chapter 36: Meetings

"Why do you believe Atticus Finch's neighbors turned on him?" Our teacher asked. 

He's been trying to get us to engage in this discussion on To Kill a Mockingbird, but he sat behind his desk looking half asleep. He has had this conversation for so many years, there's probably nothing new for him to hear. 

Or at least nothing new to hear until Hina became his student. 

She just muttered it, but with the silence of the room, she might as well have shouted, "Because he's a trader, going against his own kind."

Our teacher's head shot up now, eyes falling to Hina, "Care to elaborate?"

She slouched in her desk, like she didn't want to, then saw that I was watching her. Now she chose to elaborate.

"Well, if my neighbor told me she had been raped by someone, I'd listen to her before I'd believe some Nigger."

"Woah!" Said a few people in class. Me not being one of them. I just turned forward, as if looking away from her would stop the word from existing.

"It's in the book," she protested, "I'm just quoting, anyway. Atticus knew this would happen before he even took the job so, he chose to go be a nigger lover, siding with him."

I was sinking in my chair, Bokuto noticing. Always noticing. "Ease up Hina," he said carefully, as if she were a bomb that could go off at any moment.

"Bokuto, would you like to chime in?" The teacher asked, seeming as though for once he didn't know what to say. Just letting the students go at it.

"Actually, yeah. Atticus was just trying to do his job and defend a human being in court. If his neighbors turned on him for that, he's not the problem, they are. And we pretty much get proof of them being the problem anyway, since they killed him before they could even finish the trail."

"He deserved it," Hina spat.

Bokuto wiped around in his seat, "For existing?"

"For raping!"

"There was no proof!"

"That doesn't mean he didn't do it! And even if he didn't, it was only a matter of time before he did something," there was no muttering anymore.

Well beside me who muttered, "Because when you Black you're guilty until proven innocent." I said it, and regret saying it.

Because our teacher's eyes flicked to me saying, "what was that Ms. Mac?"

I sighed, knowing there's no going back now. "In America, Black people are guilty until proven innocent. It's like some unspoken rule, we all know about it, but no one really talks about it. It was happening in the 1930's and still happening now almost a 100 years later. If a Black person is accused of something, they have to have double the evidence and a polished record to be proven innocent. And sometimes, that's still not enough. 

We just spent about a year debating if a Black woman who was sleeping in her own home was innocent enough to not get shot and killed. 

Atticus' neighbors were just mad that he didn't want to play the game by house rules. He wanted it to be fair." 

I shrugged a little saying, "And I know this wasn't the question but, I don't think he did it. It's a fictional book and the book is titled, To Kill a Mockingbird. It's significant because Mockingbirds are seemingly peaceful and innocent, to kill something that does no wrong is shameful. And symbolically speaking, I think the man accused is meant to be our Mockingbird. So in comparison, everyone who killed him is shamefully wrong."

"Like I said," Bokuto boomed, "His neighbors were wrong!"

"Okay but we're looking at a potential rapist. Not a metaphor."

"We're looking at a fictional piece of writing. The whole thing is a metaphor," I muttered, "And even outside the book,you're just making my point. People should be judged for what they did. Not what they could do."

"Well Atticus wouldn't know of he did or not because he's not listening to his neighbors. Instead, he's defending the guy."

"He's a lawyer, that's his job!" Someone else finally chimed in. 

Then. I felt the need to say it. I felt the strength to say it, knowing that Bokuto was so close and at least a few people in this room are on my side. "Look Hina, let's say you did something to me. Something horrible," my voice started to shake but I got it together quickly. I'm trying to be hypothetical here, not tell the whole class what actually happened, "And I try to tell someone. There's a list of people to vouch for you. They'll say they know you, you're a leader, and they'll question me. I am the outsider after all. There's not too many people who can vouch for me. So unless I have hard proof, then the assumption is, I'm lying."

"But what if you were lying?" She asked, full of confidence.

"But what if I'm not?" I couldn't look at her any more. My eyes stayed low, looking at the false wood of the desk. 

Three people in this room know I'm not the one lying. But Hina is one of them, and she has the whole team ready to back up any lie she comes up with. As I said, I'm the outsider here.

