Chapter 45 #2
“Principal Stubbs. May I have a minute of you time?” a masculine voice says from the doorway. Thinking it’s Daniel, I turn around in my chair and my mouth literally falls open when I see Mr. Montgomery and Fallon.
Principal Stubbs seems to immediately forget the punishment she was in the middle of meting out.
“Mr. Montgomery, what a surprise. Let me finish up here and I’ll be right with you.”
Her voice is overly bright when she replies to him. I assume that happens a lot with Fallon’s dad. Half the town works for him. How many clichés are there about money? Money is power. Money talks. The almighty dollar
Mr. Montgomery steps inside the room and places his hand on my shoulder. I freeze up, feeling like a little mouse under a lion’s paw.
“This has to do with Miss Fairchild,” he calmly states
“Oh, well, her uncle should be here soon. Since he’s her legal guardian, I cannot discuss with you about personal issues that involve a minor who is not your child. I’m sure you understand.”
“Fallon, please take Elizabeth outside. I’ll be there shortly,” Mr. Montgomery says, giving me a small wink as I stand up.
Fallon takes my hand and I go willingly. As soon as we’re outside the front doors of the school, I take a deep breath of frigid air. It stings my throat as it fills my lungs. Thankfully, the day’s classes have started, and we’re the only ones out here.
“Fallon, what the heck is going on? Why is your dad here?”
Fallon leans back against the railing. “I told you to stall.”
“I stalled as long as I could!” I snap at him, exasperated.
He lifts my right hand, the one with the red, split knuckle that I have yet to put a Band-Aid on. “Did you get her good?”
“I channeled my inner Fallon.”
“Good girl.”
He smiles at me, eyes twinkling, and I give in. A giggle forms in the pit of my stomach, rising slowly, until it erupts out, and I’m bent over at the waist, laughing until tears stream down my face.
“I’m going to be suspended for it, but oh my God, it felt so good!”
“Kitten, you won’t be suspended.”
I peer up at him from my bent position. He must be messing with me again. But he’s clearly not. He’s dead serious.
“That’s why you brought your dad,” I say aloud.
“Told you before, my dad can be awesome.”
“You’re awesome,” I counter. Because he is. Fallon has a habit of swooping in and saving the day. “You’re my hero.”
He tilts his head to the side in the way I adore. My phone starts vibrating in my back pocket.
Finally, I think. Ryder is going to get an earful from me for making me worry about him all morning. Especially this morning.
“Where the heck are you?” I say as soon as I answer.
“About thirty feet from you,” he replies.
I look over and sure enough, Ryder is walking our way from the student parking lot. He gives me a wave and I jog over to him, leaping into his arms and giving him a hard kiss.
Ryder looks puzzled as he spots Fallon leaning against the railing.
“What are you doing here?” Ryder asks him. “And why are you out here and not in class?” he asks me.
Instead of answering him, I ask my own question. “I’ve been calling and texting you all morning.” Clearly, he had to have received my messages because he just called me using his phone. “And where have you been?”
Ryder looks down at the tarmac and then back up at me. “When I was sick last week, Mom made an appointment with our family physician for me to get checked out. Didn’t I tell you?”
“No. I was worried. Anything I should know?
Ryder looks at Fallon and some unknown communication passes between them.
Ryder pulls me to his side and hugs me. “Everything is fine. Your turn to tell me what’s going on.”
Fallon joyfully recounts for Ryder what I told him. “Our girl took Maria down.”
“I’m going to be suspended for fighting,” I add. I may pooch out my lower lip in a pout as well.
“No, you’re not. You really haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?” Fallon tells me. “Dad is here,” he directs at Ryder.
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem.”
I smack both of their arms. “Standing right here!” I protest.
As I finish my objection, Mr. Montgomery walks out of the school, looking austere and business-like. “Fallon, we need to get back to the office. Everything is taken care of. Elizabeth will not be suspended.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I hold out my hand to Mr. Montgomery and he takes it in a gentle embrace. “I really can’t thank you enough, Mr. Montgomery. You have been like my own personal fairy godfather,” I tell him.
Mr. Montgomery’s mouth ticks up a notch. For some reason, whenever we talk, he seems to be amused by me.
“It is my pleasure, Elizabeth. Fallon doesn’t care for many people, but he cares a lot about you. And we Montgomerys look after those we care about.”
Ryder bends down and kisses the top of my head, then shakes Mr. Montgomery’s hand. “Good to see you again, sir. And thank you for whatever you did for Elizabeth. I’m a little out of the loop about what happened.”
Fallon’s dad nods at Ryder and pats his back. “I’m sure Miss Fairchild will fill you in. Fallon, I’ll meet you at the car. Five minutes.”
“Yes, sir.”
I give Fallon a hug. “I don’t know what I did to deserve your friendship, but I’m really glad that we’re friends. Thank you, Fallon. I swear I’ll pay you and your dad back for everything.” That sentence seems to be on repeat when it comes to me and him.
Fallon huffs out a hard laugh. “You really don’t listen at all.” He kisses my cheek and gives Ryder a quick fist-bump before walking down the steps to join his father.
Ryder stands motionless as he watches them drive off.
“Hey, where’d you go?” I ask him when the silence stretches on.
He shakes his head as if clearing deep thoughts. “I’m here,” he says almost sadly, and my brow dips in a frown.
I cup Ryder’s face and bring it down to mine. His copper eyes I love so much gaze upon me with so much love. Our intimate moment is broken when Daniel speed walks over to us. I never noticed him drive up.
“Lizzie, what the hell is going on?”
Oh, boy.