Chapter Text
“So Mr. Smith, do you know why you’re here?”
Kai Smith, a just slightly troubled teen. But he swears he knows how to be responsible, only when it’s needed though. At the ripe age of 17 and at his 8th school from the past few years, he has been expelled from the other for ‘troublesome behavior’ and ‘violent tendencies’. Kai doesn’t agree with those reasons because most of the time it truly was him just defending himself.
Kai looked up from his lap for a second, he was sitting on a cushioned chair in front of principal Tommy's desk. He just stared blankly at him, refusing to answer. Honestly it wasn’t his fault he was in the principal's office for the fifth time, unlike the school system he isn’t going to stand around and just watch while innocent kids are getting bullied. The only problem was that after the first time he stood up for some kid he became the target, of course he could defend himself but it always ended with him in trouble and a few more bruises.
“Kai!” Tommy began “answer me!”
Kai flinched slightly from principal Tommy's yelling. “Because I defended myself? Because someone got what they deserve?” He answered.
Tommy sighed and stayed quiet for a second “kai, you violently beat up another student”
Kai chewed the inside of his mouth, still looking at his lap, his leg bouncing.
Tommy let out a sigh before continuing “I understand your reasons for your actions, But as the principal I can't let your actions go unpunished. What might have started as self defense went further than it should have and ended up with multiple students in the nurse's office. Pythor has a broken nose and a broken rib Kai, this could’ve ended with the police getting involved”
Kai shrunk up in himself, the police? He couldn't do that to Nya, not now, not ever. It would only cause more trouble for her and she might even end up in the foster system.
“He didn’t have much of a nose to begin with.. i did him a favour now he doesn’t look as much as a ripped off voldemort anymore” his hand gripped the chair as he mumbled. he had his own bruises because of him and his lackeys, Kai is pretty sure they wanted to kill him. would’ve if people didn’t step in.
“You are lucky I convinced Mr. Chumworth’s parents not to press charges. You both might not have known it but there was a camera where your fight took place and there was proof of them ganging up on you and throwing the first punch” Tommy stared at Kai's hands gripping the armrest and then back to his head which was still looking down.
“I’ll be frank with you Kai, I am quite done with your temper and the multiple fight’s you have been in so far. It has only been a month since you got here, and you might be one of the most troublesome students I've ever had.” He took a pause before continuing “I can't let this behavior go unpunished.”
Kai felt his heart speed up, he honestly didn’t mean to yell or get upset but he was just so used to this song and dance.
“So what!? Are you going to expel me?! send me from school like everybody else!?” He yelled, his eyes flashing with anger.
“mr. smith calm down” Tommy said his tone unwavering “although that might be the case in any other situation, i had something else in mind for you. Since vacation is nearing in a few weeks and this situation isn’t just your fault. An old friend of mine owns this ranch, every now and then a few students go there in the vacations and sometimes through the school year as long as they stay up to date with school work,and they do some work there.”
Kai looked at him suspicious, the grip on the armrest loosening slightly.
“I want you to go there, well It’s not exactly a choice because it is that or getting expelled and having another expulsion put on your record” Tommy said looking straight ahead towards Kai as he handed him a folder.
Kai hesitantly took the folder. “So you are sending me to some farm?” he looked at the folder wearily “Tea’s sanctuary?.. who the fuck thought that was a good name” he mumbled.
“Not a farm, a ranch. And yes i am hoping it will do you some good to be out of the school setting, it might calm your temper down a bit and learn you how to socialize”
“I’m not- i can’t- i need to-”Kai began but couldn’t really finish his sentence. He wanted to refuse, he needed to find and work a new job in the summer so he and Nya could continue living in their current apartment. Except he couldn’t really have another expulsion on his record either, his future is already fucked enough.
“I know a bit of your situation and I hope the fact that you’ll get paid makes it a bit easier for you to agree to this course of action. I don’t want to take the more drastic measures you’ll force me to take if you don’t agree”
“So you are essentially blackmailing me to go to some farm- or ranch or whatever to do chores for some old man?” Kai grumbled with a scowl.
“Yes. This might be the last chance for you, the way your record is looking right now no other school would want to take you.” The principal said, narrowing his eyes towards Kai.
Kai hesitated considering his options “fine.. for how long..?”
“At Least 3 months to start with, it’ll depend on your behavior and wishes if it’ll be longer or not. I advise you to listen to and respect Wu if you wish to further your education. This will also have a positive effect on your record, if only slightly”
“What is going to happen to Pythor and his stupid friends?” Kai asked, he didn’t want them to just get away with it and continue their awful antics.
“they’ll get punished accordingly, don’t worry i will also make sure they can’t continue their bullying but more then that i won’t say as it is none of your business from this point forward”
“You said there were a few students that go there too?”
“Yes, four of them, one happens to be Wu’s nephew who I am quite sure you might recognise. I am hoping they’ll teach you that fighting does not fix every issue, maybe you finally make some friends while you are at it.”
“rude, i have friends..”
“your sister doesn’t count mr. smith”
“How did you become a principal?..” Kai said under his breath
Kai was still hesitating a bit. Yes he knew Nya could take care of herself but he would still rather not leave her behind.
“Kai i would appreciate it if you would refrain from getting into any more fights while you are at the ranch, if Wu were to have any complaints or issues with you i would need to take the harsher measures. I have a list of all the essentials you’ll need to take with you” Tommy said handing Kai a checklist of items “At the ranch you’ll have your own room since the other three prefer to share with each other, you will be sharing a bathroom with each other so be mindful of that. I want you to listen to them to as they are there out of free will and have been going the ranch for a while now”
Tommy looked at Kai as he looked over the checklist, making sure he was actually listening.
“The same goes for Wu’s nephew. He might be younger than you but I still want you to listen to him too.”
Kai will be honest this is not how he envisioned his summer to go, but it is better than getting expelled, again.
“on the back of the checklist, you can find an address and where to be for pickup and the time you will need to be there. Everything else you might need or want to know should be in the folder” Tommy said, cutting Kai’s thoughts off.
“pickup?”
“Well yes the ranch is in a quite remote place, so you can’t actually get there by bus. It’s a 4 to 5 hour drive there so make sure to get there before 7 am”
“4 to 5 hours?! you can’t be serious.. ugh..”Kai sighed.
“You can go home now, you have a lot to get ready for” Tommy said as he showed Kai out of his office.