by Hart, Rebel
“Enjoying lunch, losers?”
I shrugged. “Of course. Are you?”
Marina snickered. “We always enjoy lunch until you assholes show up.”
Aly rolled her eyes. “Nice one, Marina.”
Mike nodded. “Yep. Very creative. A-plus for effort.”
Marina glared at them. “At least I’m not a pathetic loser that goes around helping charity cases just to feel better about myself.”
Rae cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. Do you mean ‘charity cases’ as in us? Or ‘charity cases’ as in you? Because I’m pretty sure the two of you can’t be helped.”
Marina jumped at Rae and she stood out of her chair. Like lightning. I’d never seen her move so quickly, and I shot up from my own seat to step in front of her. To shield her from the nonsense of the crew I used to run these halls with. I stared Roy down, refusing to look over at Marina. Because I didn’t believe in intimidating a girl, no matter how much I figured she deserved it.
“What? The two of you are back together now? Rumor had it you dumped her for another piece of ass.”
Marina grinned. “Yeah. People are talking about how you’re fucking your stepmom now. That how you roll over there in the Clarke household? Fucking family members.”
Rae growled. “I’ll claw your damn eyes out.”
Marina stepped forward. “You want to try that statement again?”
I moved with her and felt her shove me in the chest. I slowly looked over at Roy, but all he did was fold his arms over his chest.
“What? You got your girl fighting your fights now?”
He smiled wickedly. “She can handle her own. Question is, can you?”
I nodded slowly. “I don’t swing at girls. I’m better than that. Rae won’t hesitate, though. And I wonder who’s going to win in a battle of women? The one who knows how to fight, or the one who tips over in her own heels?”
Roy shoved Marina out of the way in order to stand toe to toe with me.
“You think you can come into this cafeteria and stand up to me? Huh? After fucking around with pathetic assholes like these three? You think you can still rule this school and get away with bullshit like that? With abandoning the only friends you could count on?”
I grinned. “You really thought you were my friend?”
He shoved my chest. “You deserve everything your father fucking hands you.”
My eye twitched. “And I’ve had about enough of your shit, Roy.”
22
Raelynn
I rubbed Clint’s chest. “Hey, hey. It’s not worth it. They’re not worth it.”
I saw his nostrils flaring, and I knew he was only half paying attention to me. I had to calm him down. The teachers weren’t in the cafeteria yet, but they would be soon. And the last thing Clint needed was to get expelled just as he’d gotten back into the groove of things here. We needed to get him graduated, and this wasn’t the way to do it.
“Clint. Listen to me.”
Roy snickered. “Yeah, Clint. Listen to her.”
I eyed him hotly. “You shut the hell up before I punch you myself.”
Marina jumped in front of him. “You lay one hand on my man and I’ll—”
Allison’s voice came from behind me. “Or you’ll what, you snide little bitch?”
My jaw fell open and I whipped my head around. Michael laughed as he rubbed her back, and Clint started chuckling. I smiled and winked at her, then turned my attention back to the two goons in front of us. And I noticed something.
None of the other guys from the table across the cafeteria had joined them. They all just sat and watched. With smirks on their faces before rolling their eyes and turning their backs.
Seemed as if Roy and Marina were losing their position with those assholes as well. So I decided to use that to my advantage.
“You know, I figured more of your friends would be here to back you up.”
Roy grinned. “I know what you’re trying to do. And trust me, they’re backing us up.”
I shrugged. “Then where are they?”
Michael piped up, “You know, other than sitting over there and not paying one bit of attention to what you’re doing over here.”
When Marina and Roy looked over, I saw their faces falter. Their confident, cocky smiles slowly begin to fade. I looked up at Clint, ready to relish the victory. Because we might actually get out of this without some sort of a fight.
But the look on his face hadn’t changed. His nostrils still flared with anger, his shoulders rolled back. He was still on guard. Still watching, waiting for something to break out. I hated seeing him so riled up like this. I rubbed his arm and moved it to his chest. I patted his heartbeat softly, trying to talk him down from his heady high.
