The Dean's office was large but felt even smaller with so many people inside. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, and the faint smell of polished wood filled the air. A round clock ticked above the desk, the sound sharp in the silence.
Claire stepped in first, her heels clicking against the floor, Joyce right behind her. Both women's faces were calm, but there was a certain alertness in their eyes — a readiness to hear the truth.
Across the room sat the three senior boys with their parents. One mother had her arms crossed tightly; another father kept tapping his foot. The boys shifted in their seats, clearly uncomfortable.
In the middle of it all sat Isabella and Ava, side by side. Ava's head was slightly lowered, but Isabella's chin was high, her eyes fixed on the Dean.
"Now," the Dean began, folding his hands on the desk, "I want to hear exactly what happened today. Isabella, you may speak first."
Isabella didn't hesitate.
"Ava wasn't in class," she began, her voice clear. "I waited, but she wasn't coming back. I went to check on her and found these idiots bullying her." She flicked her gaze toward the boys, her tone sharp and unforgiving.
Claire gave a quick, subtle signal, a small tilt of her head and a raised eyebrow. It was her way of telling Isabella to watch her language.
Isabella caught it but didn't back down from her story. "They had her cornered outside the washroom. One of them was touching the ribbon on her uniform. Another was blocking the way out. The third was… laughing. They didn't stop when I told them to, so I made them stop."
One of the boys' fathers sat forward. "Made them stop? You nearly put my son in the hospital!"
"They should have thought of that before they touched my best friend," Isabella shot back without missing a beat.
"Mrs Hart," the Dean said firmly, "we do not allow violence here"
"We also don't allow bullying," Isabella interrupted. "Or do we?"
The room went still. Claire's lips pressed into a thin line. She was torn between wanting to scold Isabella for speaking out of turn and wanting to stand and applaud her for her courage.
Joyce reached over and placed a hand gently on Ava's shoulder. "Tell them, Ava," she said softly.
Ava took a deep breath. Her voice was quiet but steady. "They wouldn't let me leave. They called me names. And when I tried to walk away, they laughed and said I should 'smile for them' before I go. Bella… she saved me."
The Dean's gaze moved between the two girls, then to the boys — who suddenly found the floor very interesting.
Claire leaned forward slightly. "Dean, I think we both know Isabella is not the type to fight for fun. If she stepped in, it's because she felt Ava was in danger. And from what I've just heard… she was."
The Dean sighed, rubbing his temples. "I will need to review this with the board. For now… all of you are suspended for three days. That's the rule for fights — regardless of reason."
Isabella's eyes narrowed, but she stayed quiet. Ava reached for her hand under the desk and squeezed it.
Claire rose gracefully from her chair. "Very well," she said, her voice cool. "But make no mistake, this matter is not over."
As they left the office, the boys and their parents avoided eye contact. Isabella walked out first, holding Ava's hand like she had at Granny's birthday years ago , only now, the grip wasn't just for comfort. It was a promise.
The ride back from school was unusually quiet at first. The hum of the car engine filled the air while the afternoon sun spilled through the tinted windows. Ava sat pressed against the door on one side, Isabella on the other, but their eyes kept meeting in the middle, brief glances, soft smiles, and then quick looks away.
Claire broke the silence, her tone calm but firm.
"You both know what happened today could have gone differently," she said, looking from one girl to the other. "Bella… I don't agree with you fighting, but I do understand why you did it."
Isabella sat straighter. "I wasn't going to let them hurt Ava."
Joyce, seated in the front beside the driver, turned to look at them with a mixture of concern and pride. Claire's lips curved into a small smile before she continued, "Ava… There's something I should tell you. Bella had been learning kung-fu for years — because she wanted to protect you. That was her idea, not mine."
Ava's mouth fell open slightly. "For me?"
Isabella nodded, almost shy for once. "Since we were little, you've been my best friend. I don't want anyone to hurt you. Ever."
The air in the car softened. Ava's eyes glistened a little, but she didn't speak. Instead, she slowly slid her hand over to Isabella's. Isabella's fingers curled around hers instantly, warm and sure. They didn't let go the rest of the ride, sneaking glances at each other until the mansion gates came into view.
When the car rolled to a stop, the girls were surprised to see Joyce stepping out with them. Ruth came forward, taking Isabella's school bag from her shoulder, while another servant did the same for Ava.
Ava blinked at her mother. "Mum… are you coming in?"
Claire answered for her. "Your mum is working here now. You'll get to see her every day."
Ava's face lit up instantly, and she looked at Isabella, who was grinning from ear to ear. "That means we'll never have to miss each other," Ava whispered, her excitement bubbling over. "We never miss each other anyways"
That evening, after a lively dinner in the grand dining hall, the mansion began to settle into its nighttime calm. The corridors grew quieter, the servants moving softly about their duties.
In the soft glow of the hallway lamps, Isabella slipped silently down the corridor and pushed open Ava's bedroom door without knocking.
Ava was brushing her hair in front of the mirror. She turned, startled. "Bella, what are you doing here?"
Isabella stepped inside with a playful smile. "I can't come to my best friend's room?"
Ava raised an eyebrow. "I'm about to take a shower. You can leave first."
Isabella tilted her head. "Can I join you?"
Ava's eyes went wide. "No, Bella! Are you serious?"
Isabella grinned, leaning against the wall. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
"Bella!" Ava squeaked, blushing furiously, before darting toward the bathroom. She slammed the door shut behind her and locked it, leaving Isabella in the middle of the room, chuckling under her breath.
Shaking her head, Isabella flopped onto Ava's neatly made bed, buried her face in the pillow, and stretched out as if she owned the place. The sound of running water filled the room, but Isabella's thoughts were already far away, she had three whole days without school, and every moment would be spent with Ava.