Tough Love (Grayson Dolan)

#1: Principle's Office

Ellie walked into the library, clutching her book to her chest. The room was silent; except from the sound of pages turning. She made her way to the desk to speak with the librarian. She felt her heart pounding against her chest as she walked to the desk. Her heart was getting faster, and faster, and faster. Thump... thump.. thump. It was killing her, knowing she was going to be in trouble. What would her dad say?! She just wouldn't tell him! She reached the desk, her heart felt like it was breaking her rib cage. The librarian looked at her.

"The... um... the book I borrowed... it... um... well, it has a few pages... torn" she whispered. She stumbled for the right words as she worried about the consequence of her ruining another book. A pound of guilt was in her chest: that's the fourth book she's ruined. The worry inside of her increased with every passing second. Even though it was silent, it was deafening. The librarian looked at her- more like glared. Her eyes burned with fury.

"I SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING! YOU'RE BORROWING BOOKS, JUST SO YOU CAN VANDALISE THEM! YOU TAKE A BOOK HOME, AND BRING IT BACK RUINED! I WILL NOT TOLLERATE IT ANYMORE! FROM NOW ON, YOU ARE FORBIDDEN TO TAKE BOOKS OUTSIDE THIS LIBRARY! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU LEAVING THIS LIBRARY WITH A BOOK AGAIN! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" The librarian yelled, her voice echoed. All eyes were on them. Everyone had stopped reading to see what was making the librarian yell.

Ellie was taken back by the librarian's sudden outburst. She felt tears fill her eyes, but forced herself not to cry. "Yes, I understand, but..." She was about to explain to her what had happened last night, about her dad. She had told the same story so many times. The librarian didn't want to hear what she had to say.

"I DON'T CARE! IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM! YOU TELL ME THE SAME STORY EVERY TIME! I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS AT HOME... JUST BRING BACK MY BOOKS IN ONE PIECE! YOU KNOW WHAT?! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR FOOLISH STORIES!" The librarian yelled. She paused, building more tension. Everything was silent. "GO TO THE PRINCIPLE'S OFFICE... NOW!!"

Shock. It was all Ellie could feel. The shock of being yelled at; the shock of not being able to take a book home; the shock of being sent to the principle's office. If only the librarian would believe her story...

Last night, at 8:30, her dad stumbled into her room. She was sitting in her bed, reading the book she had borrowed from the library. It was a wonderful book, but she was interrupted by her drunk dad. He walked over to her, slapping her across the face. He was screaming at her, she reminded him too much of his dead wife. He spoke to her as if she was her mom. He would yell at her because he was angry at his wife for leaving him. He tore the book from her hands and destroyed the pages. Throwing the book at her bedroom wall, he stumbled into his own room. Tears streaked her face as she collected the remains of the book.

Ellie made her way to the Principle's office. Her heart was pounding against her chest. It felt like it would come bursting out her chest any second. She walked along the corridors, making her way to the one room she never wanted to step into. She turned round the corner. Standing before her was a wooden door. The brown paint was wearing off. It was impossible to see through the glass window. The golden handle was waiting for her to push open the door. The golden plack had Principle's Office written in black ink. Mr Smith's office, the one room she hated.

She made her way down the corridor, her footsteps bouncing off the the walls. Her heart beat could be heard. The slow thumping of her heart; the thumping getting louder and faster with every step. As she reached the door, she took in a deep breath. With her heart in her throat, she pushed open the door. As she opened the door, three people turned to look at her: Mr Smith and two twins. Her face turned red from embarrassment.

"Miss Williams, do you mind just wainting outside for a moment while I deal with this situation? Thank you" Mr Smith replied as she closes the door and enters back into the hall way. She listened to their converstaion. The twins spoke about what had happened at luch time...

At lunch time, there was fight between Tyler Ford, Tyler's gang, Grayson Dolan and Ethan Dolan. The Principle was trying to figure out what really happened as the twins described the previous event. The Dolan Twins were walking down the hall when Tyler shoved Grayson into Ethan, causing them to fall to the ground. Laughter errupted, resounding the hall way.

"Not only is he dyslexic" Tyler said, loud enough for everyone to hear. He was looking at Grayson while talking. "He's also clumsy!" His words caused his friends to laugh. They found it amuseing how Grayson struggles to read and has learning difficulties. Grayson is the only person with dyslexia in the school. And he is bullied for it.

Ethan's blood boiled. Fury burned in his eyes. ONLY HE CAN INSULT HIS SIBLING! Without thinking, Ethan lunged himself at Tyler. They crashed to the ground, Ethan pinning Tyler down. He brought his fist up and brung it down as fast and as hard as he could. The sound of flesh hitting flesh, bone coliding with bone, was deafening. Tyler's gang decided to hit Ethan, so Grayson decided to help protect his brother. The fight lasted for about five minutes. Obviously, the twins won: they were captians of the wrestling team! Eventually, a teacher stopped the fight. And that's how the Dolan Twins ended up in the Priciple's office.

They were sitting in the chairs: Ethan on the left, and Grayson on the right. The Principle looked at them with annoyance. It was their fifth time being sent to the Principle's office. "What happened?" The Principle questioned. "Why did you start the fight?"

"It was Tyler's fault!" The twins said in unison. "Tyler started it! We were the ones who finished it!" They paused. "He pushed us to the ground and insulted us!"

"He pushed me into Ethan, sending us to the ground" Grayson explained. "And then he insulted me by making fun of..."

"...He was making fun of how Grayson has dyslexia" Ethan finished Grayson's sentence. "He was making Grayson feel bad about himself because he has learning difficulties. Which is wrong because Grayson is an amazing person. If only they took the time to know him." The Principle was thinking about it when his thoughts were interrupted by his door opening. Ellie Williams stood in the door way, her face red from embarrassment.

"Miss Williams, do you mind just waiting outside for a moment while I deal with this situation? Thank you" Mr Smith said. The door closed and he proceeded with his thoughts. After a while, he broke the silence. "I will check the cameras to see if you speak the truth. However, I still have to punish you." He paused. "Detention. Friday, after school." With that, the Dolan Twins left the room. Ellie cautiously walked in. Silently, she made her way to the chair.

"So, what happned?" Mr Smith asked. He intwined his fingers together and placed his arms on his desk, causing him to lean forward. Ellie tried to swallow her guilt before speaking, but it was too much. She took in a deep breath and spoke in a whisper-like voice.

"I brought back another book the the library..." Mr Smith looked at her in confusion. Why would she be sent there if she brought a book back?! "...ruined!" She continued. He seemed annoyed, yet surprised. She braced herself for the yelling...

... But nothing came.

Silence. Nothing was heard. Do you know the saying: 'I want to be able to hear a pin drop'? Well, you could in that room. Finally, something was heard. The Principle sighed. He looked at the innocent girl sitting before him. And then his voice filled the room. "Miss Williams, I'm going to have to give you a detention" he spoke. "Friday, after school. I can't let you go without being punished, I'm sorry." Ellie nodded and left the room. She made her way back to the library. She walked with her head down in shame and disappointment. She also felt depressed. Something she loved doing was taken away from her. It was only two days until she has to attend the detention. Two days until her dad finds out. And then... who knows what will happen!