It didn’t work.
Roy snickered. “Anyway, now that the distraction’s over—”
Marina smiled wickedly. “Want to settle this? Woman to woman?”
I rolled my eyes. “When you show me a woman, sure.”
“What did you say?”
She lunged at me and Clint stepped in front of me again. She started beating her fists against his chest, but he didn’t move. Roy stood behind his girl like a fucking coward, letting her wail on my man. But, even though Clint’s fists were gripped tight, he didn’t swing one punch.
He simply let her get it out of her system before she backed away.
“Yeah. And that’ll be your girl’s face if she ever talks to me that way again.”
Clint shook his head. “You won’t touch Rae.”
Roy narrowed his eyes. “You threatening my girl?”
I snickered. “No. He’s not. He’s simply telling you Marina won’t touch me without consequences.”
Roy licked his lips. “And what kind of consequences are those?”
Clint sighed. “The kind of consequences that get you both expelled and thrown in jail for all the underage drinking parties you throw.”
Marina hissed. “You mean the parties you helped us throw? The parties you got drunk at? The parties where you hooked up with random bitches and boasted about it later? Yeah? Those parties, you damn drunk?”
Michael came to my side. “Doesn’t matter what he did in his past, so long as he’s moved past it.”
Allison came up to Clint’s other side. “Yeah. We don’t care about that stuff. We only care about what he does now.”
I nodded. “Which is why you two aren’t worth it. Clint, they aren’t worth it. Let’s just sit back down, okay?”
I looked up at him, hoping he had relaxed. But he hadn’t.
“I’m good. I’ll sit down once they leave.”
I tried to tug him into the seat, but he shrugged off my touch. He looked down at me and winked, but it didn’t provide me with any solace. I didn’t like where this was going. I just wanted everyone to go back to their respective places so we could eat and get the hell back to class.
Roy snickered. “You got something to say, asshole, then say it.”
Clint nodded. “Fine. I will. I’m tired of you and Marina pushing me around. Pushing us around. I’m tired of you thinking you’re a big shot when the only reason you got into your position is because I took pity on you. Befriended you when I didn’t have anyone else. It’s time someone taught you a lesson. It’s time you were reminded of who’s better with their fists.”
“Oh, you want a fight. Is that it?”
I placed my hand on his chest. “Clint, don’t do this.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want a fight. But, sometimes, that’s the only way people listen. Getting the ever-loving shit beat out of them. If that’s what it takes for you to get the picture, then I’m all for it.”
Marina stood behind Roy. “Get him, baby. Break that fucking jaw of his.”
Roy put up his fists. “Fine, then. Come on. Hit me.”
Clint shrugged. “You first.”
Roy didn’t hesitate. He swung at Clint and he shoved me out of the way. Michael caught me and pu
lled me away from the scene as I watched it unfold. Allison ducked and Michael rushed for her, clamoring over the lunch table to get to her. He picked her up and climbed back across the table as Clint caught Roy’s fist mid-swing and twisted his arm. He backed Roy against the wall. Marina cried out and whipped around, looking for some sort of support for Roy.
But everyone at their table kept their backs turned.
“Someone help him! Where the fuck are you guys!?”
Her cries echoed across the cafeteria and I saw students turning our way. With each punch Roy threw, Clint caught them. Not once did that asshole land a punch. Clint brought his knee up into Roy’s gut and took him to his knees. The stupid boy heaved for air as Marina fell down beside him. Clint hovered over them, a dark look on his face. Not once had he swung a punch, though. All he did was warn. And promise.
Then he made good on that promise.
Roy pushed Marina away again and lunged at Clint. He shoved Clint down, back first, onto the table. Into the food we had just purchased. I reached for Clint, wanting to pull him away. But Michael held me back.
