Chapter 20
Blake
Ijogged down the hall and checked the time on my phone. Three minutes to spare.
Slowing to a walk, I ran a hand through my hair and tried not to look like I had been caught in a tornado.
Before I even entered the classroom, I knew something was wrong. Angry shouts came through the door loud and clear. Grabbing the handle, I burst inside and found Camden in a fight with a guy who wasn’t even in tutoring. Everyone else stood around watching and yelling for Camden to kill him.
“Camden, stop,” I yelled.
My students looked at me, then quickly backed up and shut their mouths.
“That’s enough,” I ordered as Camden hit the guy in the face.
“Get him off of me. He’s fucking crazy.”
“Shut up, you fucking piece of shit,” Camden growled.
Camden had the guy down on his back, knee on his chest, as his fist flew like he really was trying to kill him. I ran across the room and wrapped my arms around Camden like a straitjacket, lifting him into the air. He still kicked at the guy until I got him far enough out of reach.
“I said enough.”
But there was no getting through to him. He was consumed, and nothing else mattered.
“I’m going to kill you, fucker,” Camden growled and fought my hold. “You better fucking sleep with one eye open.”
“You’re fucking insane,” the guy yelled back, pointing at Camden. “No wonder your father tried to kill you.”
Camden lunged again. He was strong for his age, and I locked my hand on my wrist behind his neck to keep him in check.
“Hey, asshole who doesn’t belong in this class, get the fuck out, or you’ll have to deal with me next.”
My voice came out angry and authoritative, and too much like the night I shot Lawrence. I pushed the sudden burst of feelings aside and focused on the idiot who couldn’t take a hint.
He looked at me, then at Camden.
“Are you hard of hearing? Get the fuck out, now.”
Angel and Remy pushed the jerk toward the door while Ezra and Troy made a human wall so Camden would have to go through them first.
The guy glared at us but left. That prick was far too arrogant, and I knew that whatever was going on was not over.
“Let go of me,” Camden snarled.
“No, not until you promise not to run out the door and chase that guy down.”
“I promise,” he said far too quickly.
After a look around the room, I addressed the class.
“Everyone out and close the door behind you.”
There was no second-guessing or hesitation from them. They were gone in ten seconds flat. Turning us around so that my back was to the door, I dropped my arms and waited for Camden to make his move.
He jerked away and straightened his school hoodie before spinning around to glare at me. Camden had the rough edge that only developed after living each day like it could be your last. It was the look of survival and pain.
“Don’t even think about it.” I readied myself to grab him, my muscles tense and shaking slightly from the burst of adrenaline.
“I’m going to kill him,” Camden snarled.
“Shut the fuck up,” I snarled.
He narrowed his eyes, seeming confused that I was talking to him like a regular guy, rather than a teacher.
“You’re taking his side?” Camden pointed at the door. “You just let him walk out of here without even telling him to go to the office. What the hell is that?”
“I’m not taking his side. I need to know what happened, and I can’t let you go after him and hurt him.”
Camden paced away a few steps and turned to look at me. His nostrils flared, and his hands curled into fists.
“If you want my help, then you need to tell me who he is and what he did.”
“Just let me handle it,” Camden said.
Instead of playing defense, I went full offense and grabbed Camden by the front of his hoodie. I marched him backward until he was pressed up against the wall.
“What the hell, man?”
“Look at me.” I waited until he did before lowering my voice to continue.
“I’m not supposed to tell you this. Hell, I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but the dean has a watchlist. Students who—if they continue to fuck up or pose a threat to anyone on campus—will be shipped out.
And I’m not talking expulsion. No, they are taken to a place worse than a boot camp, a place so secret that no one knows what happens once they go there. ”
Camden made a disgusted face.
“That’s all bullshit, you’re just trying to scare me.”
“I wish I was,” I said, shaking my head before releasing Camden.
“I thought the same thing until I took this position and was handed the list. You are flagged. If anyone other than me had walked in and seen that fight, then we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
You’d be in the office today and waking up tomorrow in some cell.
I have no idea what they do to those kids. ”
Camden blinked and crossed his arms.
“You’re serious?”
His voice had lost the edge.
“Yes, I am, and considering you went to sleep and woke up here…you of all people should understand what they are capable of. So, no, I’m not taking that guy’s side.
I care about what happens to you. What I want is to make sure that you get through these four years and graduate.
I want you to do what you want with your life and not get stuck in some purgatory hellscape or worse dead. ”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped back and watched him closely. His entire demeanor shifted, and I finally relaxed. Sitting down on the edge of a desk, I let him think it over.
“Why do you care,” he finally asked.
“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I?”
Camden looked like every pissed off teen I’d ever seen, including myself.
“Man…you’re leaving. Four months and you’re gone.
Why the hell do you give a shit about what happens to me?
To any of us? You think we haven’t figured out who you are?
One of the Kings, gods who have ruled here since freshman year.
