It was over as quickly as it started. After the third punch, Theo dropped Kenny like his touch disgusted her. She curled her lip at him as he groaned and cried on the ground, holding his bloody face in his hands like he could fix his nose just by touching it.
“Say that shit to me or my brother again, bitch, and I’ll break more than just your nose,” she spat.
The hallway was completely silent, with the exception of Kenny’s pained moans and whimpers.
No one seemed to know what to do or say when suddenly, I heard Clarissa’s high-pitched whine.
“Down here, Father Samwell! She’s out of control!” The crowd turned collectively to witness the school principal appear, as he was led by the hand by Clarissa Davis.
I didn’t like Father Samuels. I knew he was a respected member of the church, and that meant he was supposed to be someone we could trust, but there was a meanness about him that had always made me want to stay out of his way.
“What is going on here?” he asked, his gaze falling on Theo and her bloody knuckles. He didn’t say it like he was upset withTheo. It was almost like he was happy to have a reason to punish her.
Father Samwell loved giving out detentions, but he seemed to have a special interest in my sister specifically.
Theo just glared at Samwell. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists at her sides. After a beat, when it became clear she wasn’t going to say anything to protect herself, I stepped in front of her.
“Kenny called us bad words, and he was bullying us! Theo was just standing up for me,” I said, doing my best to keep my voice from shaking.
Father Samwell cocked his head to the side, and an evil grin spread across his face.
“Is that so? Well, I hardly think calling someone a few names deserved such a violent rebuttal.” His gaze skated over Theo’s body, and her eyes narrowed. Her face turned white with hatred.
“It seems as if we also have another uniform violation that needs addressing,” he crooned.
“Sir! What about Kenny? Look at him; he needs help!” Clarissa squealed.
Father Samwell glanced at Clarissa and nodded. “That he does, child. Why don’t you take Mr. Samuels to the nurse’s office?” He turned back to face my sister. “Theodora. You’re to come with me. We’ll need to have achatabout what sort of behavior is becoming of a lady.”
Theo shook with either rage or fear. Maybe both.
“No,” she hissed, and Father Samwell chuckled.
“Hmm. Well, maybe your brother could benefit from a lesson. Shall I put him in detention in your place?”
Theo’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, shoving me behind her as she stepped forward.
“No. No. I’ll come,” she said, and I frowned, not having a good feeling about this.
“Theo, I don’t think -”
“It’s fine, Ry. I’ll see you at home,” she said, following our principal as he led her in the direction of his office.
Clarissa helped Kenny to his feet and took him away as well.
I was left standing there, feeling lost and confused about everything that had just gone down.
8 years old
By the time I got home, I was still feeling awful. Theo didn’t meet me after school to walk back together, which made me worry, and on top of that, whispers of the altercation in the hallway followed me around through the rest of my classes.
As I entered Fairview, I could hear my mother bustling about in the kitchen, but I wasn’t in the mood to hear all about the ‘dark angel.’ I was starting to feel like he was a load of bullcrap, so I wandered toward the stairs to my room instead.
As I passed the viewing room, I nearly jumped out of my skin as my dad’s voice interrupted my wallowing.
“Hey, kiddo, why the long face?”
I glanced over into the room to find my dad tidying up after what must have been a service.
