Chapter 12: Repercussion

Neil and I quickly got up and rushed out of the canteen. Why did he have to go and pick a fight on such a day? Especially during school hours.

"What the hell is wrong with that guy?" Neil asked as we ran in the hallway. "Doesn't he know the rules or something?"

I wished I could say something that didn't make Elliot seem like the bad guy but I had nothing to say because I had no idea what had actually happened. "Less talking and more running. We have to stop it before the teachers become aware of it," I said just as we budged out of the main doors. Thank hockey because all this running would have winded me.

We ran all the way to the back where Elliot was punching some guy. I couldn't see who the other person was but that just meant it wasn't looking good for whoever that was. I ran all the way and pried Elliot from the guy while Neil helped the guy up. He was one of the guys from the basketball team.

"What the hell is wrong with both of you?" I asked, angry. "Don't you both know that you aren't allowed to fight on school grounds?" My chest was heaving up and down in anger. I was looking at Elliot and the other guy but no one said anything.

Elliot shrugged off my arm and wiped his bloody lip. "Why don't you ask that arsehole," he barked and spat blood on the grass.

Neil turned to the other guy who had a busted lip and some laceration on his face. He was definitely going to have a black eye. "Owen, what the hell happened man?" he asked, seeming to know the guy from basketball. "You know the coach will bench you when he finds out what you did."

Owen spat blood as well, a snarl on his face. "He started it," he said furiously. "I was minding my own business when he decided to pick a fight with me."

I wanted to slap his face. He was playing the blame game as if we were all kids and stupid. Even I didn't believe that and from the look at Neil was giving him, neither did he.

"Owen, tell us the truth otherwise we won't be able to help you in there." Neil pointed at the main building where I could still see the other students watching from the windows. "If you can tell us what happened, then I'm sure you both won't get a severe punishment."

Elliot was glaring at all of us. "Figures you would take his side because he's what? One of you?" he sounded hurt and I wanted to reach out to him but I knew better than to do something like that. "I told you he started it but obviously you think I'm the bad apple because of all the pathetic rumours people have been spreading about me."

I ran my fingers through my hair and down my face. I was too tired for this. "Look, no one said that," I began. "We just want to know what happened, otherwise you will both be expelled because fighting on school grounds is one of the first things you should never do, followed by examination malpractice."

"But if you tell us what exactly happened, we can try to vouch for you to the administration and have them reduce it either to suspension for a week or community service."

"I didn't do anything," Owen whined. "I can't be expelled, my parents will kill me if that happens. Please man, you have to help me." He was pleading with Neil who looked just as tired as I felt.

"This won't be resolved here, we have to take you to the headmaster's office," I said with a sigh. I really didn't want to be the one who reported Elliot for breaking the rules but I couldn't play favourites when I was in such a position. And besides, if I didn't report them, I would be the one getting called in for letting such a thing happen and then go unreported. I was really between a rock and a hard place in this situation. "Come on, all of you, let's go and if you so much as think about running then you will only be making your punishment that much more severe."

I turned without waiting for any of them to say anything. I was going to that office with or without them, it was their choice. Neil was next to me and I could hear footsteps following behind us.

Neil leaned in closer so that I was the only one who could hear what he wanted to say. "Owen is screwed. This isn't his first time getting into a fight on school grounds and I'm sure coach will probably bench him for the rest of the season if not the entire year."

I glanced back real quick before I faced straight ahead. "What do you mean?"

"It was that time when you were sick for like a week, I had to step in and it was gruesome. I don't know why the guy likes picking fights when he can't handle himself." Neil continued with no remorse for the guy who was supposed to be his teammate. "But if he does get benched then our team will suffer because he is one of our star players." He sighed and then straightened to his full height.

We made our way to the headmaster's office and I went straight to talk to her secretary. "Is Ms. Jackson in? We have an issue that we need to see her for."

Janet smiled at me as she leaned in front of her desk, making her cleavage enlarge. "Luke, it's been so long. I was starting to think you now hate me because you are always avoiding me," she said with a saccharine smile on her face.

"Hmm, I've been busy. Is Ms. Jackson in?" I asked again, changing the subject.

Janet sighed as she sat up straight and eyed the boys who were standing awkwardly by the door. "She's in, I shall let her know you are here." She picked up the phone and us in. "No doubt those two didn't remember the school rules," she muttered loud enough for me to hear. "She will see you now."

I thanked her and ushered everyone into Ms. Jackson's office. Ms. Jackson was sitting behind her desk looking at her computer but she turned her attention to us when we filled in her office. When she noticed the two bloodied boys, she placed the pen she had been holding down and sighed.

"Tell me what happened Luke?" it was formality's sake that she asked me first.

I stepped forward. "I'm not really sure what happened and none of them will speak," I answered and then stepped back.

Ms. Jackson called both Owen and Elliot over and told them to sit then she instructed Neil to go and fetch Ms. Wells which he gladly accepted and dashed out of the office. I refrained from rolling my eyes in front of Ms. Jackson, she may be a family friend but I still had to behave accordingly. "Owen, tell me what happened?"

Owen rubbed his neck sheepishly as he looked anywhere but her. He definitely seemed and acted guilty. "He started it," he said, pointing at Elliot whose face was stone cold from where I stood.

Ms. Jackson turned to him. "Elliot Grey, the newest student. Do you mind telling me what happened?"

Elliot wiped his mouth. "He called me a faggot and then insulted me, so I beat him up," he answered coolly.

Ms. Wells and Neil entered just at the moment. Ms. Wells walked over to Ms. Jackson's desk and stood. "Oh my, what happened?"

"It seems that Owen here used some derogatory words towards Mr. Grey who in turn beat him up," Ms. Jackson explained, her attention to Ms. Wells then she turned to the two boys. "Owen, this isn't the first time you have been brought into my office for fighting on school grounds and now you had to insult and use explicit words to Elliot, I'm deeply disappointed in you. Since this is your second offence, you will suspended from the school for three months and be placed on community service under Ms. Wells's watch."

Owen was trembling, "ma'am, please, you cannot suspend me. My parents will kill me and coach will bench me for the entire season. I'll lose my only chance to meet recruiters."

"Then I suggest you spend the time you've been given to think about how you can make your life better," Ms. Jackson replied coolly then she waved him out of her office. He was crying the entire way out of the office but I didn't feel bad for him after he had called Elliot the f word. Ms. Jackson then turned her attention to Elliot. "As for you, since you provoked and this is your first offence, you shall be on community service for the next two weeks under the watch of Luke."

Crap, I was stuck with him again. Why was life so unfair? I wanted to cry at that moment because I had been hoping to not have to spend so much time with him again.

"That will be all." We all dismissed except for Ms. Wells who remained back.

"I'm really sorry about that man," Neil said to Elliot who was walking quietly in front of us. "I know Owen can be a real dick at times but he's not a bad guy once you get to know him."

Elliot didn't turn around as he said, "don't humour me. I know you agreed with what he said and just because you didn't call me a faggot doesn't mean you don't think it," he spat. "And for your information, I'm polysexual so you can tell your little friends." And he left us.