The room was silent. The kind of silence that settles after all that had to be said was said. But our teacher didn't end it. He just sat there, watching and waiting. I suppose this is something new for him. This discussion hasn't taken such a turn like this. But now the silence was thick, taking up so much air in the room. Until the door opened, freeing the tension.

"Sorry to interrupt, I need Ms. Mac." Said one of the 3rd year office assistants. 

"Yes, very well." 

As much as I wanted to leave this room. This did not seem better. I hesitated to get up. Only for a second but long enough for Bokuto to shout, "Can I go with her?"

"I believe Zara is capable of walking without a bodyguard, Mr. Bokuto,” the teacher grumbled, but a soft smile slipped to his lips, as if relieved that this discussion had ended. 

I got up and walked to the door without looking back at Hina. Without looking back at Bokuto. I just left, and followed my guide to the office. I’ve never been in the office before, but it looks like any other school office. I guess this is universal around the world. It starts with a desk with a smiling lady who looks like she’s sick of smiling, and behind her are doors to individual offices. 

And my guide showed me to the principal's office. I suppose today is the day we have that talk that aunt Bri talked about. The principal sat at his desk, looking completely relaxed, as if they’re wasn’t a thing wrong, but in his mind. I’m sure there’s not. Aunt Bri sat across from the desk, looking ready for business and uncle Tamaki sat with a charming smile on his face as always. This poor principal. He has no idea who he’s dealing with. 

“Ah, Ms. Mac, have a seat please,” said the principal. 

And so I did, taking the empty seat between my aunt and uncle. 

“So, what can I do for you today,” The principal smiled.“Well sir, we have been having some issues with some girls here at this school. Primary on the volleyball team,” Uncle Tamaki said kindly. 

Aunt Bri sat biting her tongue, looking prepared to have a not so friendly conversation. 

“Well I am sorry to hear that,” He said seeming fake shocked before looking at me, “Have you talked to the couch about this?”

“Well I…”

“We decided to talk to you,” Aunt Bri snapped, “Now what are your policies on bullying?”

“Why, we have a zero tolerance policy here,” he said pridefully.

“Good, well what are you going to do about this,” She pulled her phone out and placed it on the desk with a picture up from the sleepover. 

He looked down at the phone without touching it and without his expression changing, "And where was this?"

"At the home of the volleyball captain," aunt Bri answered right away..

But he pushed the phone back towards her saying, "oh, we can't do anything about that."

"And why not?" Uncle Tamaki chimed in with aunt Bri, though his tone was a bit nicer. 

"This incident did not happen on school grounds and looking at the image, I can’t tell that those are any of our students. I mean look at them, their faces are completely covered. If something happens on school grounds, then something will be done."

"Well, will you at least speak with the girls," aunt Bri asked, getting frustrated. 

Uncle Tamaki reached behind my chair and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down.

The principal chuckled now saying, "Well our girls are going to be rather busy. Making sure they work their way up to nationals," he looked to me now saying, "Right Ms. Mac, that is what you came here to do? To win, not to be all mixed up in this mess?"

"Which is precisely why we're here, to insure that Zara can focus of improving and growing with her team, rather than running away from them," Uncle Tamaki smiled, "Don't you think it would be easier to win games if every member on the team was a team player. Which is why I would recommend a meeting with the team. Give the girls a chance to get to the core of their issues. That way you can-"

"Sir, I'm sorry but I do have other things to attend to besides some girl drama that I'm sure will work itself out."

Uncle Tamaki laughed a little saying, "Well sir, I can tell you from experience-"

"It almost never works itself out in this case," Aunt Bri finished. 

The principal laughed as I sank low in my seat, wishing to disappear. "Listen, I have been running this school for many years and we have not had any major issues."

"Yes and in those many years have you had an African-American student?" Asked aunt Bri.

"That shouldn't matter."

"No it shouldn't but it does," uncle Tamaki said.

Now the principal stood up saying, "Look, I'm sorry. I know you're rich and used to things going your way but you have no right to come in here and try to tell me how to run my school. This whole thing will blow over and the girls will laugh about it at nationals. Anyone who knows anything about managing a high school would know that."

Aunt Bri, officially looked pissed. But said nothing, she knew she brought the right uncle with her today.

