Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (red seas under red skies txt) 📗

I look up at him, narrowing my eyes. Did he just cover up the fact that he saw me punching into Ayden?

Principal Rogan remains quiet, and it eventually makes me crack.

“I’m so sorry. I know I’ve let you both down, and I know that I have to pay for what I did. I understand that violence isn’t tolerated, so do what you must do. I’m so bloody ashamed of myself. I hate that I’m the bully that Tasha’s mum described me to be. I know I have to fix that somehow. I just don’t know how. I don’t even know who I am anymore.” I cry for a moment looking at my hands as they lay defeated in my lap, “Maybe I’m just like him.”

“Like who?” Principal Rogan asks, speaking for the first time.

“My brother,” I whisper, feeling everything like the monster he is.

“I don’t think you’re like him, Lexi. I think you are struggling to deal with the horrible things that happened to you, and it’s coming out in anger directed at anyone that gets in your way. You just need to accept the help people offer, so you can learn how to deal with what happened and manage your anger.”

I nod, knowing she is right and wishing I wasn’t about to get kicked out of school. I feel like I could learn a lot from her and Mr Matthews. Who will help me now?

“I’m sorry, Lexi, but I have to enforce the school’s discipline for violence, especially given that the incident happened in a classroom in front of fifteen other students and Mr Bert.” Mrs Rogan’s words are laced with regret.

I nod, fighting back nausea, waiting for her to say the words that I’m no longer a student at Fox Pines Catholic College. The problem with this situation isn’t just that I’m about to be kicked out of school; it’s that the Principal will have to call my guardian, which is Ayden’s mum, who will then tell her I haven’t been staying with them, and that will spark a call to Child Services, and I’ll most likely be put in foster care. Of course, if for some reason I’m able to dodge that scenario, it means that I will be home alone every day in that house. The very house that is getting broken into each time I leave. If it is Mike, I’m likely to come face to face with him before too long.

Commotion draws our attention from outside the door, right before it flies open, and Andrea, Ayden’s mum, storms in. My breath hitches at seeing her again. It’s almost as jarring as the first time I ran into Ayden when he arrived back. Andrea looks at the Principal, then to Mr Matthews, before landing on me, and then her face softens. How did she know I was here? Did the school ring her already?

“Lexi.” She says, stepping up to me with open arms, and I fall into them, bursting into more stupid tears. Andrea embraces me, hugging me close, rubbing her hand up and down my back while I seek her comfort.

Words are exchanged quietly as Mr Matthews fills Andrea in on today’s events, thankfully leaving out the part where I took my anger out on her son.

“So what has to happen now?” Andrea asks, still holding me to her chest.

“Since there was very crude provoking on Tasha’s behalf, something she has been doing since Lexi’s return to school on Monday, we feel that expulsion is too harsh and are issuing a week’s suspension. We expect Lexi to still attend her counselling sessions with Mr Matthews twice during the week and that she makes more of an effort to work with him so he can help her.”

Lifting my head from Andrea’s shoulder, I glance at the new principal, knowing deep down that I want to prove to her I’m a better person than I’ve been.

“I need to be frank, Mrs Mitchell.” Principal Rogan addresses Andrea again.

“Of course,” Andrea says, pulling back from me now that I’m no longer sobbing, and she hands me some tissues.

“I’m concerned that Lexi hasn’t been getting the stability she needs right now.”

Andrea nods, “Yes, I agree. Honestly, I have been giving Lexi space, so she doesn’t feel so controlled given the situation she came from. However, now I see that perhaps it’s been too much freedom.” I stiffen a little as Andrea turns to address me. “Lexi, I know you like to be in control, but we need some rules. From now on, I would like you home at my dinner table by 6pm on school nights. We can negotiate weekends. You can still go home to your house to study after school if you like, but no more sleepovers with friends for a while. Let me and my family look after you the way you deserve to be.”

I’m unsure if Andrea means what she is saying or if it’s a ruse to get the Principal off our backs. After all, when I fled her husband's apartment in the city, she didn’t come after me or contact me. I hate rules, but I don’t hate the idea of what she’s insisting. I really want her words to be true. The only problem is Ayden.

“Can you agree to that, honey?” Andrea asks, looking sincere as she brushes back my wayward blonde hair.

I nod, “Yes.”

I hear an audible sigh of relief come from both Principal Rogan and Mr Matthews, making Andrea smile.

“Okay, Lexi. I feel like we have a bit of a plan in place now, so that should start to help. Mr Matthews will email you your counselling times, and your teachers will email through your schoolwork for the next week. I’ll expect you back in my office first thing next Friday morning for a briefing before you start back from your suspension.”

With that, Principal Rogan hands Andrea some paperwork to sign, and we leave the office to find Ayden and Marcus waiting. They are quiet as they follow us