It's all a blur when cops are screaming and I end up at the back of a truck with Rick, Pony and a few other kids.
My head's pounding, my thoughts scrambled, until one officer says something that jolts me upright.
"Morsey's son."
We are in a police station, benches a reception and people walking in and out. Some screaming at cops and some cops screaming at other cops. All the chaos comes back.Adrenaline punches through the fog, sobering me up in an instant.
"No—no, no, he's busy. Call my brother. Please. Here's his number."I shoot to my feet, stumbling toward the officer. My hands shake as I dig into my hoodie and pull out a scrap of paper. I press it into his hand.
I glance at Pony. She's huddled into herself, arms tightly crossed. My jacket isn't enough; I can see it in the way she shivers. I want to offer warmth, a word, anything but I don't dare. Not now.
Ricky is the first to walk out. His mother yells something in Spanish that I don't get but by the way he hung his head, it was bad. The guy that brought Pony to the party arrives alongside an older woman I assume to be Pony's mother. Just behind them enters Lary and I shoot up.
"Are you kidding me Logan?" He towers over me. "The school? You could have gone anywhere but you chose the damn school." He loud whispers in disbelief.
"Just help me out." I mutter, my eyes pleading.
He exhales hard, dragging a hand across the back of his neck before raking it through his hair in frustration.
"What will mom say about this?" He speaks normally even though he couldn't hide that he was pissed.
"She doesn't have to know." I say quickly.
"I can go spend at your place."
He holds tight the counter then lowers his head. In a beat he looks up and takes out his wallet, hands the lady cop behind the counter some cash and signals me to follow him out.
I pause for a moment and glance back at Pony. She's sitting quietly, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, eyes fixed somewhere far from me.
She doesn't look my way.
I follow him out.
"Mom calm down. I promise I'm not lying." Lary snatches the phone from my hands and places it behind his ear.
"He is with me. I called him to help me with something and yes, I will make sure he's in school on time." He lies straight barely blinking as he holds my gaze
"Goodnight mom." He hangs up and tosses my phone in the couch.
"How'd you even get to the party?" He asks, eyes narrowing on me like I'm some puzzle he's trying to solve.
I shrug and head to the fridge.
"My car."
I grab a water bottle, twist it open, and down half of it.
"Where is it?" he presses.
"That kid Carter's. Where the party was."
I don't bother looking at him. I already know the look on his face.
"You know Dad can't—"
"I know," I cut him off, the words sharper than I mean them to be.
He sighs, deep and tired, then disappears into his room. A moment later, he's back with two blankets and a comforter in his arms.
"Lary, come on. The couch? Really?"
"You got better ideas? Maybe your own bed?"
He drops the bundle onto the couch and walks off again without waiting for a reply.
With the lights out, I don't allow my mind to wander least I wouldn't get any sleep on a damn couch.
"Logan smith?" I look up to the principal Mr Simba. "My office." He announces and walks away.
Blake and Rick stare at me as I walk out but don't dare to say anything. Charity seems calm, maybe his girlfriend did not update him. I smirk at that thought.
Pony is seated when I get to the office.
"Mr. Morsey will not appreciate this at all," he says, and I silently hope he'll ask Pony to step out so we can talk in private.
"Your father holds this school in—"
"She had nothing to do with it. Let her go." I cut him off before he can finish his statement.
It never ends well when people find out who my father is. That's why I don't go by Morsey. I used to be proud of the name. Still am, in a way, he's accomplished so much, and I genuinely admire him.
I'm proud to be in a school he owns. This is the third one I've attended out of the four he runs. I simply aged out of the first. But the second... well, that one left a mark.
Two years ago...
"Peace, you need to chill," I say, trying to keep my voice level. He's holding the revoked scholarship letter in one trembling hand, fury written all over his face.
"Chill?" he snaps. "No way. I'm going to expose your entire family. I know your type! People who expect everyone to bow just because of your last name. And when we don't? You punish us." His voice rises, echoing down the hallway. Students start to crowd, drawn in by the spectacle.
