Chapter Text
Jennifer Honey sighed as she closed her binder. She was in a meeting with her fellow teachers to prepare the upcoming school year. To be honest, didn’t really like these meetings. But after all, she was the principal at Crunchem Hall. She needed to make sure that everything was perfect.
“Okay, everyone,” Jennifer sat up straighter and gathered her notebooks. “I think it’s time we call it a day. I will see you all on Monday,”
The room sighed and grumbled about various things but left for the day quickly, leaving just Jennifer in the room. She sighed as she packed her notebooks in her bag, and slung it over her shoulder.
She left the teachers lounge, and walked down the hall. The halls have changed a lot over the past 3 years. They were painted a brighter color, and children’s drawing were displayed all over the walls. Jennifer smiled to herself. Even though it was a lot of work, she was glad that she was able to make Crunchem Hall a better place for the children.
Jennifer stopped in her tracks as something caught her eye. A woman that looked familiar was wandering the halls, looking at the pictures on the walls. She had light brown skin, and long wavy black hair that was shaved on one side. She wore black pants, a low cut gray t-shirt, and a red flannel was tied around her waist. On her right ear, she had four earlobe piercings and two helix hoops. On her left ear, there were only two earlobe piercings. On her first earlobe piercing she had small earrings that were yellow, and in the shape of rubber ducks. She also had a silver septum piercing, and an eyebrow piercing above her right eye.
“Excuse me?” Jennifer stepped beside the woman. “Can I help you?”
The woman looked shocked that someone else was here. “Oh, sorry. It’s just...” She smiled awkwardly and gestures to a picture. “I used to go to school here,”
Jennifer smiled. “Really?”
The woman put her hands in her pockets. “Yeah. I got news that the Trunchbull was gone, so I figured, ‘why not see it again?’” She smiled fondly. “It changed a lot since I’ve been here. That’s a good thing,” The woman stuck out her hand. “Celia Arnez,”
Jennifer’s eyes went wide. “Celia?” Now she remembered!
Celia looked at Jennifer, before her eyes went wide as well. “Jen?” She laughed. “Oh my god, I haven’t seen you since 5th grade! I didn’t even recognize you!”
Celia brushed her long hair out of her face, to reveal that her left eye was a pale blue in contrast to her deep brown right eye. Jennifer remembered those eyes.
Jennifer laughed. “How have you been?”
Celia nodded. “I’ve been doing alright. How about you?”
“Everything’s been wonderful,” Jennifer smiled. “I’m the principal here now,”
Celia raised her eyebrows. “Oh! You’re the new principal?” She gestured to the wall again. “Love what you’ve done with the place,”
Jennifer laughed softly. “Thank you,”
Celia nodded. “Yeah. These kids deserve much better than the Trunchbull,”
“I agree,”
Celia smiled and rubbed her neck. Jennifer didn’t know what came over her, but she couldn’t help but stare at Celia’s biceps. She had just noticed that Celia had built a lot of muscle since the last time she saw her. The last time they met, they were both very skinny little girls. She bit her lip a little bit.
“I better get going,” Celia put her hands on her hips. “I’ll see you around, Jen,”
Jennifer snapped back to reality. “Oh- oh, yes. I’d like that,”
Celia gave a friendly wink, before turning around. Jennifer watched Celia walk down the hallway until she left the building.
Jennifer couldn’t deny that Celia had grown up to be strikingly gorgeous. The features that stuck out were her high cheekbones, the sharp jaw.
She shook her head, shaking her thoughts away. She straightened herself out, before swiftly walking towards the exit door. She quickly got into her car.
As she drove home, Jennifer’s thoughts turned towards Matilda. She was currently at home, most likely reading. It was hard to believe that she was nine years old now. Her mind had grown so much, and to be honest, Jennifer believed that she could take college level courses now if she wished.
She couldn’t believe that this was her third year as principal. It seemed like not too long ago, Matilda had united the school against the Trunchbull. She was grateful that her now daughter had banished her abusive aunt from her life forever.
The sun was beginning to set as Jennifer pulled into the driveway. She slung her bag over her shoulder as she closed the car door. She fumbled with her keys for a bit, before finally finding the right key and opened the door before heading in.
“Matilda?” Jennifer closed the door behind her. “I’m home!”
Matilda stepped out from the corner at the top of the stairs. She was in a blue nightgown. She smiled brightly.
“How was the meeting?” She asked as she walked down the stairs.
Jennifer put her bag up on a hook on the wall. “Oh, boring as usual,”
Matilda laughed and hugged her adoptive mother tightly.
“You excited for school?” Jennifer asked.
Matilda pulled away from the hug. “Yes! I wonder who’s going to be in my high school class?”
For the past two years, Matilda has been going to classes in both the Elementary School, and the High School of Crunchem Hall. She excelled in both.
The two went up to Matilda’s room. As Matilda got into bed, she started to read “The Great Gatsby” By F. Scott Fitzgerald out loud. It was like their own little ritual every night. Matilda would read a new chapter from a book out loud every night.
In the middle of Matilda’s reading, Jennifer let out an involuntary yawn.
“You tired?”
Jennifer shook her head. “No, dear. Just had a long day is all,”
Matilda shut the book. “If you’re tired, you should sleep,”
Jennifer laughed softly. “Matilda-”
The nine year old gently pushed her away. “No, no arguing. Go to sleep,”
Ms. Honey laughed as she stood up. “Don’t you want to finish reading?”
“Gatsby isn’t going anywhere,” Matilda joked. “No more arguing, go to sleep,”
“But-”
“No,” Matilda held out her index finger. “Go to sleep,”
Jennifer laughed. “You’re impossible,” She stepped out of the room, her arm holding the door open. “Good night, Matilda,”
Matilda smiled. “Good night, mom,”
Jennifer smiled, before she turned off the light, and shut the bedroom door. After a quick shower, she got settled for the night in her bedroom. She decided to spoil herself a bit and put on her favorite pair of pajamas, a light pink silk nightgown.
As she settled into bed, her thoughts drifted towards Celia. She soon fell asleep, Celia’s mismatched eyes consuming her mind.