"I mean protect her from further damage," Jack says firmly. "If our presence in her life is causing this much destruction, maybe the right thing to do is remove ourselves from the equation."
"No." Mia's voice is stronger now, fierce despite the tears still streaming down her face. "No, you don't get to make that decision for me. You don't get to decide what's best for me, just like you guys wouldn't let me leave."
I study her face, taking in the determination beneath the devastation. "Then what do you want?" I ask gently.
Before she can answer, my phone rings from the nightstand. The sound cuts through the tension like a knife. I consider ignoring it, but something makes me reach for it.
The school secretary's name flashes across the screen.
"I should take this," I say, already knowing it won't be good news. Nothing about this morning has been good news.
I answer, putting the phone to my ear. "Hello?"
"Mr. Young?" The secretary's voice is professional but strained. "I'm calling to inform you that Kyle Jorgenson's parents have filed a formal complaint with the school board."
My stomach drops like I've been pushed off a cliff. "A complaint about what?"
"They're claiming you've been harassing their son. Specifically, that you've been keeping him from working with his teacher, Mia Wilson."
The words don't make sense at first. Harassing Kyle?
"That's absurd," I say, my voice tight.
"The parents claim otherwise." The secretary's tone suggests she doesn't believe it either, but she's required to relay the information. "They say you, along with Coach Morgan and Principal Lewis, have been conspiring to keep Kyle away from Miss Wilson. That you've been threatening him, intimidating him, and creating a hostile environment."
Jack's eyes narrow as he watches me, reading my expression. Blake moves closer, his protective instincts kicking in.
"This is ridiculous," I say, but my mind is already racing through the implications. Kyle is escalating. Creating a narrative where he's the victim and we're the aggressors.
"There's more," the secretary continues, and I hear the reluctance in her voice. "Kyle has provided the school board with detailed journals documenting every interaction. He claims to have been keeping records for months, noting dates, times, and specific incidents where you three allegedly harassed him."
My hand tightens on the phone. "Journals?"
"Yes. And photographs." The secretary pauses. "Mr. Young, Kyle claims to have photographic evidence that proves you, Coach Morgan, and Principal Lewis have been conspiring against him. Evidence that allegedly shows you working together to keep him away from his teacher."
The emphasis on "his teacher" makes my skin crawl. Kyle isn't claiming a romantic relationship. He's claiming ownership. Possession. Like Mia is his property that we're trying to steal.
44
JACK
The Jorgensons sit across from my desk like a tribunal ready to pass judgment. Kyle slouches between his parents with that same satisfied smirk I saw when Mia was escorted from the building. His gray eyes track my movements with unsettling intensity, like he's cataloging every micro-expression for future use.
Mrs. Jorgenson is a thin woman with sharp features and designer clothes that scream old money. Her husband matches her in both appearance and attitude, his expensive suit and Rolex watch announcing his status before he even opens his mouth. They're the kind of parents who believe their money can buy anything, including their son's innocence.
"Principal Lewis, we appreciate you taking this meeting on such short notice." Mr. Jorgenson's voice carries the practiced smoothness of someone used to getting his way. "However, the situation with our son has become untenable."
I fold my hands on my desk, keeping my expression neutral despite the anger simmering in my gut. "I'm always available todiscuss concerns about student welfare. What specifically brings you here today?"
Kyle pulls out a leather-bound journal from his backpack, setting it on my desk with deliberate care. The cover is worn, like it's been handled frequently. "I've been documenting everything, Principal Lewis. Every incident. Every threat. Every time your staff has harassed me."
My jaw tightens but I keep my voice level. "That's a serious accusation, Kyle. Walk me through what you mean by harassment."
He opens the journal to a marked page, his finger tracing the neat handwriting. "September fifteenth. Mr. Young cornered me after history class and told me to stay away from Miss Wilson. He said if I didn't back off, there would be consequences."
The lie is so smooth, so practiced, that for a moment I almost believe it myself. Almost. "What kind of consequences?"
"He didn't specify." Kyle's voice carries just the right amount of fear mixed with bravery. "But the implication was clear. He was threatening me."
