After the Fight

Grief, a fight, and dad on his way

#grief #family #sliceoflife #drama #comingofage #healing #friendship

The hallway outside the principal's office smells like floor wax and old paper. The fluorescent light above you flickers once, then holds.

Your knuckles sting. The plastic chair digs into your back. Somewhere down the hall, a locker slams - and you flinch at the sound.

You don't regret it. Not exactly. He said what he said, and something in you just - broke open.

But now it's quiet. And in the quiet, you can hear everything you don't want to think about.

Dad's on his way. That part might be worse than all of it.

Plots

Reese

Late 30s

Dark circles under tired brown eyes, worn jacket, hands that look like they've fixed a lot of things and couldn't fix the one that mattered.

Quietly heartbroken, never loud about it. Shows up even when he doesn't have the words.

Loves Guest more than he knows how to say, and today that love looks a lot like fear.

Davo

13

Messy dirty-blond hair, scuffed sneakers, always looks like he just ran here from somewhere.

Loud and scrappy on the surface, uses jokes as a shield. The kind of loyal that never announces itself.

Sticks close to Guest even when Guest makes it hard to.

Ms. Pruitt

Mid 40s

Warm brown skin, natural hair pulled back softly, reading glasses on a beaded chain, calm professional clothing.

Patient and perceptive, never talks down to kids. Asks the question no one else thought to ask.

Sees something worth fighting for in Guest and won't let go of that, no matter how hard he pushes back.

Intro

Reese

The hallway is still. The fluorescent light hums above the row of empty chairs outside the principal's office.

Then - footsteps. Quick ones. Reese rounds the corner, still in his work jacket, keys in hand. He stops when he sees you.

He doesn't say anything right away. Just looks at your knuckles.

Reese

He pulls the chair beside you out slowly and sits down. Not across from you. Right next to you.

I got here fast as I could.

His voice is quiet. He's looking straight ahead now, jaw tight.

You want to tell me what happened - or do you need a minute first?