The Accidental Convert

Indira Patel strode through the school hallway with purpose. The day had already been frustrating, but what truly gnawed at her was the absurdity of Joey Granger's sudden rise in academic standing. It just didn't make sense.

She had worked hard, painstakingly hard, to maintain her position at the top of the class. Joey, on the other hand? A slacker. A boy who had never put in even a fraction of the effort she had. Yet, Miss Matthews had been treating him like he was some kind of star pupil. It wasn’t fair!

As she reached her locker, she paused. Down the hall, quickly emptying of students, her sharp eyes caught something peculiar. Joey Granger. Stupid Joey Granger. Walking back into the school escorted by five women. She watched as they approached, not saying anything, wondering what was happening.

Indira recognized three of them immediately.

Miss Matthews, their history teacher. The woman who had, inexplicably, started treating Joey like a golden child. Madison Ashford, the school valedictorian. Rumour had it that she and Joey had suddenly become a thing. Another inexplicable occurrence surrounding the slacker. And Aynsley Cho, Madison's best friend, someone Indira had steered clear of thanks to Aynsley's mean-girl reputation.

The other two were total strangers.

One was a striking young woman with dark hair and so much cleavage on display that, had she shown up while the school was full, the boys would have tripped over themselves to get a look at her. The other was an older woman, maybe in her forties, about her mother’s age, also with dark hair, an impressive posture, and an aura of authority.

Indira narrowed her eyes as she watched them enter the classroom. Miss Matthews shut the door behind them.

Her curiosity burned. What was that all about?

She hesitated for only a second before locking her locker and letting her feet carry her forward, her heart hammering. When she reached the door, she pressed herself against it and tilted her head to listen.

At first, it was just muffled voices. But then...

A heated argument.

Indira's breath caught as the words became clear.

“You think you know my boyfriend better than I do?” Aynsley's angry voice sounded through the door.

“What?” Indira mouthed, eyes wide. Who was Aynsley's boyfriend? It wasn't Joey, was it?

The voices became muddled again for a few moments, then...

"...I know Joey. And unlike you, I actually understand what a man like him needs." It was a voice Indira didn't recognize. They were fighting over Joey Granger?! What was even happening?!

Again, the voices became muddled. Indira held her breath in order to focus.

"...He is a man, and he has needs. Needs that require responsibility. Dedication." A more mature voice. This conversation was going places Indira would have never guessed.

There was some shuffling. The women must have turned away from the door, as their voices became unclear again. Only snippets came through.

"...Joey's sexual gratification is my responsibility..." the mature voice.

"Joey, tell me she didn't..." Aynsley's voice faded out again.

"...are you?"

"I’m his mother, of course." That last one came out clearly, like a gunshot into Indira's mind. His mother?! What kind of disgusting family did Joey Granger come from? Indira would have to tell someone. The principal. The police. Someone!

She stood up straight, trying to decide her course of action. She should run for the nearest authority figure and tell them what she heard. This was the kind of secret that shouldn't be held. Indira knew it could ruin someone's life, but she didn't care. What she had heard was horrific.

But had she heard it?

A moment of doubt. It was too fantastical. Women didn't show up at school and start fighting over a loser like Joey Granger. Especially women like them. And there was a teacher in the room! Maybe Indira heard wrong. Maybe she should check one more time.

She bent down, pressed her ear to the door one more time, and strained to hear. Only, it wasn't the women she heard, but Joey.

“Um… actually… you’re not supposed to fight over me! You’re all supposed to be on the same side! You should be supporting each other!”

Something inside Indira shifted.

"You're not supposed to fight over me!"

Fight over Joey? Of course she wouldn't fight over Joey. She didn't even like Joey! These women could have him if they wanted. There wasn't a chance in hell that Indira would jump into that pool.

"You're all supposed to be on the same side!"

Now that was a different thought. Same side? As Miss Matthews giving unfair grades? As the two most popular girls sharing a boyfriend? As Joey's mother wanting to have a physical relationship with him?! Indira shook her head. How could she be on the same side as that?

The more she thought about it, though, the more appealing the idea felt. Indira had always hated it when her grandmother nitpicked her life, acting like the morality police whenever Indira started having fun with her friends. It was exhausting. It took the fun out of life.

Was that what she had become? The morality police? Indira had certainly not met Joey's mother before. Nor did she really know the three she did know. And the woman with the cleavage? She had no idea who that was. So how was Indira to judge? There was probably context to each of their relationships, nuance that Indira couldn't pick up because she was too far away from it all, sitting on her mountaintop, looking down on Joey and the women in judgment.

She didn't want that. No, Indira dreaded the idea of growing up to be like her grandmother. And so, standing next to the locked door, Indira Patel made a decision. She was going to put away her judgements, her preconceived notions of right and wrong, and try to see things from the perspective of the other women. She was going to give it a try. Indira would be on their side.

"You should be supporting one another."

Of all the things Joey had said, this was the most helpful. She already knew she wouldn't fight over him. She had just decided to give the women the benefit of the doubt, to let them take the lead and see where things took them. But this told Indira exactly what she should be doing.

Supporting them.

Yes, they in turn, would most likely support her, but that wasn't why Indira would do it. She would do it because it was right, it was true, it was who she was in a deep and profound way. Indira Patel was the kind of woman who supported other women. Especially these five.

She couldn't wait to get to know them, to learn their names, to find out what makes them tick, what they struggle with. Indira was a hard worker. The hardest worker. She couldn't wait to use her focus, her drive, her stick-to-it-ness to better the lives of these five women. And she would. Indira wouldn't rest until these women, her women, were supported.

A calm certainty settled over her.

Taking a step back from the door, inhaling deeply, Indira knocked.

The voices inside went quiet. Then, after a pause, the door opened, and Miss Matthews stood before her.

Indira met her gaze and smiled.

“Sorry to intrude,” she said softly, stepping inside. “I was listening at the door and… well… I just wanted to tell you that I support you. I’m on your side.”

Silence.

Then, the women smiled back at her.

Of course she was.

Joey had, after all, explained things so well.