"He doesn't even deserve to be called a father!" Peace shouts, spit flying, his chest heaving.
"I don't understand... I've only ever tried to be decent to you, Peace." I keep my tone soft, fighting the urge to defend myself too strongly, to yell back. I'm trying to de-escalate, to make amends—even if I'm not sure what for.
"That evil bastard!" He hisses through gritted teeth, eyes burning.
"Don't insult my dad. You deserve this."I say it with more bite than I expected. But I mean every word.
Peace was supposed to be a friend. I tagged him along everywhere. I even defended him when no one else would.There was a day I got beat up and tossed into a sewer for talking back to some guys who were throwing racist slurs at him. That was the day I decided the gym wasn't optional anymore.
He doesn't reply. Just throws the scholarship termination papers on the floor, stomps on them, and brushes past me hard, almost knocking me over.
"It's nothing personal, Puffy," he mutters.Yup. I was plump back then.
The next morning, something feels off. Everyone's looking at me weird. Whispering. Avoiding eye contact or doing the exact opposite. Staring right through me.
I don't get it until my deskmate nudges me and turns their phone screen my way.It's the internal memo page. The one only update from the principal's office. Live.
"Mr Morsey or whatever the classic name you want to adopt after this, how wrong I was to think you'd just let me study in your school for free. Instead you made me pay by molesting me. The old man is a..." There is a screech and two people arguing, voices that I can tell are the principal's and Peace's before it completely shuts off. Everything is a blur momentarily.
"Logan Smith Morsey!" Mr Simba yells my name.
"Damn I'm right here." I snap turning to find a shocked Pony. Yup, she knows. He must have spilled it when I was busy in my head.
"I told you I did it." I snap. "Let her go. The idea was mine and I knew where the gate was at its weakest. I took it down." I stare blankly at him and smirk.
"Just get out, both of ya." I knew if I took the blame, Pony wouldn't get expelled. I'm sure her family is already mad as it is.
"Your dad owns the school?" She loud whispers. "Why don't I know that! Mason will get it from me." She folds her fists and her jaws tense. She stands in my way facing me. "You lied. Why?"
"Just figured you'd appreciate. You could have said that was not what happened." I watch her lower her shoulders.
"Thank you."she mutters.
"Now you owe me." I didn't mean it. It was just to get a reaction out of her.
"I was kidding." I say and she looks up smiling.
I get lost in her smile and for a minute everything fades and the only thought running in my head is kissing her. Before I realize it, I have her against the wall.
"You still think I'm drunk?"I smirk, watching the way she shifts, uncomfortable, nervous. Her eyes flick around the hallway.She's probably worried some student will see us and rat her out to her boyfriend.
Her lips part slightly, surprised. That moment of hesitation?Priceless.
But I catch myself. I let go and walk away, mentally beating myself up for letting her see even a glimpse of what I'm feeling.Feeling.That word hits me harder than expected.
I've known it. Deep down. But only now am I beginning to admit it:I might actually like her.Really like her.
"Wait."I stop and turn.
She's standing still, fidgeting. Her voice is hesitant.
"Uuum… your jacket." She swallows."I'll, um… bring it tomorrow. If that's okay."
God, she's so damn hot when she's trying not to show her cards.And that hesitation in her voice? That flicker in her eyes? It almost makes me want to call off the plan.Almost.
But not when I'm this close.
"Yoow, that chick is wild. Did you see moves she was pulling off yesterday?" Douche bags.
They were discussing the party and any discussion of her made me wanna punch the hell out of them. I left for outside just when she began to dance and they are making wish I had stayed instead of going to choke on weed. I didn't think it would make such a fuss in school today.
"Yea, some would be quite alright in the bedroom." A jerk face jokes and my fists fold.
"Right." They chuckle. Are these people testing my patience or what.
"Creeps!" I curse, mostly to myself.