Office Hours, May 5

[bigdamndean]

With only a few days left until the new students arrived, Zoe's desk was covered in papers and lists designed to make sure all the Is were dotted and the Ts were crossed. It was a lot of busy work, but it kept her from sending violent letters to the school board, so it was a necessary evil at the moment.

[Door and post are open!]

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[walks_two_paths]

Savannah had thought a lot about this since she had had her run-in with her Uncle. Finally, she had decided that the best way to dispose of what he had given her to disappear was to do things he would hate with it. Since he hated this place because it had been so good to her, Savannah thought that talking to Zoe was only fitting.

That would be why she was knocking lightly at the door this morning. "Principal Winchester? Do you have a few minutes?"

[bigdamndean]

Zoe glanced up and smiled at Savannah. "I can gladly spare a few minutes," she said, closing the file she was organizing for now. She could definitely use the break. "How can I help you?"

[walks_two_paths]

Savannah sat down in a chair across from her desk.

"This has been my home for three years and even with all of the bizareness and invasions and things, I have loved it here. I've felt like I belonged and this place has done nothing but good things for me. I want to give something back to you and this school for giving me a home and looking out for me for the past three years."

[bigdamndean]

"Oh?" Zoe asked, her curiosity piqued. "Keeping the school going for three years has already 'given back' as you might say."

[walks_two_paths]

Savannah smiled. "I think it deserves more."

She cleared her throat and looked at Zoe. "A few days ago, a man gave me a lot of money to try and make me disappear off of the face of the earth and never contact his family again. Of course, I had no intention of doing anything he had accused me of, but my brother, Sean, is in that family... as is another brother that I hope will one day not hate me."

She sighed. "When I named the ridiculous dollar amount, I didn't think he was serious, ma'am. I thought he was just messing with my head, to see what I would do. He wrote me a check for the dollar amount I named." She chewed on her lip. "Zoe, I mean Principal Winchester, I do not want that man's blood money. I've thought about it and decided that the only thing I can do is put the money towards things that my uncle would hate. This school definitely falls into that category because you guys gave me a home and kept me safe. You helped me find myself and gain a self-confidence and strength I needed for my future. That is everything that

[bigdamndean]

Zoe's first thought was to be grateful that Savannah had come to her, and not Deadpool or Barney, so that she didn't have to wonder why they had a hundred thousand dollars worth of new toys in their offices.

Then, of course, she had to wonder what that kind of money could do for her office.

Then, she shook her head and came back to the reality of the conversation. "Are you sure you want to give that to me?" she asked. "That's an awful lot of money, and you might need it once you head off into the real world."

[walks_two_paths]

Savannah shook her head adamantly. "No. My brother and my adopted grandfather set up a trust fund for me a few years ago. I've also used part of the money to set up accounts for two people that I know don't really have much. This, I really want to give to you, Principal Winchester. Use it for the school, the teachers, whatever. It's in your name and I meant it to be made out that way so that you could do with as you see fit." She gave her a small smile. "It's a small amount if you compare it to how much you've done for me." Then she grinned. "And if you don't take it, somehow Grace will wind up with a lot of toys all over the place." Or a savings account of her own.

"I do not want any of my Uncle Josef's money, ma'am. I really don't. He hates me and all that I stand for -- and he hates my mother and the fact that his brother loved her. I never would have named a price if I had realized he was serious." She smiled again. "I really want you to have this. I wouldn't have done this if I didn't."

[bigdamndean]

Zoe frowned at Savannah's description of this Josef man, and finally opened the envelope to take a look at the check. "Well, if using this money on the school will make your uncle angry, I'm sure I can find plenty of places to put it to good use," she said. "This is very generous of you, thank you."

[walks_two_paths]

Savannah grinned and nodded. "Oh it will make him very annoyed and angry," she said. "You're very welcome, ma'am. And thank you for everything you've done for us the last three years. This really has been a good home to me."

[bigdamndean]

"It's been a good home to me too. I know how you feel," Zoe said. "I'm glad you felt so good being here." Was she feeling a little principal pride? Oh, yes she was.

[walks_two_paths]

"I have. I felt safe and at home." She grinned. "And of course, I'll come back and visit."

[bigdamndean]

"Good. You can see how we've put this to use," Zoe said, tapping the envelope on the desk. "I'm glad something good could come from this mess."

[walks_two_paths]

"Me, too," Savannah said quietly. "I would also love to get a hold of that horrid woman from the school board. It is such a good thing that my family is used to weird and didn't freak out too much."

[bigdamndean]

"Oh, I'd like to get my hands on her too," Zoe said. "If she ever dares to come to graduation again, it'll be the last thing she does."

[walks_two_paths]

"I would appreciate having video of that, ma'am," Savannah said. "That woman could have caused some of us to have a whole lot of problems. As it is, Josef thinks that it was my fault."

Since Zoe was well aware now what she thought of her uncle, she didn't think this would be news.

[bigdamndean]

"Of course it wasn't your fault," Zoe said, in case she needed the reassurance. "It was no one's fault but that crazy woman. She'll get what's coming to her, I promise."