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The air felt tight and scratchy against his skin, like a wool sweater that didn’t fit right.
Ms. Vickers was tapping her pen against her desk blotter. “Twice in one day, Hunter.”
He wanted to ask if she could just give him detention or whatever so he could get the hell out of this room.
But he bit back the words. Becca’s father’s parting comment kept ricocheting around his brain, adding to the headache. You made your bed, kid. Now you lie in it.
It sounded so much like something his father would have said.
Ms. Vickers shifted in her chair. The fluorescent light in the ceiling was buzzing with a tiny flicker. “And Gabriel Merrick. I’d hoped your recent brush with the law would keep you out of my office for a while.”
“I’m happy to leave.”
She didn’t crack a smile. “You know we don’t take physical altercations lightly here. Who wants to tell me what happened?”
Hunter didn’t lift his eyes from the corner of her desk, waiting for Gabriel to sell him out.
But Gabriel didn’t say anything, either.
Ms. Vickers sighed. “All right, Hunter, what happened with Calla Dean? Coach Taylor says you had a run-in in the lunch line.”
Hunter felt his hands form fists. “I didn’t do anything.”
“She says—”
“She’s lying. I didn’t touch her.”
Ms. Vickers pursed her lips. “I asked you to stay away from her entirely. If I don’t think you can do that, you’re going to force me to suspend you.”
This was ridiculous. “I’m trying!”
“You didn’t make it through lunch. I’m not sure that qualifies as trying very hard.”
Hunter almost came out of his chair. His hands were ready to snap the plastic armrests clean off. “I didn’t—”
“Hey.” Gabriel’s voice was sharp.
Hunter rounded on him, ready to finish what he’d started in the cafeteria. “What?”
Gabriel didn’t flinch from his look. “Dial it back a notch.” He glanced up.
And then Hunter realized that the overhead light was buzzing more frantically, making loud clicks within the tube. The air in the room had to have dropped ten degrees.
He’d always been able to sense the elements, and control was a newer talent, but he’d never affected anything to this extent.
Hunter closed his eyes and took a slow breath. In through his nose, out through his mouth. Then another. His hands unclenched, and he dropped back into the chair.
“Very zen,” said Gabriel. “Should I light a candle?”
Hunter’s eyes snapped open. “Fuck you.”
“Gentlemen,” said Vickers.
Damn. Everyone was managing to burrow under his skin today.
“I’m sorry,” Hunter bit out. “I’ll stay away from Calla.”
“Three strikes and you’re out, Hunter.” She shivered and pulled a cardigan off the back of her chair, then forced her arms into the sleeves. “If we have this conversation again, you’ll be looking at a three-day suspension. Do you understand?”
