She becomes hysterical

A pretty brunette steps into the room, her face anxious and uncertain. She looks around the room as though seeking a friendly face, smiling nervously at Mason and Brian.

"Take a seat Miss Cummins," Diana says in a kindly tone. The girl glances around, looking for a place. Her father gestures to the empty chair next to him but she pulls a hard backed chair between Mason and Diana.

"We've brought your parents up to date on your status at this institution Miss Cummins," the Headmistress says. "I thought it was appropriate for you to be here. To give you the opportunity to say anything on your own behalf."

"Um...I'm sorry...That I behaved badly," Valerie says quietly, obviously struggling for words. "Mr. Carter and Coach Watts, they've like showed me...how much I was hurting people...and myself...and...I'm gonna try real hard...to be a good girl from now on..."

"Well, I'm not going to let them paddle you," her father says firmly. "I'm thinking very seriously of taking you out of this place. Enrolling you in some school that..."

Valerie's scream interrupts him, making you and everyone in the room jump in surprise. "You're not taking me out of here! You're not! I won't go! You're not! Don't you dare!" She's staring at her father, her face scarlet with rage, tears streaming from her eyes as she slams her fists on her knees. He looks at her in shocked horror, his mouth moving but saying nothing, his eyes looking wounded and frightened.

"Sweetie, I just meant..." he begins weakly, only to be cut off by her again.

"I'm not your sweetie! You don't care about me! You don't care at all! I hate you! I fucking hate you!" she shrieks, collapsing into hysterical sobs and bending over in her chair. Diana reaches out and strokes her back, murmuring comfort, and Valerie leans into her sobbing like a child. Her father sits in horror, her mother rises as though to approach her then sits back, her stepmother looking on placidly. Brian looks appalled, and Mason looks deeply concerned.

"If you take me out, I'll...I'll...I don't know what I'll do!" Valerie wails as Diana comforts her.

"Tell Miss Holliday to call the nurse," Diana tells Mason as she holds the distraught teen, her eyes flinty as she looks at Valerie's father.

He nods and goes to the door, while Diana makes a gesture at the couch, effectively ordering you and Brian to get up. The two of you rise as Diana leads the distraught student there and lays her down, murmuring soothing words. Cummins half rises out of his chair but stops and sinks back when you glance at him, dropping his eyes to the floor. Brian and you remain standing, your bodies between the sobbing girl and her parents.

Mason returns and reports that the nurse is on her way, and for the next few minutes the only sound in the room is Valerie's heartbroken sobbing and Diana's quiet comforting murmurs.