“Well, don’t be a pussy,” Fin says, a smirk in his voice.
Just as I pass the front wall and step into view of the boys’ bathroom, I hear a thud, then a sharp inhale. Someone mutters “fuck” under their breath.
Aiden and Hudson stand by the sinks, mouth open. On the floor, lying on his back, is Fin with his vice-captain badge glinting on his blazer. And standing above him, with his fists curled, is Kieran.
*
“You’re Kieran’s buddy, Jasper. What happened?”
I shrivel under Mrs Ferguson’s gaze. She’s the Year 12 Co-ordinator, and I’ve been in her office several times before, but never for an interrogation.
“I don’t know,” I say. “Like I said, I only saw the end of the fight.” I’m not even sure what happened counts as a fight. Fin looked like he was going to scream bloody murder until Kieran said,“don’t be dramatic.”
Then he said,“are you going to tell people I pushed you around? Don’t you have any pride? Jesus, this school.”
I thought that was the end until I got called in for this meeting. I bet Fin told the teachers a version of the story where he was an innocent victim, and since he knew that the teachers would keep the fight on the down-low, he wouldn’t look like a weakling.
“It’s not like I could have prevented what happened. I was busy at the leadership meeting,” I explain, reminding her I’m the school captain, that she and the rest of the school choseme.
Mrs Ferguson shakes her head, which annoys me. What the hell was I meant to do, follow Kieran around like a stalker, making sure he didn’t do anything violent? Sure, he looks kind of dangerous, but I didn’t think he’d punch someone. The scars on his knuckles should have warned me.
She taps her fingers against her desk. “Your grandfather is Kieran’s guardian.”
“He’s not. He’s just letting Kieran live with him for a bit.”
Mrs Ferguson looks at me. “He’s listed as Kieran’s guardian in his school file.”
“Oh,” I say. “Well, it’s only until Kieran graduates. Senior knows Kieran’s dad or something. I don’t know the details.”
Mrs Ferguson stares at me. I look through the window, which is filled with thick yellow sun. By now, all the students would have left school. Senior told me to stay behind after school because Kieran had to stay behind too, and Senior would drive us both home. It worked out for Mrs Ferguson because it meant she could talk to me after talking to the other boys. I guess talking to her now isn’t that bad because it meant I didn’t miss out on class, but still. I’m not looking forward to seeing Kieran again.
“In the future, Jasper, make sure you keep an eye out for Kieran,” Mrs Ferguson says.
“I think someone else would be better suited to being Kieran’s buddy.”
When she doesn’t respond, I pull reasons out of my ass. “Kieran and I… we already know each other…I think someone more similar to him would get along with him better… not that we don’t get along… I am already quite busy with my other commitments…”
“Jasper,” she says, when I’ve finished mumbling rubbish, “because you already have a personal connection with him, it’s obvious you’d be best to aid Kieran in these first couple of weeks. Just until he adjusts. Your grandfather suggested this too.”
“But — ”
“I think you’ll be a good influence on him,” she says, tidying up her desk. “I’m not excusing his actions, but what happened today may be a natural result from the sudden changes in his life. Have a bit of empathy.”
Me? Empathy? Of course I have empathy!
“He’s moved away from home to live with someone new, in a town very different from Sydney. He’s left a school he was familiar with, with all his friends. Not to mention the shock of his expulsion. I know it may be difficult, but try your best with him. I know you can do it.” For the first time this afternoon, Mrs Ferguson offers me a smile.
I open and close my mouth like a suffocating fish. “Expulsion?” I echo.
Her smile disappears. She stands up. “That’s our meeting concluded. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jasper.”
“He was expelled?”A spot of bother, Senior said yesterday.
Mrs Ferguson leads me to the door and holds it open for me. “Have a nice evening. Goodbye.”
I leave the office, mumbling goodbye, and she closes the door behind me. In a daze, I walk out of the staff building. Senior and Kieran aren’t to be seen, so they must still be in their meeting.
Kieran was expelled from his last school. Now that the shock has worn off, I’m not that surprised. I can guess why he got expelled too, if today was any indication. Although, one fight isn’t enough reason to expel a kid — especially a kid in a city public school, where fights happen all the time (or so I hear). So I bet he either seriously injured somebody, or it was one fight too many.