“He’s got this. He knows what he’s doing. Let the teachers see him defending himself.”
My eyes widened as Roy’s fist came up in the air. I cried out Clint’s name, watching as he caught it. He rolled Roy over and straddled him, pinning the boy’s hands to the table. Then, Marina came up behind him and gripped his shirt.
And my vision dripped red.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
I tore away from Michael’s grip and rushed toward Marina. I wrapped my arms around her and picked her up, moving her away from Clint. I set her down on her feet and glared at her, and she cocked her hand back to slap me. But out of nowhere came Allison, who jammed her heel down into Marina’s toe. Marina bent over and grabbed her foot.
I grinned. “Good one.”
Allison frowned. “We have to get out of here. The teachers are coming.”
By the time I got back to the table, I saw Roy’s elbow come up into Clint’s jaw. He stumbled back into the wall and Roy pushed himself off the table, heading straight for Clint. His fist connected with Clint’s jaw. Clint wrapped his hand around Roy’s throat, and just as Clint pushed him away, teachers came around the corner.
“Clarke! Emerson! Principal’s office, now!”
Teachers pushed us out of the way and wrapped their arms around the boys. Roy kept clamoring for Clint, cursing and yelling as Clint backed away. He didn’t fight the teachers or try to pull out of their grasp. Roy, on the other hand, bucked and kicked and cursed like a toddler not wanting to go into time out.
It was pathetic to watch.
Even though Clint had come out on top, it also looked as if he’d started the fight. I knew damn good and well those teachers hadn’t seen Roy attack him. And I wasn’t sure how all of this would go down. I saw them haul Clint down the hallway toward the principal’s office. He peered over his shoulder at me and winked again. Like he somehow had everything under control. I went to walk after him, but both Michael and Allison grabbed me, wrapping their hands around my wrists and pulling me back as teachers hauled a kicking and screaming Roy out of the cafeteria.
With Marina in tears, following behind them.
“I have to go after him.”
Michael sighed. “Let the teachers sort it out.”
Allison stroked my arm. “Yeah. You know the principal will get to the bottom of it. He knows Clint’s trying to turn over a new leaf.”
I pulled out of their grips. “You know they’ll throw Clint under the bus in a heartbeat.”
Michael nodded. “Yes. But there are plenty of people here who will say Roy started that fight. Not Clint.”
Allison smiled softly. “Yeah, it’ll be okay. Plus, there’s us who can attest to that, too.”
I sighed as I turned back to the entrance of the cafeteria.
“I don’t know, guys.”
They rubbed my back, but I felt more overwhelmed than ever. I couldn't fucking catch a break. Every time I made a step forward in my life, two steps were taken away from me. For all I knew, this would lead to Clint’s suspension. Or expulsion. And we’d all be back at square one. Me, with my broken heart. Clint, dealing with shit at home by himself. And us, graduating without our newfound friend.
I hate this so much. “Why does he have to be like that all the time?”
Michael patted my shoulder. “What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “I just—why did he have to egg Roy on like that? Why did he have to instigate things?”
Allison took my hand. “I have to say, I’m with Clint on this one.”
I furrowed my brow. “What?”
Michael squeezed my shoulder. “Me, too.”
I paused. “Wait, what?”
Allison giggled. “You see a fight. You see Clint slipping back into his old ways. But if there was ever a fight to engage in, that was the one.”
I shook my head. “I don’t get it.”
Michael snickered. “Of course you don’t. He was standing up for you, Rae. That asshole had it coming. And Marina, too. I’m sure it felt good for Clint to blow off a little steam and to be the bigger person in the process.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fighting doesn’t make anyone the bigger person. It makes them a bigger target.”
Allison came into my vision. “Even when he’s standing up for his girl?”
Michael rubbed my back. “Even when he’s big enough to defend himself and not start the fight in the process?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know anymore. All I know if that if this fight leads to him getting suspended—or worse—we’re right back to where we started.”
