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My nostrils flair My anger flaasoline I peer over at the s half his delicate face I want to take a shot at hi s I need to know The little shit started this His blackened eyes, bruised cheekbone, and bloodied lip tells me who finished it “Can you explain tomy attention back to the principal with the superiority complex

“It seeot into an altercation I know Mr Barrett has been going through a tough tiiven where his mother is, and his father just returned from, but we simply cannot use violence as the answer”

Mr Alexander snickers

My shoulders stiffen “I don’t see how that has anything to do with it I’ve known hier than you, and I can say with complete confidence he does not fly off the handle as you’re trying to indicate The boy has never been in a fight his entire school career I won’t let your bigotry affect his school records He has a 40, exceptional attendance, and a handful of teachers who’ll vouch for him Can Mr Alexander say the same? Do you think his record will hold up to Bolton’s? So to bet fro expression and the air of entitlene, he’s been in and out of trouble for years You see, sir, I don’t care if you like s of Chaos You think we’ve made bad decisions, and coht But I’m not about to let you crucify ive the to have a lot of bad press and legal action taken on this school”

“You’ll have a lot more than that”

Shadow’s husky voice makes my loins quiver As he co my back

“You got a problem with my boy, Dick?” he asks

“I have a proble man who cohtens his spine and clears his throat Sweat beads appear on his forehead and his pulse point pops wildly in his neck

I watch him unravel before our eyes

“Huh What happened, Bolton?” Shadow asks He never raises his voice, but he didn’t have to There’s a promise of retaliation in his quiet tone

“Brandon and his friends thought it’d be a good idea to run their mouths about Mom and you I blew it off I don’t care what they think aboutto bully s

“You hear that, Dick? Sounds like ed,” Shadols “I want to knohat you plan on doing about this to ht”

“Well, both boys will be suspended for the next three days and they’ll both be written up,” Mr Bateman answers

“You putting this on his pere?”

“This is standard procedure, Mr Barrett”