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She just gaped at him. Inside, she was quailing, she wanted to run and hide. But this was Brooks. No one messed with her kid.
She felt Steele come up behind her and place his hand on her lower back.
“Maybe you want to tell us what happened before you start laying down judgment,” Steele told him gruffly.
“What happened won’t change the outcome,” he said huffily. Although he was eyeing Steele nervously.
Steele’s touch gave her the boost of courage she needed.
“Actually, I think we have the right to know what happened,” she said. “Brooks? Were you fighting, honey?”
“I fought back when I was ambushed by three guys.”
“You were ambushed?” she whispered. She tried to rush over to him again, but Steele grabbed her around the waist, squeezing with his hand.
Right. They needed to hear the rest of the story. Then she could fuss over him.
“I was walking along the hall after school when I heard these three guys picking on Stella. They were making fun of her. Calling her names. So I stepped in and told them to leave her alone. They got in my face. One of them reached out to touch her and I pushed him back. That’s when Darrin, he’s the leader of their little group, hit me. Then they all attacked.”
“Three boys attacked you? And are they expelled?” she asked the principal.
“There is no evidence that they attacked him first. They said that he started it. He provoked them and threw the first punch. That he went crazy and they were just defending themselves. They also said they weren’t bullying the young lady in question.”
“What?” she said faintly. “Well, where are they? Where is she?” Her heart raced with fear and anger. How dare these boys lie? And why did the principal believe them over Brooks?
Actually . . . she knew exactly why.
“Effie, it’s all right,” Brooks said. Getting up, he came to her. “Everything will be all right.”
“Actually, it’s not all right,” Steele said. “I’d like to see these boys and that girl. Get their side of the story.”
“And who are you?” the principal asked snootily right before the door to the office slammed open and two boys walked in.
They were identical, but not. Oh, their features were the same, but one of them had his dark hair longer and messier. His blazer was open and so were half of his shirt buttons. She could see a T-shirt underneath. His shoes were scuffed and there was a wicked grin on his face.
Trouble. Total trouble.
His brother, on the other hand, was dressed impeccably. His hair was cut shorter and styled. He had his blazer buttoned, shirt done up with a tie, and there wasn’t even one scuff mark on his shoes.
“What are the two of you doing barging in here?” the principal demanded. “Where is Ms. O’Ryan? Why isn’t she at her desk?”
“I don’t know. Where do you think she is, brother?” the well-put- together one said.
“Maybe she went to the bathroom, bro,” the messier one replied.
“Yes, or maybe she ran off to Turks and Caicos to escape Dracula.”
“Don’t think he sucks blood, though, brother. Think he sucks souls.”
“The souls of children just trying to learn.” The one with the tie on shook his head. “Shameful. Just shameful.”
The principal stood, glaring at the boys, clearly incensed. “The two of you are not supposed to be in here. And you need to leave.”
“But we’ve got some information that you need, Donny,” the one with the tie said. “We know you’re big on gathering all evidence before making a judgment. Right? Because you wouldn’t want the board to look into why you’re trying to get rid of scholarship students. Why you’re turning your back and ignoring the bad behavior of some students, yet coming down hard on others.”
“Nope, bro, he wouldn’t want the board to know about that.” The one with longer hair turned to look at them with that grin. “Hello, I’m Baron and this is my brother, Royal.”
“What are you guys doing?” Brooks asked, staring at them both with a hint of awe.
