Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Well, shit. Just what I need.
Fury lingers in his stare as he strides toward us, and knowing damn well he’s about to demand I put my cigarette out, I quickly take the last drag. He steps right up to us, and I watch the pathetic way the two girls and Liam cower in his presence. “Girls,” Principal Daniels says before flicking his chin, silently telling them to fuck off.
Relief flashes in their eyes, and without skipping a beat, they hurry away, leaving me and Liam to face his wrath. “You must be Noah Ryan,” he says, sizing me up.
“The one and only,” I say as Liam discreetly tries to put out his cigarette as if the guy can’t smell the stench lingering in the air around us.
He studiously glances at my cigarette, demanding I follow suit and put it out, then being all too aware of what’s at risk, I do just that, dropping it to the ground and stubbing it with my toe. “You missed your appointment with me this morning,” he says in an accusatory tone.
Ah, shit. I knew I was forgetting something.
“Sorry, Bossman,” I say. “I wasn’t aware I had an appointment. I was told to head to the student office, grab my shit, and get ready for the day. I did that.”
Daniels presses his lips into a hard line. He knows I’m lying. I know I’m lying. But the question is, what’s he going to do about it?
“Yes, Dorris has told me all about your meeting in the student office,” he says, narrowing his gaze before fixing a heavy stare on Liam. “What the hell are you still doing here? The bell rang for class ten minutes ago. Get out of here.”
Liam spares me a glance before looking back at Daniels. “Yes, sir,” he says, going to take off before pausing. “Would you mind writing me up a hall pass? I’ve got Mrs. Teckler now, and she’s a bitch for handing out detentions.”
“I think a detention sounds appropriate, don’t you think, Mr. Xander?”
Liam glances down and presses his lips into a tight line before letting out a heavy, defeated sigh. “Yes, sir.” And with that, he takes off, hands shoved deep in his pockets, and not a single fucking thought for the guy whose threesome he just tried to invade.
I’m left with Principal Daniels, and I prepare myself for the worst. Day one, caught smoking just off the boundary of the school. I’m sure that’s going to do wonders for my position here.
“Let’s cut the bullshit,” Daniels says. “I know why you’re here. I’ve spoken to the Principal at St. Michael’s and am aware of just how much trouble you’ve gotten yourself into. You’re not the kind of student I wish to have inside the halls of my school. However, your mother insisted that I give you one last chance. She insisted that under all of the bullshit, you’re just a confused, lost soul. And if it weren’t for the pure devastation and desperation she expressed during our phone call, I probably would have declined. You’re trouble, Noah. You’re a danger to my school and my students, so let me make this very clear. One fuck up, one small step in the wrong direction, and I will personally ensure that you don’t see another football field in your life. Do you hear me?”
I swallow hard and nod. This isn’t exactly the first time I’ve been given a speech like this, but it’s the first time I think the guy giving it has the balls to actually follow through. “Yes, sir,” I mutter, the heaviness of my situation weighing me down.
“Now, your mother told me a little about your situation, and—”
“Excuse me?” The hairs stand on the back of my neck, not liking the direction this is heading.
Daniels presses his lips into a hard line, clearly not appreciating the interruption of what I’m assuming is a speech he’s rehearsed at least ten times before coming to me. “You’re an angry kid, Noah. You’ve had it rough. I understand your brother, Lincoln, died in an accident three years ago, and I would like to offer my sincerest condolences. However, I have been made aware that you have spiraled out of control since then. You have pushed away the people who care for you and fallen in with the wrong crowds, and while I appreciate how hard that must have been, I am not going to allow this reckless behavior to continue in my school.”
I clench my jaw, not liking this one fucking bit.
“I have spoken to your mother at length in regard to your enrollment here at East View, and if you wish to attend this fine school and graduate at the end of senior year, then there are some stipulations that you will be required to follow.”
Shit.
He gives me a hard stare. “First and foremost, the safety and wellbeing of my students is the primary goal here. As I mentioned, I spoke with your mother at length and am aware of your relationship with Zoey James. And following the reports I received from my office staff this morning, I am quite concerned. She is a promising student who has been through a hell of her own, and whether you have a history or not, I will not tolerate the kind of abuse you spouted at her this morning. Her or any other student for that matter. Is that understood?”