bChapter /bb33 /b

42

“My parents will be here any minute,b” /bJason hissed at meb, /bhis eyes narrowing. “You’re going to regret ever touching me, you psycho bitch.”

I didn’t bother looking up from my phone. “I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

Jason let out another exaggerated groan. “Jesus Christ, it hurts so much! Coach was talking to bscouts /b

from State about me. Now I’ll never get that schrship!”

The nurse rolled her eyes slightly behind Jason’s back, clearly unimpressed by his theatrics.

“Mr. Reynolds, I’ve already told you it’s a simple fracture. It will healpletely with proper care,” she said, adjusting the temporary splint on his leg.

“What do you know?” Jason snapped. “You’re just a school nurse!”

Dr. Winters cleared her throat. “Jason, please try to remain calm. Your parents should be here any

minute.”

Outside the office, I could hear footsteps approaching. Through the frosted ss of the door, I could make out several silhouettes – more than just two people. The Reynolds were apparently bringing

reinforcements.

“That’s them,” Jason said, a smug smile recing his pained expression for just a moment before he

resumed his victim act. “Now you’ll see.”

The door remained closed as voices drifted in from the hallway.

“I want this girl expelled at minimum,” came a deepb, /bauthoritative male voice. “Find me everything we can use against her. Assault charges, civil suit for medical expenses and emotional distress…”

“And check if there’s any history of violence or mental illness in her family,” added a crisp female voice. “No one bhurts /bour son and gets away with it, especially not some girl from the poor side of

town.”

Max’s hand found mineb, /bsqueezing it gently. I gave him a reassuring nod.

“Morgan family has no resources to fight us,” the man continued. “This will be quick,”

Through the ss, I could see a woman in a dark pantsuit typing rapidly on a tablet, presumably

?

b10:07 /bbWed/bb, /bbSep /bb17 /b

Chapter b33 /b

–

taking bnotes/b. Next to bher /bbstood /ba man in an expensive suit clutching a leather briefcase theirwyerb, /bbno /bdoubt.

Suddenly, a phone rang in the hallway.

142

“Councilman Reynolds,” a secretary’s voice called out. “There’s a call for you from the mayor’s boffice/bb. /bFelix Huxley is on the line personally.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Felix?” The man’s voice changed instantly, surprise recing the arrogance. “What bcan /bI do for

you?”

Though I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, the effect was immediate and visible even through the frosted ss. The Reynolds‘ postures stiffened, then seemed to dete simultaneously.

“Haxton? Did you say…” The man’s voice had risen half an octave.

The woman’s silhouette moved closer. “What’s happening, Andrew?”

The man covered the phone and whispered something to his wife that made her physically step backward. Their bodynguage had transformedpletely.

“Of course, Felix. I understandpletely. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. We’ll handle it appropriately.”

The call ended, and another hushed, frantic conversation followed outside the door. I could make out only fragments:

“b…/bcan’t touch her…”

“…Haxton would destroy bus/bb…/b”

“…political suicide…”

After a minute of intense whispering, the door finally opened. A tall, distinguished–looking man in his fifties entered, followed by an elegant woman with surgical precision to her appearance – every hair in bce/bb, /bmakeup wless, designer clothes immacte.

What I hadn’t expected was the look of barely concealed panic on both their faces.

b10:07 /bbWed/bb, /bbSep /b17

:

:

“Dr. Winters,” Councilman Reynolds began, his voice artificially calm. “I apologize for the dy.”

“Dad!” Jason called out, his face lighting up with vindictive hope. “Look what she did to me! This psycho attacked me for no reason!”

Both Reynolds parents shot their son a warning look that shut him up instantly.

“Jason,” his father said with forced patience. “Not now.”

Dr. Winters rose quickly from her desk. “Councilman Reynolds, Dr. Reynolds, thank you foring. I’m terribly sorry about this unfortunate incident-”

“Yes, unfortunate indeed,” Mrs. Reynolds cut in, her eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. Not anger, but something closer to fear.

42

Jason, not reading the room, tried again. “Mom, Dad, she broke my leg! You should see what she did!

I might never y again!”

Dr. Reynolds finally turned to her son, her professional demeanor taking over. She moved to examine

his knee, pressing it in several ces with practiced efficiency.

“It’s a simple fracture, Jason,” she said briskly. “The hospital will set it properly, and you’ll be back on

the field before winter training. Stop being dramatic.”

Jason’s mouth fell open in shock. “But Mom-”

“Enough!” Councilman Reynolds snapped, then visiblyposed himself. He turned to me, and to

everyone’s surprise, especially Jason’s, he approached with a respectful bow of his head.

“Ms. Morgan, I want to personally apologize for my son’s behavior. Whatever transpired between you

two, I’m certain he bears significant responsibility.”

The room went silent. Jason’s face turned from shock to betrayal.

“Dad? What the hell are you talking about? She attacked me!”

His father shot him a re that could have frozen fire. “Be quiet, Jason. Do you have any idea who you’ve been antagonizing, you idiot?b” /b

Jason looked between his parents in confusion, his victim act momentarily forgotten.

b10:07 /bWedb, /bbSep /b17

Dr. Reynolds stepped forward. “Ms. Morgan, we’re prepared to offer fullpensation for any inconvenience this has caused. If there’s anything we can do-”

“What?b” /bJason interrupted, his voice cracking. “Mom, Dadb, /bwhat’s happening? She’s the one who should be apologizing! She’s the one who broke my leg!”

b42 /b

“One more word,” his father hissed, “and you’ll lose your car privileges for the rest of the semester.”

Jason fell silent, but tears of confusion and betrayal welled in his eyes.

Councilman Reynolds turned back to me. “We propose that Jason transfers to a different school immediately. He’ll issue a formal apology for his behavior, both to you and your brother.”

“And we’ll ensure he receives appropriate counseling for his aggressive tendencies,” Dr. Reynolds added quickly. “This type of behavior ispletely uneptable.”

Jason stared at his parents, a tear rolling down his cheek. For the first time, I felt a twinge of sympathy for him. He truly had no idea what was happening.

I nced at Max. “What do you think? It’s you he’s been bullying.”

Max considered for a moment, his kind nature winning out despite everything. “bIf /bJason is really sorry and promises not to bully anyone else… I’m okay with it.”

“Jason,” his father prompted sharply.

“I… I’m sorry,” Jason mumbled, his earlier bravadopletely evaporated. “I shouldn’t have said those things or… or pushed you.”

Dr. Winters exhaled with visible relief. “Well, I think we can consider this matter resolved then. The school epts the Reynolds‘ proposal.”

Councilman Reynolds nodded stiffly, then leaned closer to me. “Ms. Morgan, please give my regards to Mr. Haxton,” he said quietly.

I simply nodded.

bThe /bReynolds family made a hasty exit, with Jason being half–carried by his father. Thest glimpse I caught of his bface /bshowedplete confusion and the dawning realization that something much bigger than him was at y.

…

As the door closed behind them, Dr. Winters copsed into her chair.

“Well,” she said, wiping her brow. “That was unexpected.”

b10:07 /bWedb, /bbSep /bb17 /b