It had been a pretty normal day in her sophomore year of high school when the PA system crackled with an announcement. Iris had been working on the tail end of a math test, but the summons was deemed urgent enough that she was sent out of class. She walked down the hall, brows furrowed in annoyance. She was wondering if she was going to have to accept a poor test grade. She didn't know the purpose of the summons, but it was probably going to be something stupid and unnecessary, as ever. "Miss Correa, we wanted to check in that you were feeling welcomed by your fellow students. Miss Correa, we want you to let us know if there are any ways we can better accommodate your particular needs. Miss Correa, we've updated the precise terms of your provisional student status. Miss Correa, we've decided you are no longer considered exempt from the shoes requirement of the dress code." She glanced down at the ridiculous little boots over her hooves, and allowed herself a small groan in the hallway.
She filed into the principal's office, more than familiar enough with it by now. The prim, matter-of-fact man sat behind the desk, ramrod straight. Iris stifled the urge to roll her eyes at the sight, as she sat sidesaddle in a chair. She stretched her legs out, flicked her tail, and spoke up with annoyance in her voice. "So, what did I do this time? Or is this just to assure me for the umpteenth time that my particular academic needs as a hybridized individual will be fully accommodated? Because not getting interrupted during tests is actually one of my particular academic needs, although not specific to the peculiarities of my genome."
Usually, the man across from her didn't react to her attitude, but this time he sighed. Iris raised an eyebrow as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Miss Correa, I trust you know I don't speak lightly when I say that whatever class activities of yours this interrupted are not of particular importance."
He already had her attention, but that drew Iris's entire focus. It didn't bode well. "So this is serious?" Her voice was now composed and calm, as she attempted to quash any indications of nervousness.
The principal nodded. "It is. I regret to inform you that as of noon today your..." He trailed off, and then cleared his throat. "Your mother has been determined insolvent."
Iris sat quietly for a moment, as the bad news sank in. After a silent moment, she tilted her head. "That's... unfortunate. Okay, that is actually very bad. But why interrupt my class? Why are you the one telling me, anyways? Couldn't this have waited until I got home? I'm not complaining, I'm just confused."
The principal took a deep breath, and then looked at her with something that looked like pity. That made her worry even worse. "I am afraid to say that isn't an option. It shouldn't have been so sudden, but there were specific contractual clauses between her and her various creditors. All of Ms. Correa's major assets have been seized to pay for debts."
A silent minute passed, as Iris tried to process that. She didn't even know her mother was in debt, at least not the serious kind. She wanted to just reject the news she was being given, to dismiss it as unreal. She swallowed, and made herself speak up. "You mean we lost our house? Where am I going to stay?" She wasn't able to keep her voice composed. This was too much to deal with. The principal didn't immediately answer, and Iris spoke up again. "Why not let my mother break the news, at least? That would have helped."
The man on the other side of the desk nodded, and drew in a deep breath through his nose. "Miss Correa. Iris. I am deeply sorry. Believe me when I say I take no pleasure in saying this. Yes, Savannah Correa lost her home, but that is not the most pertinent fact. She was not your mother. She was your owner. You were among her major assets, and have been repossessed. Per the contract in which she secured your provisional student status at this institution, the school had the right to seize you as payment for outstanding debt. It exercised that right, and so you are now the property of the school."
Iris couldn't manage a response to that. She sat there in shocked silence for what felt like an hour. It wasn't real, it was a mistake, it was some sick joke; her mind was racing to try to find some way to deny it, because she didn't even know how to begin to process it. She began to tear up, and the principal looked on with that cold pity. She blinked, the hot tears started to run down her face, and she practically jumped to her feet. Her face contorted in anger, deep brown eyes staring into the man's own. She took in a deep breath and forced it out of her nose in a puff, taking another step forward and thrusting out her hand. "How could you? How could you! Don't pretend you're sorry when you did this! If you're sorry, then fix it! Give me back to her, make me my own custodian, or do something! But don't you fucking dare sit here and discuss how you've traded me like an object to my face and package it with an apology!" She was breathing heavily, chest heaving, tears stinging her red face, and he just gave her that same damn look.
"I understand you are upset. But I do not directly control the school's assets, or unilaterally make its decisions. I'm sorry. I did want to see you complete your education here. But for now, please report to the library. And, out of courtesy to the students, I would ask you keep your volume down."
Iris swallowed, and took several deep breaths. Her outrage had ebbed a little, but she wasn't really calmer. She was just a mess of confused, conflicted emotions, with nothing dominating all the rest. She spun around on the spot, her eyes looking straight down. Just quietly walk to the library? Really? Iris left the principal's office, and turned in the hallway. The library was down a ways to the right. She went left. She didn't have a plan, but she certainly wasn't going to just walk herself into a fucking cage. She came to a corner, and turned into the hall with the exit. A security guard, the police officer who always did the yearly demonstrations, was stood in front of the doors. Iris took a deep breath, and then sniffled. "I'm going home. Family emergency, mom couldn't pick me up. Principal excused me from classes anyways."
She stepped towards the door, and was grabbed by the shoulder. She looked up with another bout of anger in her eyes. "I said—"
She was cut off by the grip on her shoulder tightening, and another hand grabbing the top of her head, between her two curved horns. She was roughly turned around, and the woman started walking her back down the hallway. "I wasn't left in the dark. You should have just cooperated, but I can't say I'm surprised." Iris fumed, but didn't try and wriggle free. She started to mutter something, but that was cut off by a sharp "Quiet." They walked in silence the rest of the way to the library.
A few teachers then took her to the second floor, into a study hall room with a view of the library, and her new role was explained. It was temporary, but she was going to help organize the books and clean the building. It would apparently be an unacceptable shock for the students to immediately see a former fellow as school property instead, so it would all be after hours. There were apparently still discussions of exactly what role she would fulfill going forward, but she was advised not to worry about it. Iris didn't manage to take that advice.
The next day, in the homeroom period, the PA crackled. Among the day's announcements was that due to family circumstances, Iris Correa would no longer be attending the school. Condolences were offered to her and her family, as well as her fellow students for the unfortunate and sudden absence of a peer and friend. Students were reminded gossip wouldn't be tolerated, and that was that.
Iris could hear the announcements herself, but not any response, as she sat in the impromptu dormitory they had made for her. She hoped someone cried foul, although she couldn't imagine they did. Honestly! The gall! It made her blood boil. But what could she do? She just leaned back on her makeshift bed, and stared blankly up at the ceiling. She hoped her mother was alright. She hoped her friends would take the news alright. She hoped she could get the fuck out and see them all again soon. She needed a plan. She sat and thought for a few minutes, and then got up off her bed. She paced a little, and then turned to the notebook and pencil she had been allowed for in-room use only. She flipped it open and tore out two pages. She took the pencil and hastily scrawled out screaming and profanity and angry, malformed doodles, with her back to the room's camera, hunched over it all. The lead snapped.
Not satisfied, she took the two pieces of paper and ripped them up into large pieces, littering them all around the room. She glared at the camera for a minute, and then got back in the bed. Now, she just had to wait for someone to notice the mess her tantrum had made. She was supposed to start helping in the library that night, if that little show didn't change the plans. That was fine, if so. Just as long as nobody noticed the few pieces of paper she had slipped into her palm, and then pocket.