You have power, money, and you’re a total playboy who gets all the girls.
You live the dream life. So don’t try and make me think that you give any of us a second thought the moment you walk out that door. ”
I snorted and pinched the bridge of my nose. Apparently, my reputation was still intact, fucking ironic.
“Yes, it would certainly look like that from the outside.”
Staring up at the ceiling, I debated what to say to Camden to get him to understand that other people’s lives were not always what they seemed. It was as if I’d stepped right back into the cliché I’d stepped out of a year ago.
“I’m not going to get into everything that is wrong about that statement because right now it doesn’t matter.
I don’t care if it’s four days, four months, or even four years that I’ve known you…
my ability to care about what happens to someone doesn’t start and stop based on some arbitrary timeline.
I care because I do. It’s really not any more complicated than that. ”
“I don’t know why I should believe you,” he said, matter-of-factly, and I had no honest answer for him.
“Trust me, don’t trust me. That is your call. There is nothing I can say to convince you that I’m not playing you. But I hope you’ll choose to go out on a limb and believe that I’m here to help, no matter what.”
Camden was quiet for a long time before he finally looked at me and shrugged.
“Fine. What do you want to know?”
“Let’s start with what that kid’s name is, and why were you fighting?”
“His name is Trent. He got held back a year, so he acts like he fucking owns the place because he’s older.”
“Okay, and why the fight?”
Camden walked toward me and glanced at the door, not like he was looking to run, more like he wanted to make sure no one was eavesdropping.
“Do you swear I can trust you, and you’re not going to narc on any of us?”
Oh shit, I didn’t like where this was going. How did I say yes and keep their confidence, while still getting Dean Henry to help if necessary? That was a bridge to cross later. Right now, I needed to earn Camden’s trust.
“I won’t narc on any of you. But Camden, if this leads to someone getting hurt, you know that I can’t just let that go either.”
He rubbed at his chin like he’d already lived five lifetimes.
“I’ll tell you, but I’m begging you to keep your word.” I nodded. “Sawyer had a problem before she came here, party favors, but she’s been clean since she arrived. She’s been doing great, until fucking Trent noticed her.”
My back stiffened, and my heart thumped a little harder. I could see it all playing out like it was me, because it had been.
“Trent has been targeting past addicts. He fucking badgered her. Said all the fucking nonsense to get her to cave. It’s high-grade, and he’d only sell her the best. Don’t you want to just let loose and forget all the crap in your life?
Just relax it’s not big deal, you deserve to have fun. Bullshit.”
Nash never allowed drugs to be sold on school property and squashed those who did. He would want to know about this ASAP. We also needed to find out who was supplying it since this was our area.
“So what happened,” I asked, clearing my throat of the raw, scratchy feeling.
The first thread of an old and all too familiar panic had begun to claw its way up from the pit of my stomach.
“She almost took it…but didn’t. Instead, she came to me crying and gave me the baggie. She told Trent she didn’t want any more and to leave her alone, but the fucker stalked her in here. He claimed that he wasn’t trying to talk her into taking, but I didn’t believe him.”
My breathing was ragged, and I felt sweat running down my spine, but I kept my face neutral.
“Where are the drugs now?”
He reached into his pocket, and I held my hand out. The small, clear pouch landed in my palm, and I closed my fist without looking to see what it was. My whole body trembled as I tried to keep my shit together.
“I’ll dispose of this and have a discussion with Trent. For now, I want you to get out of here and keep your head down. Don’t engage with him and whatever you do, don’t get into another fight.”
“But—”
“No. There is no wiggle room. Let me handle it from here. I promise Trent will never go near Sawyer again.”
“And you’re not going to go to the dean?”
God, I prayed this wasn’t a bad idea, and shook my head.
“No, but…and there is a but to this deal.”
He analyzed me, eyes looking me up and down like I was going to say something shady.
“If anything else happens, and I do mean anything, you come to me first. Don’t try to take care of it yourself.
Like you said, I’m out of here in four months, but you have to survive the next four years.
Prove that you don’t belong on that list. Don’t make me stick my neck out for you, only for you to fall on your sword. ”
Camden’s jaw twitched as he thought over my offer. It was easy to see that he hated asking for help. He reminded me way too much of Nash. If there really was such a thing as a mirrored life twin out in the world…Camden was Nash’s mini-me.
“I’ll try.”
I shook my head and pushed away from the desk.
“Then no deal. I’ll go straight to Dean Henry.”
He grabbed my arm but didn’t pull. I stopped and stared at him.
“I’ll take the deal and come to you first. I don’t do well locked up in small spaces,” Camden admitted and then headed for the door. He glanced back just before he left. “Thanks.”
And just like that, he was gone, and I was left holding my version of kryptonite. I didn’t have to look to know what it was or how it would feel to take it.
My fist shook as I stared at my hand.
“God, why do you keep testing me? I know you want me to be strong, but…there is only so much I can take.”