#AtoZChallenge 2023 – Tucker – This is Another Story

Please note this is fiction!

“Have a seat, Mr. Walker,” Principal Gutierrez orders, “and you, too, Miss Thomas.”

Wendy’s face is still beet red from getting caught. She has always been a goody-two-shoes and the only reason she decided to go out with me was to finish her high school bucket list.

“Make out with the hottest guy in school?” I gasped when she showed me the list.

“You think I’m the hottest guy in school?” I almost choked back a laugh when I said it. By who’s standards? But who cares? As long as I get to make out with one of the hottest girls in school, who cares?

“Are you okay, Wendy?” I whispered after Principal Gutierrez’s door closed. “Listen, I’m sorry I got you caught. I shouldn’t have kicked over that desk. I should’ve been more careful.”

Wendy shakes her head, “It wasn’t your fault, Tucker. I was the one who initiated this, remember?”

I can’t let Wendy get blamed for this. She’s tied with Bonnie for salutatorian, the girl with near perfect grades and near perfect GPA. She doesn’t deserve to be punished for fulfilling her high school bucket list.

“Principal Gutierrez, it was my fault.” Bolting from the chair like I’ve been sitting on hot coal, I blurt the moment Principal Gutierrez opens the door again. “Wendy had nothing to do with this.”

Principal Gutierrez put a hand up to silence me. “Mr. Walker, I decide whose fault this is. You’ll both be serving one week lunch detention.”

From my peripheral vision, Wendy looks like she’s about to cry. Detention means that she will lose her salutatorian title. “Please Principal Gutierrez, punish me instead. It was all my doing.”

Principal Gutierrez looks from me to Wendy and back to me and sighs, “All right. The day’s been crazy already. I’m in no mood to contemplate. Fine, you’ll do a month of lunch detention.” I didn’t argue. As long as Wendy is safe and still walks away with the title of salutatorian, I will bear all the punishment on her behalf.