Jackson was already at his desk, studying a bunch of papers when we entered. "About time too", he said looking up at us when we went and stood opposite him. "Sir, I'll go and get our respective guardians", told Jake suddenly. I looked behind me to see that only I and Jake had entered the room. "Alright, go on", replied Jackson. Jake walked out of the room and I was about to follow him when Jackson called out, "I believe Mr. Wilson would be able to carry that task out on his own. Isn't that right, Mr. Wilson?" "Yes, sire", replied Jake before walking out of the room. "Miss Moraitis, would you please be kind enough to go into the storeroom and get me this particular file?", asked principal Jackson holding out a post it note in his hand. I went up to him, placed my bag on a chair nearby,took the note in hand and with a nod, went into the store room.
Just as I entered and the door shut behind me, I heard voices from the Principal's room. I started searching through the shelves nearest to the door first and I heard Jackson ask, "You must be here on behalf of Mr Wilson and you on behalf of Miss Moraitis. Am I right?" I heard voices that I couldn't exactly acknowledge. I moved deeper into the room to search until the voices from outside wasn't audible anymore. After what seemed like an eternity, I found the file that Jackson had asked me to. With the file in hand, I exited the storeroom and walked towards the Principal's desk desk only to find Jake sitting there with Tevoris . "What's happening here Tevie?", I blurted out placing the file on the desk. Both looked at me without saying a word. "Mr. Wilson and his guardian was just leaving okay. Yours had to make an urgent phone call so I guess he'll just be back", answered the Principal. Confused, I look from the face of one to the other. I had no fucking clue as to what was happening at that point. How on earth was Tevie Jake's guardian and what did he mean by mine had gone out to me make a phone call? My gaze lingered on Tevoris' face and there was a glint of mischievousness in his eye. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Washington", said the Principal grasping Tevoris' hand into a firm handshake. "My pleasure sir", Tevie replied and walked out of the room with Jake at his heels, without paying the slightest attention to my existence.
"Miss Moraitis, please come here and take a seat", ordered the Principal which I followed. "Where are your parents, Miss Moraitis?", he asked. "They died years ago. I grew up with my siblings from about the age of 7", I replied bluntly.
"So,who took care of you?"
"My siblings"
Tears were forming in my eyes as memories with my brothers flashed in my brain. I struggled to keep them in in check by answering short.
"All right, so how old are they ?"
"Well, one is 21 and the eldest is 24."
"May I ask you why you aren't enrollment under the guardianship of either of them?"
"Sir, that is a sensitive topic for me. I'm not very comfortable to speak about it."
"Alright, I'm sorry."
Principal Jackson closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair and sighed. I hoped he didn't have anymore questions to ask as I felt extremely hungover and unable to focus on anything around me.
"I will just go on a round and come back. Don't leave the room till I get back. All right?"
"Alright sir", I replied happy that I could get some alone time for a while.
Principal Jackson stood up and coming near me, he patted me on my shoulder before walking out of the room. Happy to be left alone at long last, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep with my head on the table.
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"Miss Moraitis, I'm afraid your nap will have to be cut short", I heard. I tried to turn over to my side but was unable to. I opened my eyes to what seemed like stacked cuboids right in front of me. I blinked only to realize they were books and that my head was on some really hard surface. I lifted my head and realized that I had dozed off in the Principal's office and that he was staring intently at me from his chair. "I'm sorry, sir. I was just really tired and since you told me I wasn't allowed to leave the room, I dozed off", I apologized. He waved off my explanations and said, " I have one last question for you. Could you tell me who have you brought to speak on your behalf? Are they individuals who influence you in any manner at all?"
I stared at him not knowing what to say. What was I supposed to say anyways? That I hadn't exactly brought anyone or that the one who had owned up to be here had spoken on behalf of my friend and not me? I opened my mouth and closed them, not knowing what to say. "Well?", he questioned again. I decided to come clean and tell him that Tevoris was my friend and that I had no clue why he had spoken on behalf of Jake. I opened my mouth to answer but the voice that was heard in the room was not mine. In fact it was a voice I had known all my life yet was the most unexpected one at this point."Well, considering the fact that she's my sister and that I was actively involved in bringing her up as a responsible adult, I believe she is indeed influenced by me. May I take a seat?" I saw Principal Jackson pointing to the seat next to me but I dared not look. I felt I was daydreaming and pinched myself painfully on my arm. I was still in reality and so, my curiosity getting the better of me, made me turn my head slightly to look at the seat next to mine, only to see Azeus Moraitis sitting there in flesh and blood.