Office Hours, March 31

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe had been tempted to show up for work on Monday and pretend nothing had happened last week, but then she'd realized that if there was ever a time to take a few days to do little more than stay at home and make love to her wonderful husband who didn't do disgustingly romantic things to her, that time was now.

So, Zoe was looking very refreshed when she finally came back in. If no one mentioned scientists or the egregious insult of being assumed to be Umbridge, she might even stay that way.

[Door and post are open! I should be on around noon!]

Comments

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

Dru had been putting this off, but with the end of the semester only a few weeks away, she needed to make plans.

Head down, she scuffed the toe of her boot on floor and knocked on the door.

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Come in," Zoe said, peering up from her latest batch of paperwork. "What can I do for you?"

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"I um, need to figure out what to do when the semester ends," Dru said as she stepped into the office. "I was supposed to leave and go back with my dad, but a vampire turned him into a zombie a few weeks ago and I had to kill him. My dad that is. The vampire, well, he wants to kill me."

There were no simple problems at Fandom.

[bigdamnprincipal]

And yet Zoe had still been hoping for a simple question. Silly principal.

"Why don't you have a seat," she said, motioning to the chair across from her. "I'm sorry about your father. That must have been a very difficult task for you. No child should have to take their parent's life."

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

Dru took a seat and crossed her arms. Even though she wasn't in trouble, she had too many memories of trips to the principal's office in some of her previous schools to feel comfortable.

"It was either pull the trigger or be eaten," she shrugged. "He trained me. I knew what I had to do. What he would want me to do."

Zoe dealt with Winchesters, she should recognize repression as a coping technique.

[bigdamnprincipal]

Oh yes, Zoe was having flashbacks to the boys right then and there. "Then I'm sure he was proud of you, deep down," she said. "Do you have other family members to stay with now?"

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"No. The sucker that killed him, killed my mom when I was little," Dru replied. "There was my Gran, but she died five years ago. I'm on my own now."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"I'm very sorry," Zoe said sympathetically. Why couldn't the students have pleasant lives, even if they couldn't be normal. "If you're concerned about the summer, most of the students stay here at the school, out at the cabins. There's plenty to do and everyone seems to enjoy themselves. You wouldn't have to be on your own."

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"I was wondering about that," she admitted. "It won't be a problem this late?"

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Not at all. We usually assume everyone's staying unless they tell us otherwise," Zoe explained. "You'd be in very good company."

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"Does the same go for the Fall?" Not that Dru was really thinking that far ahead, but it was another option to keep in mind. "Technically I've still got a year till I'm legal. I could go to my Gran's cabin. It's mine now. But I'm not sure how safe it is."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"If there's no one to suggest a different school for you, then I suppose the decision is yours," Zoe said. "You'd be welcome to stay and finish your education, if you want to."

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"There might be another option. But it's complicated at the moment," Dru admitted. She hadn't heard from Christophe, and she still wasn't certain about the Schola. "For now, I think I'll stay here."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Good. I'm very glad to hear that," Zoe said with a smile. "If there's anything you need, even if it's just someone to talk to about things, you can come to me, or any of your teachers, really. Just know you don't have to deal with things on your own."

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"I think my boss would get it if I talked to him," she replied. "I've just got to work it out in my own head right now."

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe nodded. "Take your time. I'll still be here once you've got it all worked out, all right?"

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

Dru nodded. "Thank you ma'am. I appreciate it. I'll get out of your hair now. Thanks for your time."