All characters are over eighteen years of age.
***
"So I suppose you know why you're here?" Mister Taylor asked.
Madison sneered. "No fucking clue."
"Language," the sad old cunt said in that fucking 'I'm-being-a-reasonable-adult' tone of voice he was always using. "Madison, I believe that you are in trouble."
Madison shrugged. She knew she was in trouble. She was always in trouble. Being in trouble, in her opinion, meant that you weren't being taken advantage of. When people told her that she couldn't do something, it was usually because they were trying to get her to be quiet and boring. And Madison loathed quiet and boring.
"This is about Lisa," Taylor continued in that dull, dry tone that sounded like he should be hosting a garden party. "You understand that your behavior was completely inappropriate, correct?"
Madison didn't bother to keep the rage out of her voice. "Bitch had it coming."
"And what did she do to have it coming?"
Madison shrugged again, which was clearly meant to indicate to anyone with half a brain that Lisa was stuck-up, she thought she was smarter than everyone else, she was born in East London just like Madison but she somehow managed to act like she belonged in Eton, she was a pouncy little know-it-all
twat
and Madison hated her. "Dunno," she said for clarity's sake.
Taylor sighed. The old man was old- he was probably eighty or something, although Madison had heard he was just a little past fifty- and this was probably bad for his heart. He clasped his fingers to the bridge of his nose and let out a short, sharp breath. "You know, this enmity you've cultivated with her over the years is of absolutely no practical value. I had thought, what with your final school year upon you-"
"You're only upset because she's a teacher's pet." Madison thought briefly about suggesting that she was sucking him off after class as well but decided against it; see, she could be classy too, couldn't she? Besides, the old man probably didn't have any juice left in him. "That's, like, favoritism."
"If you are suggesting that Lisa does not get in trouble because, unlike you, she actually commits herself to her work, does not disrupt the class and does not- as with the particular instance that has led you to my door- physically attacked another student over an entirely perceived slight-"
"I caught her smirking at me!"
"Quite." The man sighed again. "You are quite vexing, you know that?" Madison grinned as he kept on talking. "You're smart. I've seen the sort of grades you got until you fell in with your current crowd. There's quite a sharp brain in your skull, rotting away without the correct inducement to greatness. You could get just as good grades as Lisa, I believe. Every bit as good."
Madison's laugh- short, sharp and decisive- was all the comeback she felt he deserved.
"Alright," said the old man. "I didn't want to do this but... Madison, you attacked a fellow student. You nearly attacked a teacher. I could have- I
should
- put you on probation not a few weeks after the semester has started."
"So?"
"So I estimate that it will take you a month or two before you get expelled. Expelled!" The man really had a look on his face like he
cared
. "Madison, I want to make you an offer."
Oh. Wow. She didn't think the old fucker had it in him. She folded her arms, ready to take everything he said back to the principal. "Go on."
"It's my belief that every student deserves an opportunity. To do the best that they can. Do impress not only their teachers and parents but themselves."
"What, even me?"
He shook his head. "You aren't a bad girl. Truth be told... I believe that there
are
no bad girls- just good girls that have lost their way. I want you go start a special program. It's very exclusive- only one other of my students is currently on it. I call it the Treatment."
Okay, she wasn't being threatened with sex, it was something even grosser-
extra work
. "What the fuck sort of boring-ass work do I got to do?"
"Watch an inspirational video."
"That's all?"
The old man looked nervous for some reason. "That's all. Just... watch the video and then apply it to your studies."
"What sort of video?"
"As I said- an inspirational one. It's a... pet project of mine, you see. Something I worked on long ago..." He looked distant, like he'd forgotten his meds or something. "An old, unfinished project."
"How long will-"
"Fifteen minutes. You can watch it with me after school. Do this and I will not report you to the headmaster."
"I swear to god, if this is just you getting me to watch your homemade porno..."
"Just try it. Try it and see for yourself if you want to be a good girl."
***
The screen flickered and died. Madison blinked. "What the fuck was that?"
"It's very experimental..."
"It's very stupid." A bunch of wild colors and clashing patterns, all the while someone mumbled in the background in a voice so low that Madison couldn't even make it out. "What a pile of shit."
Taylor's big, bushy eyebrows knitted together but he did not rise to the bait. "Well, I suppose we will see if it has an effect. I expect that we will see some results relatively shortly. I would ask that you don't discuss the particulars of the program with anyone- is that understood?"
"Sure," Madison muttered, already ready to tell everyone what a fucking weirdo her teacher was. She grabbed her bag. "We done?"
"Yes," said Taylor. "You can go now-"
"Fine."
"Remember, there are no bad-."
"Oh
fuck off
."
Madison kicked her way through the fallen leaves, her hands shoved into her pockets. She reached her door and opened up.
The cripple sat on the couch, scowling as he watched the footy. He looked up at her. "You're late. What'd you do?"
"Didn't do shit." She walked past him and into the kitchen, where mom was cooking. "What's for dinner?"
Mom turned to her. "You can say hello to Dan and I."
"The unemployed cripple isn't my dad."
"He's trying."
He's dead weight.
"What's for dinner?"