FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 29 ~~~~~

Goodness, that's impressive.

Taking on nearly six kids and holding her own was a feat within itself.

He couldn't be more proud of her. Still, part of him wished she came to him for help, but even Alastor knew that sometimes kids wanted to sort things out themselves. He felt like his little girl believed that he might take things a bit too far.

Which, depending on what these children did, would depend on a response. He didn't want to think too rashly, not with a delicate situation like this.

"Mr. Hilmarsson, thank you for arriving so quickly." The principal said the moment Alastor closed the door. "I'm sure you're aware of what this is about?"

"I merely told that I was needed to come here right away, that Amalie was in a fight." And from the looks of it, Amalie was ganged up on by the others. "I was a bit taken aback when I received the call."

"Yes well, as I was explaining to Mia's aunt, this is something that can't be excused, no matter who started it."

"Even though my daughter had been repeatedly provoked?" Alastor asked.

The principal didn't answer his question. Rude. Instead, the man turned his attention back to Amalie. "Amalie, I know you and Mia have your bouts, but don't you think you went too far in how you acted?"

So you blame the victim, that's classic.

"If Mia apologizes, do you think you can get along with each other from now on?"

Amalie didn't answer, the Principal looked to Mia as if to coax the girl into doing what he said. And from the looks of it, she didn't want to.

"Ugh fine," Mia muttered before facing Amalie. "Look, it was a dumb stupid fight, so let's just forget it happened okay? I'm sorry." And offered up her hand from Amalie to take.

"Now Amalie," the Principal said drawing Alastor's attention. "Mia's offered a sincere apology, she didn't mean to do what she did. Don't you think you should accept it?"

You call that a sincere apology? Are you joking?

Even Mia's aunt seemed a bit perplexed by this whole thing.

Only instead of taking Mia's offered hand, Amalie just stared at it, unmoved.

"Why?" Amalie asked, looking at the principal with an almost disappointed gaze. "This solves nothing, it doesn't fix anything. She'll just tell me to die again like she always does. Like all the others in the class. Do you want me to die too?"

The principal flinched before looking to Amalie's father.

Alastor was also angry in learning this but restrained himself as he kept his hands clasped together behind his back as he kept that faint smile and did not give what the man wanted. The man caused this mess, let him drown in it.

"O-of course not Amalie, we'd never want that. Your friends, classmates and teachers don't either. You're an incredibly bright young lady. No one would ever want to hurt you."

"Liar," Amalie said. "You're lying."

"What makes you think that?"

"Mia, Jill, Nancy, Edward, Brandon and Josh. A bunch of others, and Ms. Miller. She just lets, whatever happens, happens. You're supposed to know what happens in the school yet you act like you don't. Do you even care about us? Do we even matter? Because from where I stand, you don't care."

"Is that true?" Mia's aunt asked before looking at Mia horrified who continued to sulk. "Mia what on earth? Why? Why would you do that?" but Mia didn't answer, she only shook off her aunt's hand.