Janey had this terrible problem where she couldn't hide her emotions very well. She was annoyed beyond belief at the moment, not specifically at Valerie, but just a general annoyance. She didn't like Valerie getting in trouble, but she knew it was Valerie who needed to stop getting herself into trouble. She stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway just a few feet from her classroom. There was no one around so she didn't feel like keeping her voice down.
"Val." She sighed and tried to breathe to calm herself. "You're at least suspended for the rest of the afternoon for fighting. Daddy is coming to pick you up to take you home. There's not much I can say to Mrs. Sullivan or to anyone to change their minds. But please..." She gently took a hold of her by the shoulders. "I know you mean well, baby girl. I just need you to try and stay out of trouble, at least until the year is up. You have way too many suspensions already, and I don't think you want to go to another school, do you?"