for him", said Aahan.

"That's a great idea!", exclaimed Eloise. "We can all chip in."

Aahan shook his head. "No, you all did your part. It's time I did as well. It's on me."

As the students quickly got their things, a new jolt of energy invigorating them, Aahan thought back to his earlier memory. Of being in pain and feeling hopeless.

And what came after.

Drenched in toilet water, Aahan sat against one of the cubicle walls. He coughed violently, trying to get the water out of his throat. Quick footsteps brought his anxiety levels up again. Was Thomas back?

"Aahan? Aahan, are you in here?", called out Kofi.

Wordlessly, Aahan opened his cubicle door. Kofi's eyes widened when he saw his friend soaked through.

"What happened?", asked Kofi.

"What do you think? Thomas happened."

"Oh, when will Thomas and his friends leave us alone?", questioned Kofi.

"Never. No one is ever going to leave us alone", frowned Aahan, walking away.

As soon as he got out of the room, Kofi placed an arm in front of him to stop him from moving.

"Things will get better... won't they?", questioned Kofi. "They have to."

"My parents still get odd looks", said Aahan.

"Mine too", said Kofi. "But my mum says that when we get older... we'll be in control of our lives. They won't be able to hurt us."

"I want to control my life now!", exclaimed Aahan. "I want them to stop hurting us now."

Aahan threw his arms up in frustration. He slid down the wall, sitting down on the floor. After a few seconds, Kofi joined him.

"When you are a world famous skateboarder, you will get all the attention and praise from people", said Kofi.

"I'm not that good."

"Yes you are! You are like a professional already!"

"Well, what about you? You are a really good swimmer. You could be a swimmer in the Olympics!"

Kofi chuckled. "I do not think my parents would be happy with me being an Olympic swimmer."

"But you would be happy, wouldn't you?"

Kofi shrugged. "I guess so. But... it's not like people like us would get famous."

Aahan frowned. "Yeah... you're right."

"Oh, God, would you listen to yourselves?", called out the new girl from earlier.

She poked her head out from the hall.

"Were you listening to us the whole time?", asked Kofi.

"Hard not to with your sob stories", said the girl. "You can't let other people tell you what you can and can't do."

The girl's eyes landed on Aahan, and she let out a gasp.

"What happened to you?", asked the girl.

"Uh, I... I..."

The girl furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she tried to understand what the nervous boy was saying.

"S-Someone put my head in a toilet", said Aahan.

The girl's eyes widened. "What? That's awful! What did you do about it?"

"Do about it?", questioned Aahan. "I sat there trying not to drown!"

"What, you didn't punch them?", she asked.

"Punch them?", repeated Aahan.

"We are not really the fighting type", admitted Kofi.

"Well that's not good enough. You need to fight back against these bullies", she said.

"Like you did in our first class today?", asked Aahan.

The girl raised an eyebrow, unaware that her remark had even caught anyone's attention.

"You heard that?"

Aahan and Kofi nodded.

"It was pretty cool", said Aahan.

A small smile appeared on the girl's face. She shrugged.

"It was nothing. You just have to put people like that in their place sometimes."

"We can only dream of doing that", said Kofi. "Not a lot of people take us seriously."

"People that look like us, that is", clarified Aahan.

The girl stared at the two boys. After a few seconds, she pointed to her right upper arm.

"I've had so many people say that I was in some kind of freak show or that I had my arm hacked off because I was diseased."

"That sounds awful", said Kofi.

"Kids are stupid", said Aahan.

The girl shook her head. "Not all of them."

She knelt down on the floor, next to Aahan. She grinned at the two boys.

"We're cool", she said.

Kofi scoffed. "I don't think anyone here would see us in that way."

The girl shrugged. "Doesn't matter. We've got nothing to prove."

Aahan tried to work out why this girl was so different. Like him and Kofi, she was a bit of an outsider. Maybe not in the same way, but she was still seen as odd by their peers. She should be furious right now. Or heartbroken and dejected, like he and Kofi were.

But she wasn't.

She refused to let it get to her. Aahan had never met someone like her before.

"I'm Allison, by the way", she said. "Stick with me, and we'll get through this together."

It was that day that Aahan knew, with Kofi and Allison by his side, he'd never be alone again.

_______

Hi.

Aahan finally apologised to the students! A few of the storylines that come after this point are some of my favourites, precisely because they occur at a time when Aahan is actually on the students' side.

I've been worried about the reveal of Aahan's backstory being too late, but I feel like it still makes sense. There will be more flashbacks to Aahan's past that are absolutely crucial in learning more about him and where his storyline is heading. We finally learned who Allison is! This is only the tip of the iceberg though.

I liked including more of the Reception Crew too! It's been struggle to write them, mainly because they just don't come as naturally to me as the students. I can envision their scenes so well but it's hard to write them. I do really like their storylines though, so I am going to try my best to write them.

The group helping their fellow student who was struggling was great to write. It shows that, for all their differences and flaws, these teenagers genuinely do want to help. They want to make their part Marleyport a little better. Stories like their friend's are very common though, and there should be more support available for those seeking refuge in hostels.

What are your thoughts on this chapter?

starryeyedturtle

DoodleYeet

LeMystical-Puffle

ejsandfarkleslovebot

Tornado-Jockey