Uncle Tamaki stood, placing his hands in his pockets as he casually said, "I suppose you're right. I can't tell you how to run your school. Even if you use the curriculum created by us, the co-founders of the department of diversity in the Japanese school system. I'll just go back to running my own school flawlessly. And if one hair on my beautiful niece's hair is touched, my school will be happy to welcome her back with open arms."

"Your school?" The principal said looking dumbfounded at Tamaki, "Mr. Hitachiin, I'm sorry but-"

Uncle Tamaki laughed saying, "Oh you should be sorry. I am not the husband of the lovely lady here. No, I'm Suoh Tamaki. Chairman of Ouran Academy. The most active chairman the school has ever seen. I take the education of young ones very seriously."

He looked back and forth between aunt Bri and uncle Tamaki, realizing now that he might have made a mistake.

Aunt Bri stood up now saying, "I expect for things to get better. Maybe it will as you say, blow over, but either way. My niece should feel safe here." She grabbed my hand and I stood as well and the three of us walked away. I wish to hold the power moves of the host club. 

Making him feel so small, after feeling so confident.

Aunt Bri already had her phone put, talking now in her, i have business to take care of, voice, "I will call your coach, go ahead and head back to class, and you, the second something happens with those girls, call me. Don't want things to escalate." She kissed the top of my head before saying, "Love you," and turning out the doors with uncle Tamaki, talking about how they have little faith in the principal's ability to properly handle this situation.

This time with no one to guide me, I decided to take my sweet time getting to class. I just wondered the narrow halls of this school. This school is so plain compared to the pink palace of Ouran.

Just normal tile floors that only shined on Monday mornings when they have just been cleaned. And even then barely. This is normal school, and I guess I have normal school life now. I have a boyfriend and a bully. Fun…

I eventually came back to my boring classroom only to see, total anarchy.Students were clustered around, sitting on desk, stand in circles and our teacher was just sitting at his desk watching it all happen. 

"What's going on in here," I asked, moving back to my seat.

"We're talking about the fall festival," our class rep. Filled in, "Every class has to contribute something and we're discussing our plans in small groups before come up with a list as a class and vote." 

"But everyone's going to vote for my idea for a haunted house right?" Said a girl in the utmost confidence.

"But if we do a haunted house, we'd all be stuck working it the whole night. We won't be able to check out other things." Argued one of the boys.

"Well," I chimed it, "This will be my first and last fall festival so I'd rather not be tied down to a job the whole night."

"Right! I gotta show my Baby Bird here a good time," Bokuto added, throwing an arm over my shoulder. Nether of us have straight up come out and said we're dating. I don't know if everyone knows, or if they even care. This is typical Bokuto behavior with me anyway.

"Which is why I think we should do a dance party," Bokuto said proudly.“Yeah and have somebody's lame playlist hooked up to a speaker all night,” Someone rolled their eyes at the idea. 

But with much confidence Bokuto said, “I know a DJ who would do it for free.”

“You know a DJ?” Asked a girl, but I had to repeat the question.

“You know a DJ,” I asked. 

"Sure do," he said proudly, "We'll have a live DJ and cool spot to dance and have fun. We can even borrow the string lights from the school. Won't cost us a dime from our budget."

"Wow, looks like the great owl actually thought something through."

"Shut up, I think," Bokuto shouted.Causing the room to break into laughter.

The class rep took this attention get as an opportunity to gather the class back together, "Alright. Each group send someone up to the board with your top idea and we'll vote as a class."

Bokuto ran to the board, writing, Dance party-live DJ out. As if this DJ of his has already confirmed that he'll do it.

The other groups went up writing outBobbing for applesCostume contest And Haunted house

"Ha! I win!" Bokuto shouted as if it were given.

"Honestly third years, I thought you'd be a little more creative than this. The first years are already hosting a Costume contest and a haunted house. And bobbing for apples is just unsanitary, so it's a no." He sighed, "Seems that Mr. Bokuto is right. Dance party it is. That is, if you can really get this DJ you speak of. If not, I'll be happy to fill-in for music. Friends told me I had impeccable taste in music back in my day."

Some groans filled the room. Our rep as third years is on the shoulders of Bokuto and his mysterious DJ friend.

"Who is DJ you know?" I asked, thinking of the 100 year old music our teacher will play if he doesn't pull through.

Bokuto smiled wide, "KJ!"

"My KJ?"