Chapter 10 #2
“What sort of names?” she asked.
“Like fart breath and four-eyes. Because she wears glasses.”
“How unoriginal,” she drawled.
“What did you do, Wyatt?” Jeb asked.
“Billy is a bully. Everyone knows it. But no one wants to stand up to him because he’s bigger than everyone else.”
“Hate bullies,” she muttered.
“Nobody likes a bully. But that doesn’t mean that you can start a physical fight with them,” Jeb told Wyatt.
“I didn’t!” Wyatt straightened, trembling with anger. “I told Billy to quit it and he turned on me. He pushed me over and then Josie tried to tackle him and he shoved her. So I hit him.”
Wyatt slumped back sullenly.
She tried to keep herself relaxed but Casey knew this moment was important. This was a chance for Jeb to build his relationship with his son or really hurt it.
Please let him make the right choice.
“That’s not okay,” Jeb said as he stood. “You shouldn’t be called into the principal’s office for sticking up for a friend and yourself.”
“You . . . you’re not mad at me?” Wyatt asked.
“Of course not.”
The door to the office opened and an older man who had to be the principal stepped out. He was followed by a boy who was about half a head taller than Wyatt as well as two people who must be his parents.
So this was Billy.
She narrowed her gaze at him.
“Casey, you’re glaring at Billy,” Wyatt whispered.
“I don’t like bullies.”
“Were you bullied at school?” Wyatt asked as he unwrapped his lollipop and popped it into his mouth.
“Not really. Didn’t really have any friends, though. Believe it or not, a lot of people think I’m weird. I had my best friend, Jordan. And that was all. The other kids were nice to me, but not because they liked me. They wanted to be friends with my brothers so they used me to get to them.”
“You have brothers?” Wyatt asked.
“Yeah, four of them.”
“I wish I had brothers.”
“No, you don’t. Pains in the ass, all of them,” she told him.
“Excuse me, we don’t say that word here.”
She glanced up at the principal who was sneering down at her. He wore a button-up cardigan and a tweed coat with a white shirt and green pants. Wasn’t he hot?
“What? Brothers? Yeah, I don’t blame you. Dirty word.”
“I think he was talking about ass,” Wyatt told her.
“Wyatt Wilder! Do not say the word ‘ass’.”
“Hey, your name only just registered! Wyatt Wilder!” she said, smiling at Wyatt.
“It’s dumb,” Wyatt said.
“No way! That’s cool. I’d love a name with alliteration. Casey Cassidy. That would be awesome.”
Wyatt gave her a small grin.
“Excuse me,” the principal said. “If the two of you have finished, we have some other things to discuss. Important things.”
“I guess we have, huh, Wyatt?” Casey asked.
“Uh-huh,” Wyatt said around the candy in his mouth.
“Wyatt, spit that candy out,” the principal ordered.
“Mr. Steeple, do you want to explain what is going on?” Jeb asked.
“Because we just walked in to find my son in shock, with a bruise on his cheek and no one looking after him. I came straight here so how did Billy’s parents get here before me?
” He nodded at the man and woman who were flanking Billy the Bully.
His mom looked tired and pale and her husband appeared smug.
“Did you call them first? Well in advance of calling me?”
“I did not,” Mr. Steeples said haughtily. “I suppose it took a while for you to come from the ranch.”
“But we weren’t at the ranch. We were at Angel Motels,” Casey said.
“Were you?” Billy’s father said interestedly. “And what were you doing there in the middle of the day?”
“That is none of your business,” Jeb said stiffly.
What was wrong with him? Why was he upset?
Oh. Wait.
Motel. Together. Middle of the day.
Oops.
Luckily Wyatt just seemed confused by what was going on. Billy’s father just looked more smug. The jerk.
“I do not think it is appropriate to have sugar at school,” the principal said. “Especially when your son is in trouble for fighting.”
“Why is he in trouble for fighting?” Jeb asked.
“Well, I think that would be obvious,” Mr Steeples blustered. “He hit Billy.”
