Chapter 18
Chloe had been called to the principal’s office. When she had gotten the phone call, everyone had insisted on coming, even Alice. Eventually, they had agreed that Aubrey and Jesse would bring David to school and wait for them at a nearby coffee shop. Alice had soon seen that it wouldn't help if she showed up with Chloe and Beca.
So here they were, Chloe was sitting in a chair, bouncing her leg, while Beca was pacing back and forth. The principal and representatives of the board were inside, and a little after nine Chloe was called in. Beca followed her into the office.
“Uhh, Ms Mitchell, could you wait outside, please?” The principal asked.
“No, I want to be here for Chloe.” Beca replies, placing her hand on Chloe’s shoulder.
The principal exchanges a look with the head of the board, who shrugs.
“Okay, Ms Mitchell, have a seat then.”
The principal directs his attention to Chloe again.
“Ms Beale, we have received some pictures of you and Ms Mitchell, in which you to show behaviour that is in disagreement with our policies. You have informed me before about the fact that you were staying with Ms Mitchell, but these pictures show a more … intimate … situation.”
“Yeah, that is a very recent development.” Chloe admits.
“So, I warned you about possible consequences, but given the circumstances, we have not yet reached an agreement with the board. Which means that you are suspended until the end of the week, until we reach an agreement.”
Chloe nods.
“Would you like to add something we should know?”
“Beca and I got together only this weekend, but it is definitely more than a fling. If you make me choose, I'll choose her.”
“What Chloe means to say is that she loves her job here, but that what we have is serious. Chloe and I have a long history. We knew about the rules, and we intended to lay low, but we had not expected to be followed to my apartment. We should have been even more discrete. When things would have been less… new, we would have informed you. I'm sorry. We hope you will see this is an exceptional situation.” Beca speaks for Chloe.
“Yes, about the way we received this information, we strongly condemn mr Adams’ actions. We have received a message from another mom, that she has had some unpleasant experiences with him. Have you had any previous problems with him, Ms Beale?”
“Well, he has always been a little… well just too much you know? Won’t take no for an answer easily, but he has always stayed within borders, until…”
Chloe stops and Beca looks at her. “Chlo, you’ve got to tell them..”
Chloe swallows and continues: “Last Friday Beca and I were at a bar, still as friends, nothing's happened until Saturday and when I made my way through the bar by myself, he, mr Adams, grabbed my wrist and… let's say he was more persistent than usual, and when I still said no, he took his homophobia out on me. It was scary, eventually he let go, because some of the other people kept looking at us.”
Beca squeezes Chloe's hand.
The woman, who is part of the board, opens her mouth for the first time.
“I'm so sorry to hear that, Ms Beale. It must have been hard for you. If you decide to take action against him, which I would advise, given what he has done, the board will support you. Regardless of the outcome of your suspension.”
Chloe nods.
The head of the board clears his throat and says: “Okay, unless you would still like to add something, we are done here for now. We expect you back on Friday morning to hear our decision.”
Chloe gets up and Beca follows her out the office.
When they get through the door, they are met by a dozen parents.
“Ms Beale, how did it go?”
“They haven't fired you, have they?”
Numerous parents start to ask questions all at the same time.
Chloe raises her hands to silence them.
“I appreciate all your support, but I will have to wait until Friday to hear the final verdict. Until then I am suspended.”
Again there is a burst of reactions. Chloe smiles and pushes her way through. Beca is impressed by how loved Chloe is and secretly she hopes the board takes this into account. The group of parents stay, according to Alice they were going to put a word in with the principal. Two men separate themselves from the group.
“Ms Beale, Will Adams is outside, would you like us to come with you? I mean, we don't want to be belittling you, but yeah, he’s a big man and pissed off..”, one of the men asks.
“We’d appreciate it if you could accompany us to our car.”, Chloe replies.
Indeed when they walk to the car, Will is yelling at them, but the men prevent him coming too close.
After pulling out of the parking lot, they head to the coffee shop where Jesse and Aubrey are waiting.
“Chloe, are you okay?”
“Hmm, yeah, sort of.”
“I was moved by all the parents that showed up for you.”
“Yeah, me too” Chloe squeezes Beca’s hand.
They walk into the coffee shop where Jesse and Aubrey are already waiting for them. Aubrey has a stash of papers in front of her, but first they discuss the meeting shortly. After that Jesse and Beca get up to get a refill. Aubrey helps Chloe fill out the paperwork for the restraining order and promises to care of that.
Later that day everyone had gathered at Beca’s apartment for dinner. Beca distributes the lasagna and Chloe passes the salad around. When everyone's plate is filled, they dig in, while making light conversation.
“Mom, what's a lesbian?” David asks out of the blue. “Jake says Chloe can't teach us anymore, because she’s a lesbian.”
“Well… a lesbian is a girl who has relationships with other girls.” Beca replies a little hesitant.
“What's a relationship?”
“That's when you love someone and you stay with them.”
“Like Chloe is staying with us?”
“Yeah, actually, yes. But that's actually not why Chloe can't teach now. It's because of a rule at school, so they now need to decide what to do.”
“Oh okay, I love Chloe staying with us, I also hope she can come teach us again.” And with that the matter is closed for David.
The conversation steers to more general topics, until Jesse puts his fork down.
“There is something we need to tell you, Aubrey and I will be moving back to the States next year February. I will finish the last part of the trilogy by then, and Aubrey has enough time to have structured the European branch enough so that she can lead it from here.”
“Oh, we need to hurry then, I still plan on coming for a visit.”
“Yeah, you should really come, maybe for summer break or Christmas?”
“We’ll set something up, let's just wait how the entire situation plays out.”
They finish dinner and not long after that Jesse and Aubrey decide to call it a night, because they fly back to the UK early the next morning.