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17
“Asia, come in,” Mr Carmichael says when I push open his door and stand on the threshold, not entirely certain I want to enter now that I’m here.
“Actually, I’m good.” I move to turn away.
“Asia. You’ve found yourself at my office for a reason. Come in,please?” he adds.
Despite myself and my inherent need to defy authority, I enter his office, shutting the door behind me.
“What’s up?” he asks, as I take a seat.
“You don’t know?” I cock an eyebrow giving him my most disgusted stare that I can muster. It's not hard, given I feel so pissed off, confused, disappointed, out of sorts.
“I know about Eastern and Camden’s fight from their class teacher. I understand Eastern found himself in Anthony’s office whilst you were having your therapy session with him. That’s about the sum of it, yes?”
“Mr Burnside didn’t tell you more?”
“Anthony may be my partner in life, but he’s also a professional. What happens in your sessions stay private. Of course, if you want to talk about it with me, then that’s okay too.”
I make a huffing noise, sounding like a petulant child rather than someone who’s whole fucking life has been tipped upside down. I don’t huff, I don’t sulk, and I certainly don’t seek out the support of an adult. But here I am doing just that. I glare at Mr Carmichael, fucking furious suddenly.
“Got something to say, Asia?”
“Why didn’t youstopit? Why didn’t you say something to Crown when I agreed to get information from Camden about the King?” I blurt out. That wasn’t what I intended to say, but that’s what comes out of my mouth regardless.
Mr Carmichael sighs. “If I stepped in at that point, would it have made a difference to your decision?”
“No.” I was determined. Certain I could do it, sure of myself, of Eastern, of our friendship and love. I acted on instinct. I did it because I thought I wouldn’t have any issue taking Camden down if that’s what it took. Now, I’m second guessing everything.
“I knew that, Asia. Listen,” he says, shifting forward in his seat and resting his arms on the table in front of him. “You made a deal to secure your futures. You care for Eastern deeply. You love his family as though they’re your own. I get that. I know only too well that you protect family at all costs. You avenge them if need be. Igetit.”
“And what about Camden? What about his future? What about him?”
“You care what happens to him?” Mr Carmichael asks, cocking his head to the side.
“No, yes… Look, I don’t know. He’s a wanker. I don’t like him all that much, but what gives me the right to fuck him over to save our arses?”
“Survival, am I right?”
“Yes, but what abouthissurvival?” I twist my hands together in my lap. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing…?”
“It isn’t about what I think.”
“Yes it is. You’re the fucking principal of this school. Are you willing to let one kid get screwed over to save two others? I thought youactually gave a shit not a metaphorical one,” I spit, throwing his words back at him.
He winces, scraping a hand over his face. “I do care. I do give a shit, about all of you.”
I laugh bitterly. “Then I’m going to ask you the question again, Mr Carmichael. Why didn’t you step in and stop Crown?”
“Because I’m just the principal of this school, Asia. I’m not judge and jury. I’m not the law. My powers exist here in the confines of this academy alone, and even then they’re limited. My hands are tied.”
“It isn’t right.”
“Would you rather Eastern went to prison for fourteen years? Would you rather he took the fall for some faceless criminal who doesn’t give a shit about the kids he uses to do his dirty work?”
“No, of course not. But this could fuck up Camden’s life too.”
“You don’t know that yet. Crown wants information on the King.”
