Then, things get really bad. Much worse than how the dictionaries were looking. Somebody knocks on the door, and I'm sure, the moment I hear it, who it is, and I’m not wrong. Ethan walks in with a serious face, but I know that, deep down, hemust be burning with rage and plotting my demise.
Griff tells him to stand in front of his desk, completely ignoring my suffering now. I take this opportunity to drop an inch from each arm. It fucking hurts, my muscles feel like they're being boiled in hot oil.
Griff lays out the situation and my punishment, then glares at Ethan and says, “I need you to do your job as his leader, Ethan. And your job is to keep him out of trouble. You’re not exactly excelling at the moment, are you?”
“No, sir,” Ethan responds like a perfect little soldier, not missing a beat, hands clasped behind his back, eyes downcast, looking very sorry. I try to enjoy this look of his, as, I'm sure, the next time he's done with me, I'll be the one who'll be extremely sorry.
“He’s been seriously punished quite a few times, and he’s only been here for a couple of months. Not good, is it?”
“No, sir,” Ethan repeats, and I can feel my face turning red, my chest tight. Besides the horrifying pain, that is. At least, it serves as a good distraction. I'm sure I must have less than five minutes left on the clock, even if it feels like five hours.
Also, a small part of me hates that Ethan is getting chewed out because of me. He doesn’t deserve it, even if he is probably going to kill me later, even after everything he’s done. Even if I’m still angry at him.
But I’m not, not really. I just want him to hold me. I’m fucking done being angry, so fucking done. I’m much, much sorrier than angry. Anger disappeared, evaporated, and now I just feel extremely bad.
“Well, I hope that changes, Ethan. I hope you keep a closer eye on him and keep him in line, because if not, you’ll be punished too for not doing your job. Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” Ethan says, exactly as expected of him. Such a good boy. I shiver.If he ever finds out I called him a good boy in my head, he'll skin me alive.
“For now, you’ll write a five-thousand-word essay on leadership for me. You have three days. Handwritten. I hope this helps you reflect on your role. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Ethan repeats. I almost scoff. I get all the pain, and he gets away with an easy-peasy essay that he probably could write in his dreams? Oh, well.
“Get out of here, both of you. You’re to spend the rest of the day in your room, only leaving for meals. Are we clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Ethan says, yet again. I sigh in relief, dropping my arms. Fucking shit hell, it hurts. They sure as hell don't beat you here, but they have other legal ways to cause pain.
I can’t manage to say a word as I leave, following Ethan's trail, like a little puppy. We head to the hallway, and with each step closer to our room, I swear I can feel my nerves going haywire. I totally know Ethan is about to lose it with me. I can feel his shallow breathing and how he's flexing his jaw so tight it could pop at any second.
Wanting to nip it in the bud, I blurt out, "Sorry. I didn't mean to get you in trouble."
But he just gives me this silent, furious look that sends chills down my spine. As if he needs some time to pull himself together not to murder me right at that second.
We enter the room, and it's Quiet Time, so everyone is here. Everyone knows what I did, too, but they don't say anything. Jack looks at me with these big eyes of his, assessing how angry Ethan actually is. I see him gulping, and it doesn't help with my fucking nerves.
Then Ethan pulls a move I totally don't see coming.
He goes for Harry, who's chilling on his bunk, grabs him by the collar, and yanks him right off the bed. Harry’s feet don’t even touch the ground as Ethan holds him up in the air and slams him against the wall, while he protests.
I just stand there, freaked out, no clue what to say or do. Jack opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. Miles is the only one who doesn't do anything, but even he is looking at the scene.
“What the FUCK, Ethan?! Let me GO!” Harry basically screams.
“I know what you did, dirtbag,” Ethan hisses at Harry. “You dragged Liam off to smoke in that storage, left him passed out there, and bailed. You'll fucking regret the day you werefuckingborn, I'll make sure of it, asshole. I’msickof you.”
“I tried waking him up, but he wouldn’t wake the fuck up! I couldn’t miss curfew, or I’d be the one getting the heat,” Harry argues, desperately. He tries to kick him, but Ethan is much taller and stronger, holding him firmly in place. He has no chance to even move, so he resorts to begging. “Let go, man! I even made sure to open the door and spray some Breeze I found there so it wouldn't smell like weed!”
But Ethan isn’t having any of it. “I swear if you pull this crap again, you’re done for. Smoke and screw up your life all you want. But Liam ismine, and he’s not trashing his life on my watch. If you drag him into your mess again, you’ll be fucking out of here. I'll make sure to land your ass in jail, or worse. You get it, dumbass? I’m DONE with you. Done. This is yourlastwarning.” Ethan growls through clenched teeth, still shaking him in the air. Jack and Miles stay quiet, and my mouth is so dry I can’t think of anything to say. Even if I want to say something, I can't. It's like I forgot how to utter words.
“Alright, alright, I won’t do it again,” Harry says. “Let me go, you fucking asshole. You can't touch me!”
“No, but I could go to Griff’s office right now. He’s still around. Or worse, I could get a guard to search this place. How’d you like that, Harry? Ready for another stint in the hole? You didn’t enjoy it much last time.”
“Get off me, you psycho!” Harry snaps, still trying to wriggle his way out, but Ethan holds him firmly.
“I hope I made myself clear. Remember. I won't say it again,” Ethan says, finally dropping Harry to the floor.
Then, he turns to me, and I can't fucking breathe. He looks like a murder machine. That guy isangry, and I'm his next victim.
