Page 75 of Same One
“Yes, I would. No boy is allowed to throw water at a woman and call her names and point out her tits to the whole lunchroom while she stands there frozen in shock.”
Mr. Locke sighed and relaxed back into his seat, staring at Bay. “Holden’s parents are very upset.”
Bay shrugged. “They should be more concerned with their son’s shitty character.”
“Bayen, stop cussing,” Tru gritted out.
Mr. Locke stared at him for three seconds more and then leaned forward and scribbled onto a form. “You’re suspended for three days for fighting.”
“And Holden?” Tabian asked.
Mr. Locke chewed on the side of his lip and narrowed his eyes for a few moments before he said, “I will be suspending him for inappropriate behavior as well.”
“Great. I would like to discuss the school being better equipped for a werewolf now,” Tabian said.
Tru’s eyes went wide and she lowered her gaze. Tabian was staring into Mr. Locke’s soul right now.
“You’ve had a kid in your care, and he is just a kid, for a year now, and you’re still locking him in a room by himself. Why?”
“Because his bad behavior disrupts the class.”
“Bayen, why were you put in confinement today?” Tabian asked.
“I got to class right on time today and was rushing to get to my seat before the bell, but my chair made a screech sound as I sat down and Mrs. Lang said I did it on purpose and sent me away.”
Tabian nodded slowly. “Why were you sent to confinement last Friday?”
Bay frowned as he tried to remember. “Mr. Franklin said I was giving him a look.”
“What kind of look?”
“A mean look. I think my eyes were glowing, but I wasn’t meaning for it to happen.”
Tabian looked at Mr. Locke, and told him, “I can hear the truth in his voice. He’s told me about a dozen more instances where teachers are just uncomfortable with him in their classrooms, so they get rid of him, and he spends hours and hours all alone, teaching himself. And still making all A’s. He’s still doing the work. Solitude will make it harder for him to control his animal. Socialization keeps him steady, and this school is cutting him off from that.”
The teachers behind Mr. Locke exchanged a glance, but their eyes had gone softer and softer as Tabian had been talking.
“Look, I know this kid can be a great student if you set him up better. Right now, you’re cutting him off at the knees.” Tabian leaned back in his chair. “What do I have to do to sign up to be a chaperone?”
Mr. Locke frowned. “For which class?”
“Weightlifting.”
Tru watched Bay jerk his attention to Tabian, and the shock and hope in his eyes tugged at her heart.
Bay sat up straighter and asked Mr. Locke. “Please?”
“You’re wanting to work out with the football team?” the principal asked.
Bay nodded jerkily. “Yes, sir.”
“You can’t play with them though. I don’t make those rules.”
“I know. I just want to be a part of it.”
Mr. Locke sighed and pulled a form from one of the drawers in his desk. He slid it toward Tabian with a pen. “I’ll have to run a background check, and you’ll have to interview with the coaches. It’ll ultimately be up to them.”
Tabian nodded once and filled out the paperwork. As the scribbling of his pen sounded in the silence, Tru glanced over at Bay and caught his eye. He flashed her a smile.