Allison paused. “How do you figure?”
I cracked my neck. “I mean, think about it. He’ll be back home dealing with this shit by himself. Caught up in his father’s whirlwind instead of here, where he should be, trying to graduate. He can’t make a life for himself without a degree. And once we graduate, who in the world is going to help him do that? Because I don’t know about you, but I don’t see anyone else jumping up to defend him or help him. Do you?”
And when they both fell silent, I knew I had them.
“That’s why I’m scared right now, guys. Because if we graduate without Clint, he doesn’t stand a chance.”
23
Clinton
I picked at my fingers and fidgeted in the principal’s office. I kept stealing glances at Roy, who sat there with a holier-than-thou grin on his face. I still heard Marina crying outside. Like she’d somehow been wrapped up in all this. The little bitch. I wanted to stick my head out into the hallway and tell her to shut the hell up. The principal was calling all of our parents. First, Marina’s. Then Roy’s.
And when he hung up the phone, I slowly lifted my eyes.
“Please, sir. I didn’t start this fight. There’s no reason to call my father.”
Roy snickered. “You start every fight you’re in, Clarke.”
The principal held up his hand. “Who started the fight and who didn’t isn’t my concern right now. Mr. Clarke, you’re clearly not in any condition to be in school right now. By the looks of your nose and the accident we all know you’ve been in, you should be home. Resting.”
Roy rolled his eyes. “Can I go now?”
The principal glared at him. “You can sit right there until your mother gets here. I just called her. Then you can explain to her how a boy who’s just been in a life-threatening accident suddenly has a bruise on his jaw and across his face.”
He stood from his chair. “I didn’t do that to Clint’s nose! It was probably his fucking father or some—”
The principal slowly stood. “Sit down and stop that language in my office. Now.”
Roy flopped back down into the chair and I sighed. If that man called my father, he was sealing my fate. I’d never recover. I’d never recuperate. Because my father would beat me until I was dead. I drew in a deep breath and closed my eye
s, trying to settle my heartrate. I thought of some way to try and get myself out of this. Anything that didn’t force me to own up to what was happening in my own home.
Because if my father got arrested because of me? And he paid his way out?
He’d chase me to the ends of the earth if it meant retribution.
“Sir, please.”
The principal held up his hand. “I’m sorry, Mr. Clarke. But you know the rules. No matter who throws the first punch, all parties are to be picked up so they can cool down. We can start fresh tomorrow. I’ll make sure your teachers get your homework to you somehow.”
I shook my head. “Sir, you don’t understand. If you call my father—”
He blinked. “What happens if I call your father?”
I felt Roy grinning at me. Marina’s crying stopped as footsteps came into the front office. I swallowed hard, watching as the principal leveled his eyes with mine. All I had to do was say it. Tell him these bruises were from my father. Tell him what he was doing. How my father was about to abandon me and never return.
But I was also eighteen. The hell was some principal going to do?
I sighed. “Can’t you just trust me on this?”
The principal picked up his phone. “You know we don’t compromise rules. It sets a dangerous precedent.”
I wanted to strangle Roy when I heard him chuckling at my side.
His mother came and collected him as I sat there. No explanation of how I got my bruises. No having to grovel to his mother. She cooed at him and checked him over. Made sure he was all right before tossing me a disgusted look. I ignored it, though. I had larger worries on my plate.
Like the words coming out of the principal’s mouth.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Clarke. But I’m going to need you to come pick up your son. Yes, sir. Immediately. A fight with another student. Though, one I’m not sure he—no, I’m not sure he start—Mr. Clarke, your son didn’t start this fight. But he does have to be picked up from school. Yes. Uh huh. He’ll be in my office.”
It wouldn't matter, though. Not to my father. The only thing that mattered was the word ‘fight.’ The fact that I was probably interrupting his day. I pulled out my cell phone and quickly started texting Rae. Spitting out everything I could before my father stormed through those doors.