She gasped, then smirked and raised her hand.
“Yes, Miss Ratcliffe?” Billson said from where he sat at his desk, grading papers.
“CJ just used bad language, sir. That’s against the rules.”
The teacher didn’t lift his head. “There are student rules and there are CJ rules. Deal with them or I can assign you another partner.”
Her mouth fell open. Just as she regrouped and started to speak, the door burst open, drawing every gaze in that direction, as Mattie ran in and skidded to a halt.
“Problem, Miss Donovan?” Billson asked.
Mattie shifted from foot to foot. “I need CJ.”
“Of course you do.”
“He’s with me right now, Matilda,” Skye said. “Whatever you need from him will have to wait. He has to help me with my project.”
Mattie frowned. “Yeah. No.” She waved CJ over. “Hurry.”
“Would you care to share, Miss Donovan?” Billson called.
“I’m wasting time explaining,” Mattie said in frustration, then started to back away. “Never mind. I’ll find Ryan.”
Fuck. This was about Harley.
“Wait, Mattie.” CJ snatched his bookbag and got to his feet. “I’m coming.”
“But you can’t leave me,” Skye said as Billson intoned, “Did I give you permission, Mr. Caldwell?”
“I didn’t ask for it, sir. I’ll go to the principal’s office if you wish, but I can’t stay right now.”
“Mr. Caldwell—”
He didn’t wait to hear whatever the teacher had to say and followed Mattie into the hallway.
“What’s up?” CJ asked the moment he closed the classroom door.
“Harley is with the nurse. The side of her face is all bruised.”
“Motherfucker,” CJ snarled. “Find Ryan, Rory, and Axel. Meet me in the nurse’s office.”
Before he could leave, Billson’s door opened and Skye stepped into the hallway.
“I want to know what’s going on.”
“It’s a family matter,” CJ said, and rushed away. He didn’t have fucking time to appease Skye’s curiosity. Furthermore, he didn’t know what fucking personality transplant she’d suffered over the fucking weekend.
He left the math building and sprinted toward Clark Hall where the administrative offices and triage for the Upper School were located. Mattie veered off and headed to the language arts building.
Ms. Mendez was just guiding Harley into the hallway when CJ arrived. The side of her face was bruised and swollen.
“Where’s that motherfucker?” CJ growled, low.
A little tremble went through Harley, then she bowed her head. “Nardo didn’t come to school today.”
“Miss Banks fell,” Ms. Mendez said.
The shame on Harley’s face just about sent CJ over the edge. “Did you see her fall, Ms. Mendez?”
