Chapter Nineteen: Accountability

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Saturday morning dawned, and the boys found themselves lounging in their common area before breakfast, dressed in their stiff uniforms as usual. Aaron was slouched on one of the couches, arms crossed, eyes glued to the wall. He'd barely said a word all morning. Kyle, Marcus, and Dylan were gathered around a small table, playing Bridge, the game offering a brief distraction from the constant pressure they were under.

Dylan glanced at his hand, deciding on his next move as the shuffle of cards filled the otherwise quiet room. Aaron's silence hadn't gone unnoticed, but after days of him keeping to himself, no one seemed in the mood to push him to open up.

As Kyle laid down his cards, the door swung open, and in walked Emily, Olivia, Sophie, and Hannah, dressed in casual clothes—jeans, sweaters, and sneakers. The sight of them in such relaxed outfits made the boys pause, looking up from their game in confusion.

"Hey, you know you don't have to wear those uniforms on weekends, right?" Emily said with a teasing smile, glancing at their stiff blazers and ties. "That's what the casual clothes in your closets are for."

The boys exchanged glances, clearly caught off guard. Kyle raised an eyebrow and glanced down at his uniform, while Dylan instinctively tugged at the collar of his button-down shirt, suddenly feeling the tightness of it against his neck.

Before anyone could respond, the door to the common area creaked open again, and the atmosphere shifted immediately. Headmistress Beaumont entered the room, her presence commanding attention. Her tall figure and impeccable posture exuded authority, and everyone but Aaron straightened up, adjusting their posture and plastering on polite smiles. Dylan, still sitting, instantly thought of their etiquette lessons, silently reminding himself to project confidence and poise.

Beaumont's gaze swept over them before it settled on Olivia. Her expression was serious, and Dylan could sense that something was up. The air in the room felt heavier.

"Olivia," Beaumont began, her tone cool, "would you kindly explain why we're here this morning?"

Olivia stepped forward, her voice steady but tinged with a slight discomfort. "Aaron," she said, addressing the group but focusing on him, "didn't show up to his extracurricular activity last night—ballet. This is his third infraction."

Aaron didn't react, his eyes still staring blankly at the wall as if the conversation didn't concern him. Dylan frowned, the tension in the room palpable as the weight of the situation settled in.

Beaumont gave Olivia a curt nod before taking over. "Thank you, Olivia. Now, boys," she said, her sharp eyes scanning the group, "you need to understand that you are a team. You are responsible for holding each other accountable. When one of you fails to meet expectations, it reflects poorly on all of you."

Dylan could feel the frustration building inside him, but he stayed quiet, knowing better than to interrupt the headmistress. Kyle shifted beside him, his jaw tightening.

"This is not just about one missed activity," Beaumont continued, her voice cool and controlled. "This is Aaron's third offense. And as such, there will be consequences. But unlike before, this time the punishment will apply to all of you."

"What?" Kyle blurted out before he could stop himself, his voice incredulous. "That's not fair—"

Beaumont's eyes flicked to him, silencing him with a single look. "Fairness, Mr. Kelly, is a matter of perspective. In this school, accountability is shared. You will all learn to support each other and ensure that these infractions do not continue. The rules are in place for a reason."

The room fell into a tense silence. Dylan could feel his pulse quicken, irritation bubbling up. They were all going to be punished because of Aaron's reckless behavior? He clenched his fists under the table, but like the others, he kept his mouth shut.

Beaumont's voice softened slightly, though her authority was still undeniable. "This afternoon, I've arranged for a hairstylist to come to the school. Your haircuts will be updated to better align with the school's image. This is non-negotiable."

Dylan's heart sank, and he could see Kyle visibly stiffen beside him. The idea of getting an enforced haircut—something to further strip away any sense of control or individuality—felt like a low blow. It was yet another reminder that they weren't just here to learn; they were being reshaped, molded into something they hadn't signed up for.

With that, Beaumont turned and left the room, her heels clicking against the floor, leaving behind a charged silence.

The second the door closed, Kyle whipped around to Aaron, his frustration boiling over. "Are you serious, Aaron? Three infractions, and now we all have to pay for it? You couldn't even bother to show up to ballet?"

Aaron's face remained impassive for a moment, then he shrugged lazily. "It's ballet, Kyle. I didn't think anyone would care."

"Well, now we all have to care, don't we?" Kyle shot back, his voice rising. "Your attitude is making this whole situation worse."

Aaron's eyes narrowed, a bitter edge creeping into his voice. "I thought you'd be excited about getting a more girly haircut, Kyle. Isn't that what this whole place is about? Making us 'ladies'?"

Kyle's fists clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. "The only reason we're in this mess is because you took that prank too far in the first place! You're the one who dragged us here, and now we're all paying for it!"

Dylan winced, feeling the rising tension between them. He could see the confrontation spiraling out of control.

Before the argument could escalate further, Emily stepped between them, her voice firm. "Alright, that's enough. No one's getting anywhere by yelling at each other."

Sophie chimed in, her tone more practical. "You boys should go change into casual clothes. Then head to breakfast. The last thing we need is more trouble."

The boys exchanged glances, the tension still thick in the air. No one said anything as they got up from their seats, heading toward their rooms to change. Dylan threw one last look at Aaron, who trailed behind the group with an air of indifference.

They might not have spoken it out loud, but the frustration was clear. Aaron's behavior was wearing on all of them, and now they were all paying the price.

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