Page 9 of Brutal Titan

Elliot

“Finally,” I mumble, dropping my head to the table after Victoria walks out. The only thing more infuriating than her questioning me about why I started the fight is the fact that she was indeed the reason I’d lost my temper. It started out with warning Quinn about the sleaze bucket, but he had that shit-eating grin on his damn face. The exact same one as he’d had at the party when he’d dropped Victoria’s stupid shoes at my feet, running away like a coward. This time when Grant made the insinuation that she initiated whatever the hell happened between them, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to knock it off his goddamn face. Either way, I don’t like it, but for her to seek him out for that purpose would be an even harder pill to swallow.

About an hour passes before Principal Huntington appears in the doorway, motioning for me to follow him. “My office now.”

“Aye aye, captain.” Rising from the table, I follow him the short distance to his office where he tells me to have a seat. I plop down in the stiff leather chair in front of his desk. “I plead the fifth.”

“That’s great, but you’re not on trial. The consequences of your actions have already been decided. You and Grant will both attend weekend detention for two months.”

“Two months? That seems excessive.”

“Fighting at school is excessive, therefore your consequence is also. And maybe you and Grant can work out your issue while spending the next eight Saturdays and Sundays together.”

“I’d prefer at-home detention. I.e., suspension.”

“And that’s why I don’t believe suspending students from school is the correct solution.”

“Debatable,” I mumble, wishing the punishment would take me away from here, not bind me to campus seven days a week—with Grant.

“I spoke with your father moments ago. He was unable to come in, but he was made aware of what transpired.” Huntington hesitates for a moment—something I don’t see from the usual blunt, stern man before he continues. “He informed me of the situation with your mom.”

Of course he had. My jaw clenches, teeth grinding as I want to punch something or someone else.

“He reiterated the importance of keeping it under wraps, and I gave him my word. I want to assure you of the same.”

“I don’t give a shit if you announce it over the intercom. It’s him who wants to keep what she did a secret, scared his little country club buddies might think twice about golfing with him while his wife is locked away.”

“Elliot. I can only imagine how difficult it is for you, and I want you to know you can come to me if you need anything at all. Even if it’s just to talk or get something off your mind. Or we have a team of excellent school counselors if you’d prefer to speak with them.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, she does, and so do you.”

I can’t respond because my anger is fading, sadness and shame taking over. Standing, I move to leave the office. It’s smothering me and I can’t get out of there fast enough, but Huntington says my name.

“Have a seat back in the conference room. We’re arranging a mediation between Grant and yourself before you both return to class.”

“Can’t wait,” I say sarcastically, knowing that the mediation will consist primarily of me keeping my mouth shut because I don’t want to discuss anything—including the reason for the fight and why I want to start another one.

* * *

The garage door gradually lifts to reveal my usual spot. I pull into the garage and shut off the engine. I grip the steering wheel, already regretting coming straight home instead of hanging out at the Hastings’ place. Only, I know my father is gone, so that made my house slightly more appealing than facing the red-headed nuisance at the Hastings’ house.

Exiting the car, I glance around the garage lined with no less than five lavish vehicles, but the most lavish of them all is missing from the lineup, confirming what I’d hoped: my father hasn’t returned from one of his many business trips. He’s always traveled a great deal, but the trips seem more frequent and extended recently, especially since my mom hasn’t been around, not that her being here ever stopped him from staying away before.

“Get your behind in this house this instant.” Susan stands at the door with a stern expression.

“Susan, did you really miss me that much?” I tease, receiving a scowl that’s reserved for the moments I screw up the worst. I’ve seen it plenty times over the years, and it’s in full force at the moment. Yep. She got a phone call about my day at school. I doubt my dad batted an eye, but he was sure to instruct our housekeeper to parent me. It’s sad when the housekeeper does more parenting than your actual parent but that’s nothing new. Susan has always made a point to pick up where my dad left off, which has been quite a bit. And honestly, it’s nice to have one of Susan’s reality-check lectures because there’s something genuine about them; they make me feel like she cares about my well-being. Luckily, there’s not a time I can recall when she hasn’t been around. She might technically be a part of the staff, but she feels more like family than my actual family. And one of the few people who haven’t flaked out and left me behind, willingly and without a second thought.

She doesn’t say a word, because she doesn’t need to, I simply follow behind her, resuming my usual spot at the kitchen table. I recline back in my chair as she pulls one out beside me. Sitting, her glare remains on me, and she finally speaks after a few more moments of fuming. “The second day of school, Elliot?”

“Yep. It was a fun one.”

“Cut the crap. How did you manage to get into a fight on the second day of school? You’re lucky Principal Huntington didn’t kick you out.”

“Not likely.”

“One day you’re going to dig your hole deeper than you can handle and nothing, including money or your granddad’s name, will be able to help you climb out of it. Besides, don’t you want to do better? Be better than that? It’s your senior year. It’s time to start considering your future.”