Page 198 of Always Love You More

Forcing myself to move forward, I drop into the chair.

“Let’s get right to it,” Principal Hansley starts. “Juliette’s nose is broken, and her parents have decided to press charges.”

I suck in a breath.

“What this means,” he continues, “is that, in addition to the legal ramifications, you will be given a ten-day suspension, during which time the possibility of your expulsion will be discussed.” He leans forward, steepling his hands on the desk. “Do you understand what I’ve just shared with you?”

“Yes,” I answer, the word clipped.

He sits back. “Good. Now, I’d like to give you the opportunity to share your side of the story. To explain why you acted out this way.”

I want to ask him why it even matters. It’s not like it’s helped any of the other times I’ve sat in this chair. I know he’s already written me off, and each time I let my anger win, I’m only confirming who he already thinks I am.

“What’d this girl do?” my father asks, surprising me. “She say somethin’ to you?”

“Johnny,” I push out.

“Huh?”

“She talked shit about Johnny.”

My father pulls his head back. “What’d she say?”

“I don’t—”

“No,” he cuts in, his voice edged with anger. “You tell them what this girl said to you.”

I turn to Principal Hansley, looking him right in the eye. “She told me my brother was a thug. That she wasn’t surprised when she found out he died. That she thought we were allbetter off.”

I watch as his gaze drifts past me, briefly looking at Garcia, who’s still standing behind me.

“You got nothing to say to that?” my father snaps.

“Something like that shouldn’t have been said—”

“You fuckin’ think?”

“I know that this is obviously a difficult subject, and I’m sorry for your loss,” he adds, looking between us. “But that is not an acceptable reason to act the way your daughter did. In fact, there is no acceptable reason.”

“I don’t know,” my father leans forward. “Seems like a pretty damn good reason to me.”

My head unconsciously whips in his direction. Did he justdefendme?

“Mr. Barlowe—”

“Are we done here?” he interrupts.

“Excuse me?”

“Are. We. Done. Here.”

“Well, yes, I guess so,” Principal Hansley sputters.

“Your suspension is effective immediately,” he says, shifting to me. “And there will be a hearing about your possible expulsion within the next few days.”

My father pushes his chair back. “Let’s go,” he says to me, standing.

I move to follow him out the door, but he turns back to Principal Hansley. “You ever lose someone you love?” he asks. “A child? A brother?”