Zoe's Office Hours - August 2

[bigdamnprincipal]

By the time Zoe had finished setting herself up for the day, the air conditioning was on full blast, she had one fan going on top of her desk, and another circulating air from on top of the filing cabinet. Now all she needed was a cabana boy and some grapes some water, and she was pretty sure she'd be good to go for the rest of the day.

Comments

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec showed up, freshly-showered, after being at the gym and receiving the Principal's handwavy summons. He knocked at the doorframe and peeked inside. "You called for a cabana boy for me, Principal Washburn?"

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe glanced over from trying to reposition her desk fan and nodded. "Alec, right? Yes, I did. Come in and have a seat."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

He gave her a hurt look as he closed the door and took his seat. "You don't remember me, ma'am?"

[bigdamnprincipal]

How she'd ended up with so many charmers in one school, Zoe would never know. "Actually, I do remember you. But the last time I had to call you in here, you didn't have a proper name yet."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"And you were so generous as to give me one," he said, smiling. "So what can I do for you, Principal Washburn?"

[bigdamnprincipal]

"I was hoping I might be able to talk to you about the Winchesters, and about Sam in particular," she said. "I've heard that the two of you are having some problems with each other."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec suppressed a frown and shook his head, giving a very good attempt at looking innocent. "I've got no problem with him. He just hasn't liked me since day one."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"And you're sure that you haven't given him a reason to dislike you?" Zoe asked. "Both he and Dean claim that you've been 'riding' on Sam, and while I'm not sure what exactly that means, I'm assuming it's not a positive comment."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"I have his older brother's face?" Alec said, putting some carefully feigned thought into it. "I suppose he might just be sensitive to teasing."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"So, you admit you've been teasing him then?" Zoe smirked softly. "I know that sometimes boys will use teasing as a way to show affection. If that's what's going on here, you should know that your signals aren't quite coming out correctly."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec's eyes widened a little. "Affection. Like-- oh, no. No way," he said, making a face.

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Well, then do you have a good explanation for it? Dean seemed very concerned, and he doesn't strike me as the 'ask authority for help' type."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"Dean's very protective of him," Alec said slowly. "And Sam's got some kind of jealousy thing going on because I hang out with Dean." He might have looked a little cranky about that. Just a little.

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe nodded. "And that's why Sam hit you - because he's jealous. You didn't have anything to do with it?" She looked reasonably skeptical about that.

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"He doesn't like me," Alec said, going back to an earlier tactic. "So everything I say he doesn't like. Everything I do he doesn't like."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"And has it ever occured to you that maybe the things you're saying aren't so nice? We have a lot of communication barriers at this school - you may not realize how your comments are coming off to the Winchesters."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"I get along with everyone else fine," Alec said, ignoring the fact that no, he didn't. "I'm good at communication - it's what I do."

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe gave him another skeptical look. "All right then. Communicate to me what happened the other day with you and Sam. I've already heard two versions, so a third one can't hurt."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec sighed; he hadn't heard either Dean or Sam's version of events, so he'd just have to make a stab in the dark. "I was joking around with him, talking about a party we'd both gone to. He got mad because I didn't come back and help clean up. I was insensitive, I guess, and he punched me."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Well, at least your version doesn't make it sound like it was a complete accident, so that might be closer to the truth than the other two." Zoe just barely resisted the urge to rub her head to try to massage away the headache this was giving her.

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec nearly facepalmed when he heard the word accident - rule one of lying was utilizing the truth. ""No, it was no accident." He shrugged a little, giving the principal a faint grin. "He didn't hit me that hard though; there's not a mark on me."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"I suppose that can be considered one positive point in all of this," Zoe admitted. "But that doesn't change the fact that Sam did hit you, and I don't think I can get a straight answer out of any of you as to why. Honestly, despite what Dean seems to think, I doubt that me talking to all of you will get us anywhere. This is something the three of you are going to have to work out on your own."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec nodded after a second, wondering what the downside was of what he was hearing. "Yes, ma'am, I agree."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Good. So, then you'll also agree that detention will provide an excellent opportunity for you to start working these issues out. Since I can't figure out which one of you really started this fight, it seems only fair to give you both the same punishment."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry it had to come down to this, Principal Washburn," he said in apology, smiling at her a little sheepishly.

[bigdamnprincipal]

The fact that he wasn't arguing with her made Zoe take notice. Not that that was such a bad thing, of course. "I'm sorry too. But hopefully after this week's detention, this sort of thing won't happen again."

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

"Hopefully not," Alec said, standing up. "I hope we see each other under more pleasant circumstances next time, ma'am." He smiled at her as he moved to leave. "And thanks for being willing to hear my side as well."