Chapter 51 - What Are You Looking At
The crisp slap echoed through the office. Everyone's face registered shock.
Ms. Whitfield hurried to intervene. "Both parents, let's talk this through calmly."
Linda said, "I have nothing to say to her."
The slap had knocked Lily sideways. She stared at Linda in disbelief. "You actually dared to hit me?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Linda said. "You're the shameless one."
"You..."
"Alright, both parents, settle this privately. The reason we called you in today is mainly about the students fighting."
Ms. Lowell hurried to say.
With both teachers soothing them, Lily and Linda finally stopped, temporarily holding back.
"So here's the situation..." Ms. Whitfield stood up, a gentle smile on her face.
"This afternoon, the school received a report that some students were brawling at an abandoned elementary school. The nature of this is rather serious. The principal isn't happy. So he asked Ms. Lowell and me to have a proper talk with the parents."
Hearing this, Luna's eyebrow twitched involuntarily.
She looked at Leo.
Leo caught her gaze and mouthed silently, "What are you looking at?"
"Embarrassing." Luna whispered.
Getting caught brawling. How embarrassing.
"No, that's not it." Xander sat up straight, eyes sincere. "I was just getting to know a few bros. There was no fight."
Ms. Whitfield paused. "Really?"
"Really." Xander said. "A brawl would leave injuries. How could we have zero wounds?"
Ms. Lowell glanced at him, pushed up her glasses, and looked at Ryder. "Is what this student said true?"
Ryder pressed his lips together. "Y-yes."
Ms. Lowell looked at Leo.
Leo brushed it off vaguely. "We just talked a bit."
None of them would admit it. So the two teachers had no choice but to produce a candid photo. It showed Xander about to throw a punch, with Leo holding him back.
"The evidence is right here."
Xander choked on that. His brain spun quickly. "I was just testing who's stronger with this..."
He instinctively looked at Leo. The boy sat on a stool, arms crossed, watching him coldly.
Xander still didn't know his name. He went quiet for a few seconds. "This bro here."
Ms. Whitfield: "..."
A headache hit her. She raised a hand and rubbed her temples.
Xander often skipped class, and Lincoln High wasn't that strict. But in the few times they'd interacted, Xander's habit of running his mouth had left a deep impression.
Ms. Lowell looked at Leo. "Is that so?"
Before Leo could speak, Xander stared at him eagerly and threw him a wink.
Leo's mouth twitched. "Yes."
Since none of them would admit it, and the photo could be explained away as arm wrestling, the two teachers had no options left. They said a few words and let them go.
Out of the office, Luna clutched her stomach. "Buy me dinner."
Leo unzipped his uniform jacket. "What do you want?"
Luna thought about it. "I want steak."
The elevator came up. The two stepped in.
Just as the doors were about to close, a hand shoved in. The guy had a head of green hair and a bright grin. "Thanks for just now."
Luna looked at him, then at Leo.
Their vibes weren't alike, but the features really were...
"I wasn't helping you." Leo said, then flicked Luna on the head. "What are you looking at?"