Right Place, Right Time

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"Did you do it? Did you really fight him?"

Was all Simon heard as he turned the corner of the school hallway. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Ralph in the middle of the hall, being surrounded by a large group of people. People were bombarding him with questions left and right, Simon couldn't exactly figure out what they were talking about.

"Guys- please I need to get to class."
Ralph said, an annoyance in his tone as he tried to shove through the crowd.

Ralph's face changed from annoyance to relief when he saw Simon walking towards them.

"Help me."
Ralph mouthed towards Simon, gesturing to the crowd.

Simon looked around, before mustering up the courage to say something.

"Excuse me."
He said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

The people around Ralph looked at Simon. Simon gulped, not liking the attention being drawn to him. All eyes were on him, he felt uncomfortable.

However, before Simon could even say another word, one girl from the crowd shouted.
"HEY, WASN'T HE THERE TOO?!"

The crowd began to agree, and started asking Simon questions. Simon could hardly understand what they were saying. He only got bits and pieces of their shouting, and realized what they were talking about.

"Did Ralph really fight Roger in the movie theater parking lot?"

"Who won?"

"Who started it??"

"Why were they fighting?!"

"Why were you there?"

Simon was overwhelmed. He looked at Ralph, who was giving him a signal to not say anything.

"No."
Simon said.
"Ralph and Roger didn't fight."
He lied.

This only fired up more questions. Simon looked at Ralph, who forcefully shoved through the crowd towards Simon.
He grabbed Simon's arm, pulling him through the group of people into an empty space of the hall.

"Nothing happened!"
Ralph snapped.
"Stop this foolish rumor! It's none of your business anyways! Do something better with your life and- get to class."

Just then and announcement came over the loud speaker.

"Ralph Kamal and Simon Young to the Principal's office please."

Simon and Ralph looked at each other nervously as the crowd started taunting them with long, exaggerated "ooooo"s.

"Ralph. Simon. Have a seat."
The principal said sternly as the pair entered the office.

"I have heard reports of you two involved in a fight with a fellow student this past weekend is that correct?"

Ralph gulped, and looked over at Simon who was twiddling his thumbs.

"I suppose so..."
Ralph said.

"Yes, well we don't condone violence between our students Mr. Kamal."

"But I-"

The principal held up his hand.

"There will be no exceptions. Now since this is your first offense I'm not going to suspend you—"

Ralph sighed of relief.

"However,"
The principal continued.
"You will be losing your position as student body president, and you will be getting detention for two weeks."

Ralph's eyes widened.

"WHAT?!"

Ralph tried to explain his side of the story, but the principal didn't hear any of it.

"And you."
He said, turning to Simon.

Simon took a deep breath, nervously awaiting his fate.

"I'm very disappointed in you Simon, both of you. You two know better, you're two of my best students."

Ralph and Simon looked at each other, then at the ground.

"Simon I have no choice but to take you out of all extra-curricular activities. That means you will no longer be in choir."

Simon's head snapped up at the principal.
Ralph immediately stood up, his hand in front of Simon in a protective way.

"Simon had nothing to do with the fight Sir. Please don't punish him. He was only an innocent bystander."

"I'm sorry, but from what others tell me, he was strictly part of the reason it started in the first place."
The principal said.

"Who told you?"
Ralph asked, an anger in his tone.

"I don't have to tell you that Mr. Kamal."

"This is so stupid!"
Ralph exclaimed, slumping back down into his chair.

"I don't know what has gotten into you Ralph, but this attitude better stop before you get yourself into more trouble."

Ralph sighed, crossing his arms and looked away.

"I'm sorry..."
he said begrudgingly.

"Now then, head back to class, and stay out of trouble or else there will be consequences."

"Yes sir..."
Both Ralph and Simon said, exiting the office.

The couple walked in silence for a few minutes, grateful that the hallway had cleared out.

"I'm sorry."
They both said at the same time.

"Why are you sorry?"
Ralph asked, looking at Simon.

"It's my fault, I thought we could hide our relationship from Roger, I was a fool to think that would last long..."

"Simon it wasn't your fault at all, it's mine. I shouldn't have fought Roger, now you've been kicked out of choir and...I just feel awful."

"But you didn't even start the fight!"

"I know but...I continued it, so I'm still in the wrong...but you-
you didn't do anything wrong and you still got in trouble. So...I'm sorry."

Simon sighed as they stopped in front of their classroom door.

"I forgive you..."

They entered their class, all eyes were on them. They tried their best to ignore it. A few classmates tried to ask them questions, but the teacher shut them down quickly.
They looked over at each other across the classroom with a sigh, before beginning their work.