“Fuck you!” Jasper spat.
“I bet your mom was into that! I heard what they called the women who hang around those gangs. Was your mommy a sweetbutt? Is that why–”
He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence before Jasper swung. I’d seen it coming and yanked him back, causing him to miss, and stepped between them. “Both of you. My classroom. Now.”
Jasper shook me off, seething, and I raised one eyebrow at him. “Now, Mr. Reed. Unless you’d rather speak with Principal Montenegro.”
He scowled, grabbing his backpack and storming off. Evan looked smug until I swung to face him, giving him the same pointed look. “You too, Mr. Newsome. I heard enough to know you’re not innocent in all of this.”
He made a face, defiance carved into his features. “You’re not my teacher anymore. You can’t–”
“I think you’ll find very well that I can. Last chance. My classroom, or down to the office to see Principal Montenegro. Your choice.”
His gaze flicked to his friends and I saw the moment he made his choice, chin lifted defiantly. His father was a misogynist, and he was teaching his son the same manners. Evan didn’t take kindly to a female telling him what to do.
“Evan!” Mr. Cornwell, the gym teacher for both middle school and elementary school, barked. “You heard her!”
The deep baritone made Evan jump and scuttle to do as asked. Marcus Cornwell wasn’t a small man by any means. Even Evan thought twice before challenging him.
The other students snickered watching Evan run away until they noticed my steely look. They scattered, unwilling to cause trouble and end up with double homework, and the hallway emptied as students returned to where they were supposed to be.
“Thank you,” I murmured as Marcus came to stand beside me.
“No problem. That kid is gonna end up pissing off the wrong person one day, and he’ll learn real quick the meaning of consequences.”
Huffing a small laugh, I turned toward my classroom, unsurprised when Marcus fell into step beside me.
“How’s Frank?” I asked covertly. Marcus was one of the few gay men in town and not open about it with anyone but those closest to him after a few students threw bricks through his front window. Only his friends knew about his long-time boyfriend who lived in the city.
“Good. Just got promoted. He’s aiming for VP, I think.”
“Wow. That’s wonderful. You’ll have to keep me updated.”
His proud smile faded as we got close enough to my office door to hear the harsh whispers coming from inside.
“My dad said all those bikers are a bunch of criminals,” Evan taunted. “Makes sense that your dad is one of them. You lot are all criminals.”
I stepped into the room, giving a warning look to Jasper, who looked ready to launch himself over the desks to get to Evan. When he no longer looked poised to fight, I turned to face Evan directly.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve heard you taunting a fellow student. I’ll be speaking with your teacher about this and calling your guardian about your behavior. This stops now.” He glared at me defiantly, and I could tell he wasn’t listening, so I added, “If you wish to make it anywhere in life, Mr. Newsome, you’ll need to learn eventually not to make so many enemies. One day, those students you taunted might just end up being what stands between you and the future you want. Think about that.” I stared him down until he finally dropped his gaze, scowling at the floor instead. “Mr. Cornwell will escort you back to your classroom. Go.”
He huffed, but didn’t mouth off, not with Marcus standing so close, stomping out of my classroom and bumping a few desks on the way. Marcus gave me a commiserating look before following Evan out of the classroom.
Giving my attention to Jasper, I noted the way his hands fisted at his sides and the slight tremble in his frame. He was coiled tighter than a spring and if I hadn’t shown up when I did, he would’ve likely beaten Evan to a pulp with that kind of pent up fury.
“I’m going to contact Elias, have him join us. While we wait, we’re going to talk. I’m trying to help you, Jasper, but to do so, I need more information. Any more acts like that and you’re looking at expulsion.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SIMONE
The pause while I called Elias and asked him to join us did very little to settle Jasper. He paced by the windows, fists clenched, and he looked ready to run or fight at a moment’s notice.
After hanging up with Elias and letting the office secretary know he was coming, I stood, moving to lean against the front of my desk. Years of doing this job meant I knew when to push and when to back off. Despite the way Jasper looked ready to vibrate out of his skin, I felt like he needed a push. Something was causing him to be this angry, and it wasn’t just grief. There was something else there, and unless someone got him to talk about it, it was going to eat him alive.
“You look very upset, Jasper. Tell me what happened.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he growled, pacing away from me. “It’s fucking stupid.”