“Billy hit him first,” Casey said.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Billy’s father asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Casey. Nice to meet you. I’m a good friend of Wyatt’s. I’m here to make sure he doesn’t get blamed for stuff he didn’t do.”
“I’m not sure you have a voice here,” Mr Steeples said.
“I always have a voice,” Casey told him.
“She’s here with me,” Jeb said firmly.
Jeb sticking up for her like that shouldn’t make her go all warm. But it did. She had some issues. Jordan was right, maybe she needed to get laid.
“Fine,” Mr. Steeples said. “You’ve been called in here because of Wyatt’s behavior. Obviously he needs to be disciplined. Fighting is unacceptable and against school rules.”
“I understand that,” Jeb said. “Although I think exceptions should be made when Wyatt was sticking up for a friend and for himself.”
“Sticking up for a friend and himself?” Mr. Steeples asked.
“What are you talking about? Wyatt pushed Billy. It’s clear that Wyatt has some temper issues.
This isn’t the first time he’s gotten upset and angry.
But this is the first time he has hurt someone else.
And he’s going to have to be suspended for three days. ”
Billy didn’t look hurt.
“Wyatt’s the one with a bruise on his face,” Casey pointed out.
“Yes, he is,” Jeb said. “And that isn’t Wyatt’s side of the story.”
“Wyatt’s side?” Mr. Steeples asked, looking somewhat confused by the concept.
Idiot.
“Yes, what did Wyatt say when you asked him?” Jeb asked.
“Well, I, uh, I hadn’t gotten to Wyatt yet.”
“Wyatt, tell your side,” Jeb said.
Wyatt went through the whole story again. Billy’s father was looking less smug and more annoyed while the principal’s face grew increasingly red.
“So, Wyatt was sticking up for a friend. And defending himself. I expect that to be taken into consideration when you are deciding a punishment,” Jeb said.
Wyatt gave his dad another surprised look.
“He could be lying!” Billy’s father said.
“Then get the other kids in and ask them,” Jeb said calmly. “My boy isn’t a liar, Maurice.”
“Ooh, burn,” Casey muttered.
Everyone glared at her.
“Sorry.” She mimed zipping her lips.
Billy’s mom gave her a strange look.
“Fine. I will talk to the other children. But both Billy and Wyatt are suspended until Monday. Getting physical is never the answer.”
Jeb nodded. “Come on, Wyatt. Casey.”
“Thank goodness we’re leaving. The principal’s office always upsets my tummy,” she said as she followed Jeb out. She crunched on her candy, swallowing it.
Wyatt walked beside her. He drew his lollipop out of his mouth. “It does?”
“Uh-huh. Once I got called in to see my principal over a misunderstanding. But I was so upset I vomited all over her shoes. She was not happy.”
“I bet,” Wyatt said with a nod of commiseration.
“I can’t believe the principal was going to let Billy lay all of the blame on you,” Jeb said as he opened two doors to his truck.
“I think Mr. Steeples and Billy’s dad are friends,” Wyatt said.
“Really unacceptable,” Jeb growled.
Wyatt shrugged. “Billy lies a lot and the teachers believe him.”
“Not cool,” she said. “Billy needs to learn that lying and being a bully are not okay.”
“Well, his father probably won’t teach him that. He’s been a bully since we were kids,” Jeb muttered as Billy and his parents left the building.
Maurice shot them all a dirty look.
“Hey, Casey?” Wyatt said.
“Yes, sugar?” she asked.
He grinned. “I got a question.”
Oh, he was probably wondering what she was doing with his father.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“How come you only have one sandal on?”
Well. Hell. She kept forgetting about that.
Jeb picked her up with his hands around her waist and lifted her into the passenger seat.
“Casey, you’re not supposed to be walking around barefoot. In fact, I believe I told you to stay in the truck.”
“Yeah, but I got bored.”
“You didn’t even wait for thirty seconds,” Jeb said dryly.
Casey shrugged. “I have a short attention span.”
“Your bandage is all dirty,” he pointed out.
“What happened to her foot, