Jordan Matthews is a good kid, an average student, and has never gotten in trouble at school before. But today he finds himself in the principal's office with fellow classmate Casey Sothern. He doesn't think they've done anything wrong, and doesn't expect much in the way of punishment until Casey's mother arrives. Which means someone's called his parents, too. And they'll know Casey isn't just his best friend, but his boyfriend, as well. Then Jordan sees his father storm through the front doors of the school. Any punishment the principal has planned for catching the two boys kissing in the hall between classes will pale in comparison to what Jordan's father might have to say.

Trouble at School

“No,” he says. “My son did nothing wrong.”


“Sir,” Mr. Form tries to explain, “school policy states—”


“Show me, then.” Mr. Matthews wads the paper in his hand and tosses it back onto the desk, where it sits between them like a used tissue. “You show me where it says any student caught kissing another will be suspended from class. It wasn’t rough housing and you know it. Iknow it, my sonknows it, and soon the whole damn citywill know it, because the moment I walk out that door, I’m driving straight to Channel 12 and telling them what sort of bigoted Fascists run this place.”


Mr. Form extracts a second piece of paper from the pile on his desk, but he doesn’t give this one to Jordan’s father. Instead, he holds it between them as if debating whether he should release it or not. “Mr. Matthews, without a signed consent form, I can’t detain Jordan in ISS.”


“No shit,” Mr. Matthews spits. “I went here once. I know the drill.”


Chapter 6