“You can count to thirty-three and I’m not listening to you,” Axel said, returning Marvey’s glare. “‘Cause only inyourfucking head, we got to listen to you. In the real world, you just here cuz Dad don’t got the time to teach us, so fuck you. And if you say one more fucking thing to me,I’mcalling Dad, so try again.”
“What’s going on?” Rory asked, rushing into the hallway, followed by Ryan, Devon, Mattie, Ryder, and Ransom.
“It took you long enough,” Axel complained.
“This is out of hand,” Dr. Marvey blared.
“Ryan, take Harley to Turn Creek,” CJ said. “I have to wait for Diesel.”
Although he hated to release her, CJ disentangled himself from around Harley and tugged her to Ryan. He needed to explain everything to Diesel, so he could get her off campus and away from Marvey.
“Goddamn,” Ryan breathed, staring at her face in shock and horror.
“She’s already seen the nurse,” CJ said, unsure if he was handling it right but unable to let someone manhandle Harley at Marvey’s direction. “Just take her for now. We’ll meet you there.”
“I’m coming with you and Harley,” Devon said.
“Fine,” Ryan said bleakly, tucking Harley close to him and heading toward the door. “Come on, Dev.”
“Diesel will be here in five minutes,” Ms. Mendez said, walking back to the group just as the door closed on Ryan, Harley, and Devon.
“You can be fired for this, Anayelli,” Dr. Marvey sniped. “As for all of you, you’ll be written up. Andyou—” he jabbed a finger at Axel— “will be suspended for five days.”
Ryder and Ransom thumped each other and snickered. CJ didn’t want to imagine what the fuck they were thinking.
“Listen up,” Axel spat. “Yourbitch ass is going to get fired long before I get suspended if you don’t back off. This is my final fucking warning. If you keep being senile and stupid, you’re going to look back on this day and say ‘I wish I had listened to Axel.”
“You’ve graduated from cutting class to threats. Mr. Donovan warned me to stand firm when the Caldwell boys tried to throw their weight around.”
“Dr. Marvey, my dad is the last person you want to listen to,” Rory said in a pained voice.
“Fourth period bell is about to ring,” Mattie announced.
“Let’s go outside,” CJ said, wishing he was with Harley but knowing he couldn’t be. No matter what she claimed, he knew in his fucking heart that Nardo abused her.
That motherfucker was somewhere on campus.
“Your father is the one who signs my paychecks, Mr. Donovan. Who else should I listen to? He’s rescinded all privileges except those of you, your sister, and your brother.”
“He can’t fucking do that!” CJ said to the principal.
“He can and he did. Now deal with it or get suspended.”
Axel narrowed his eyes, then nodded to Ryder and Ransom. “Let’s prefer, men.”
“Confer,” Mattie said.
“Thanks, Matt,” Axel said brightly.
“She corrected you,” Ransom complained. “And you aren’t mad.”
“What motherfucker would get mad at a beautiful girl helping him out?” Axel demanded as the bell pierced the relative silence of Clark Hall.
Within moments, students poured into the hallway from all four directions. Annoyed, CJ backed out of the mayhem and leaned against the wall. Luckily, the first lunch bell didn’t happen until the next period. Otherwise, it would’ve taken longer to clear the hallway.
By the time it was only him, Mattie, the Terrible Triplets, and Rory, Diesel had arrived, Dr. Marvey was on his walkie-talkie, and Ms. Mendez had disappeared.
“What’s wrong?” Diesel asked the moment he spotted CJ.
