Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
My hand pauses on the door, and I let out a heavy sigh as I mentally go over everything that’s happened over the past few days. Usually, when the school principal uses a tone like that, it’s because I’ve done something to fuck up my enrollment.
My hand falls away from the door, and I slowly turn to find Principal Daniels taking up too much space in the student office. “Can I help you?” I ask, confusion booming through my chest. I’ve been on my best behavior, attended every last class, and haven’t even smoked on school property. At least nowhere he’d be able to see me.
“Why don’t you come into my office.”
Ah, shit.
Daniels turns on his heel and stalks deeper into the student office, passes a few rooms with closed doors, and stops in front of the one at the end of the hallway. He pulls the door open for me. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Letting out a heavy breath, I stride into Daniels’ office and quickly glance around. It’s a nice office, definitely not as nice as the one I burned down a few weeks ago. In hindsight, that was probably the most fucked-up thing I’ve done, but my mistakes are what brought me here. Brought me back to life.
“I take it you don’t have any current plans to burn down my office?” Daniels says, a smug-as-fuck smirk across his face as he strides around his mahogany desk and takes a seat, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest.
“Not currently.”
“Good,” he says. “I’m fond of this office.”
“Glad to hear it.”
The room falls into silence, and Daniels just stares forward, trying to intimidate me, but honestly, the only person in this world who has the power to affect me by stare alone is Zoey fucking James.
“I’ve had some disturbing reports,” he starts.
I quickly cut him off, saving us both time and effort. “Whatever it was, I had nothing to do with it.”
Daniels arches a brow. “So, the black Camaro that was stolen out of the student parking lot and left two thick lines of rubber down the street wasn’t yours?”
I nod toward the window that has the perfect view of the student parking lot. “Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tell him. “My car is right there, clearly not stolen.”
“I’m not in the mood for games, Noah,” he says. “Give me a name.”
And dump Zoey in a world of shit? Like hell I’m ever going to do that. Besides, it was my property that was stolen, and I got it back . . . and more.
No harm, no foul. There’s nothing more to it.
Stealing my car was Zoey’s way of sending a message. It’s our business and nobody else’s, especially not Principal Daniels’. “Like I said,” I reiterate. “I don’t know what to tell you. My car is right where it belongs, not a scratch on it. Besides, I was at football training when it happened, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but my window tint is just about as dark as the law will allow. I didn’t see shit.”
His stare only hardens, and it’s clear he doesn’t believe me, but I’ll go down on this hill if it means protecting Zoey. Besides, it’s not as though he’s ever going to suspect her. She’s the most polite, well-mannered girl in the whole fucking school. He’ll somehow find a way to accuse me of being the one behind the wheel, despite the many witnesses.
Let’s be honest. I’d rather go down for this than ever allowing eyes to fall on Zoey. I’ve protected her since the day she was born, and I’ve failed her in so many ways over the past three years. It’s time to start making up for that.
“Whether you like it or not, this is a school incident. Your car was stolen on school property, and the suspect drove recklessly, endangering the lives of the students of East View.”
Laying it on thick, I see.
“With all due respect, sir, you couldn’t be more wrong,” I say, ready and willing to say whatever is needed to keep this from coming down on Zoey. “My car wasn’t stolen. A friend needed a ride after school, and I willingly gave up the keys. And as for the reckless driving, were you there? Because I saw the whole thing. My car was well off school property before the burnout started, which you can clearly see from the marks left on the road. The school has nothing to be concerned with.”
Principal Daniels narrows his stare at me, drumming his fingers on his desk. “Who are you trying to protect, Noah?”
I scoff, more than happy to pull out my usual attitude that I keep reserved solely for authority. “Do I strike you as the type of kid who’s looking out for anyone but himself?”