The morning air was crisp, the sun filtering through scattered clouds as Jack trudged toward school. His backpack felt heavier than usual, even though it was mostly empty. Today marked his first attempt at returning to normalcy, or at least whatever normal was supposed to mean now.
The school building loomed ahead, its familiar facade suddenly foreign. Jack braced himself, taking a deep breath before stepping inside.
The halls were buzzing with the chatter of students. Small clusters had gathered near lockers, their conversations loud enough to echo down the corridor. Jack smirked faintly. Same old school. Some things, it seems no matter the universe somethings never change.
Walking through the halls Jack couldn't help but overhear snippets.
"Dude, Homelander would obliterate Tek Knight. It's not even close!" a boy argued animatedly, gesturing wildly with his hands.
"Are you serious? Tek Knight is the ultimate sigma male. Homelander's just a narcissist with Superiority complex, Tek Knight's New movie showed he can create mini black holes using his knowledge to trap aliens much more powerful than him Homelander will be trapped in the Black Trap" another retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, not same" saying that he navigated through the crowd, his steps slower than usual, until he found the door to the homeroom teacher's cabin. He paused for a moment, adjusting the strap of his bag, then knocked twice.
"Come in," a voice called from inside.
Jack pushed the door open and stepped in. Mrs. Caitlyn looked up from her desk, her brow furrowing slightly as she saw him. She was a middle-aged woman with a sharp gaze softened by kind eyes. The room smelled faintly of coffee and paper, a comforting blend.
"Jack," she said, her tone carrying both surprise and concern. "It's good to see you here. We've been worried."
Jack nodded awkwardly. "Yeah, uh... sorry for being gone so long."
Mrs. Caitlyn gestured for him to sit. "You've missed quite a bit. We've sent letters home. Your absence was starting to raise concerns."
Jack shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "About that... my dad's been away on business, and my mom... well, she's dealing with some personal stuff." He hesitated, lowering his voice. "It's been tough at home. They can't come right now, but I'm here. I want to get back to class."
Mrs. Caitlyn studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Jack, I understand things can be difficult," she said gently. "But the school has policies. A parent or guardian needs to come in for this meeting. Is there anyone else who could come on their behalf? An uncle, aunt, or family friend?"
Jack's mind raced. He hadn't thought this far ahead. "No, it's just me," he admitted. "But, Mrs. Caitlyn, please—I can't fall behind. I need to be in class. I'll catch up on everything I missed. Just... let me start today, and I promise I'll sort out the meeting."
Her gaze softened. There was something in his voice—desperation, sincerity—that made her pause. She tapped her pen against the desk thoughtfully.
"Alright," she said finally. "I'll let you rejoin the class from today. But this isn't a permanent solution, Jack. You have until the end of the week to figure something out with your parents or a guardian. Can I trust you to follow through on this?"
Jack nodded fervently. "Yes, absolutely. Thank you, Mrs. Caitlyn."
She offered a small, reassuring smile. "Alright then. Head to your homeroom. I'll inform the staff that you're back."
Jack rose, relief flooding through him. As he left her office and made his way to class, the weight on his shoulders felt just a little lighter. This was a small step, but it was a step forward nonetheless.
As Jack turned to leave, Mrs. Caitlyn's voice stopped him, soft but firm.
"Jack, wait."
He paused and glanced back over his shoulder, his heart skipping a beat as she sighed, setting her pen down.
"You've been through a lot, I know," she began, her voice tinged with concern. "But you've also caused your fair share of trouble. You've been bullying others, Jack. Your parents don't even know about it... and I can't get in contact with them."
Jack swallowed hard. The truth stung, though it wasn't his truth—at least not entirely.
Mrs. Caitlyn continued, her expression gentle, yet serious. "I want you to understand, I'm not here to punish you. You're a good kid at heart. I just want to make sure you're okay, that you're getting the right help. I want to ensure what's good for you."
He stood there for a moment, unsure how to respond. The weight of her words settled on him, a reminder of everything he had tried to avoid confronting.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Caitlyn. I'll figure it out," Jack said quietly, the words barely leaving his mouth before he turned and exited the room.
The door clicked softly behind him, but her words lingered in his mind as he walked down the hallway.
Jack hurried down the hall, his mind clouded. He had forgotten his locker combination and his classroom number. Frustration built as he stumbled into the wrong rooms, drawing confused stares from students.
Then he spotted her—Alex Dunphy, standing at the end of the hallway, her glasses catching the light. Their eyes met, and without a word, she handed him a folded piece of paper.
Jack blinked, puzzled. Opening the note, he realized it was a seating schedule. His classroom was listed at the top.
"Thanks," he muttered, hurrying toward the right door.
Alex POV Commentary:
Camera pans into her while "Weird and an idiot, like Haley"