AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not saying Jesse shouldn’t be punished. Physical violence is never the answer,” he says, eyeing Jess. He’s silent for a minute, assessing, and hope starts to bloom in my chest. “Give him to me for six weeks,” he finally says. “He’ll join the school wrestling team, as well as the club outside of school. He’ll arrive early and set up, stay late to clean up. Two meets a month, minimum. If he misses one practice, you can suspend him.”
“Pft.” Jess scoffs. “Yeah, I’ll go ahead and take that suspension,” he says before standing. I jerk him back down by his wrist.
“Don’t you dare,” I say for his ears only. “You’re getting an out. Don’t fuck it up.” Mrs. Connelly’s expression tells me that maybe I wasn’t quiet enough.
“Well, Jesse?” she asks, arms crossed. “What’s it going to be? Six weeks of wrestling plus a week’s worth of detention, or one week of suspension?”
“Where the hell did the detention part come from?” Jess asks, losing patience.
“Watch your mouth. That’s the second time you’ve used foul language. Now, this is the only deal you’re going to get. Take it or leave it.” She shrugs.
I can tell Jess is about to say something stupid, so I stand and say, “He’ll take it.” I turn to Coach Standifer. “And thank you,” I say with a little more sincerity in my voice.
He gives me a nod. “Jesse?” Coach prods. “You good with this? It’s a commitment, and I expect you to show up.”
“I’m good with it.”
“All right, then. You’ll do your detention first, and we’ll start the wrestling next week.”
“I’m going to send you home for the rest of the day,” the principal says. “Come back tomorrow with a better attitude.”
Jess gives a reluctant nod and shakes the hand that Coach holds out for him.
“Deal,” I say when Jess doesn’t respond. Fucking teenagers. “Thanks, again.” And then I’m dragging Jess out of the office by his sleeve.
“What is your problem?” I whisper-yell once we’re in the hall.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he says, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Should I have thanked them for punishing me for defending myself?”
“I know.” I pause in the hall and give a heavy sigh. “I know. It’s bullshit. But we have to play by their rules.”
“I fucking swear I’m trying, Lo,” he says, the fight leaving his voice, and the guilt in his voice tears me up.
“I know you are.” I throw an arm around his waist, and his goes around my shoulders as we walk out of the school. “Try harder.”
“Did you have to leave work?”
“Yeah.” I shrug.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Instead of taking Jess home, I decide to bring him to work with me. I figured I could get back faster this way, and I can probably score him a free dinner. I plan to offer to work an hour later to make up the time I missed thanks to Jess. Right before we walk in the door, I get a call from Henry. I lift the phone to my ear, waving for Jess to go in without me.
“Henry,” I greet him.
“Kid,” he says, and I almost crack a joke about him referring to us as kid because he doesn’t know us well enough to remember our names, but I refrain. Barely.
“What’s up? I’m heading into work.”
“Just wanted to give you a heads-up. Got word today. We’re out at the end of the month.”
And the remainder of my earlier optimism is gone. Just. Like. That. “Already?”
“Sorry, kid,” he says, clearing his throat uncomfortably. “I, uh, I gotta get back to work. I just wanted to give you as much notice as possible.”
“Yeah. Thanks,” I say quietly before stuffing my phone back into my pocket. Tears prick my eyes, and I squeeze them shut, willing them not to fall. “Fuck!” I yell before kicking the wall. Hard. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” That hurt like hell. I squat down, back against the wall with my elbows propped on my knees, forehead leaning against my steepled fingers.
