---

“’Suck my dick?’” Principal Talbot asks as she stares at me with a serious expression. “Did you really tell Mrs. Pearson to suck your dick?” She’s pissed, and that makes her question all the more thrilling.

Not that I wanted to cause problems, but come on, is it really that serious? They’re just words.

She slams the window down in her office, hushing the sounds of the students walking just outside the room. The bell rang only a minute ago, but everyone’s already running from class and eager to get the hell away from Stewart High, a private school on the east side of town.

My fingers itch to be out there too, so I can sneak in a smoke before I have to go home. Everyone says it’s so damn bad for you, but it’s the only break I get. If I have to keep on going through the motions, I’d rather do it stoned.

My lips twitch with the threat of a smirk but I make sure I keep a passive expression. I shrug and lean back in my chair as I glance over my shoulder and toward her office door.

“Do you think this is funny?” she asks me, her nostrils flaring as she stands up from her desk. She slams both hands down on her desk and leans over it to glare at me. “Do you think this is some sort of game?” With every word, her voice gets louder.

My spine stiffens and I feel the anger rising. But it’s not for her. Or Mrs. Pearson. It’s just that I’m so used to being screamed at. My body’s ready for what’s next.

I scratch my shoulder blade and try not to show anything but a relaxed posture. I won’t let any of them get to me.

“It’s school, Miss Talbot. School is certainly not a game,” I answer her and square my shoulders, folding my hands in my lap although my foot taps on the floor anxiously. Maybe I’m baiting her, but then again, maybe I don’t give a fuck.

It’s only a matter of time until my mother or stepfather comes through the door. I anticipate it swinging open, but at the same time, I’m not sure if they’ll even bother to show.

“Three schools this year, Dean. You’ve already been kicked out of two and now you’re on your way to being kicked out of your third. Are you looking to set a record?” the principal asks me.

I don’t answer her. It’s rhetorical anyway.

I’m sure she has a speech prepared and I’d just hate to interrupt her.

I like being quiet anyway. Pops used to say if you’re quiet long enough, the words you finally say have more impact. Sometimes I think he only told me that so I’d shut up.

She takes her seat again and angrily clicks on her mouse as she reads through the offenses. “Aggravated assault and drug possession, resulting in expulsion from Hamilton.”

It was just pot and that fucker Darrell knew he was going to get his ass beat. That’s what happens when you try to steal from someone. Even if it was just fifty bucks for pot. He had it coming but decided to be a little bitch and rat.

Darrell can go fuck himself, Hamilton too.

She pauses to glance at me for my reaction before scrolling down what must be my school record.

I don’t react and just wait for the rest of the list.

“Destruction of public property and public indecency,” she says and then purses her lips.

The last one makes me crack a smile and I have to hide it with my hand, covering my mouth, but it doesn’t fool her.

“I’ll ask you again. Do you think this is funny?” She has a pinched expression on her face and I have to roll my eyes.

“I was just showing my ass,” I tell her even though I know it’s going to piss her off. It doesn’t matter what I say right now anyway. The end result is the same.

“And was it funny when you told Mrs. Pearson to suck your dick?” she asks and then slips off her thin-rimmed glasses, folding them and calmly setting them down on the desk.

I rest my elbow on the chair and prop my chin up to look at her. “I didn’t think she’d hear it,” I admit. And that’s the truth.

Her brow shoots up slightly. “So, it’d be okay if she hadn’t heard it?”

“Not really,” I answer, feeling my defenses raise. “But it’s not okay to call someone a failure and a waste of space,” I say and my words are pushed through clenched teeth as I try to remember what my math teacher said. I know she said failure at least. I know for a fact she did. All because I couldn’t remember a stupid formula.

“This is about your repeated offenses, Dean,” the principal says but there’s a hint of hesitation in her response. She unfolds her glasses and gently puts them back on.

“You’re only a freshman and your options for both public and private schools are dwindling. Do you think acting like this is going to help you deal with your issues?”

My mouth slams shut at the last word. The air between us tenses and I can see her expression change. It’s a look of victory; she’s finally found something that gets to me.

Principal Talbot shakes her head, the look of disappointment clearly forced. “You have no idea how much you’re hurting yourself,” she tells me as if she really cares.

I scoff at her and look back to the closed door.

None of them care. They just want me gone so I’m not their problem to deal with anymore.

“I can’t have this type of behavior here, and quite frankly, this was a favor to your mother.” She looks me in the eyes as she says, “Who, I’m sure, is going to be very disappointed in you.”

Her voice is stern, but that’s not what gets to me. It’s not what makes me rip my eyes away from hers and pick at the fuzz on the red fabric covering the arms of the chair I’m sitting in. It’s the fact that my mother won’t give a damn. Maybe she’ll say she does. Maybe she’ll even stand there next to that prick she married while he cusses me out for wasting his time. But does she really care? Not about me she doesn’t.

“So, what now?” I ask and look Principal Talbot in the eyes.

“We wait for your parents to get here-”

“Parent,” I correct her and hold her gaze as she narrows her eyes at me. “I only have one parent.” My voice almost catches. I almost let my true feelings show. But thankfully they’re hidden, still buried where they belong.

“Your mother and stepfather then,” she corrects herself.

I huff and focus on the fuzz at the edge of the chair cushion, picking up the little pieces between my thumb and forefinger.

She’d better get comfortable. The last time this happened they never even bothered to show up.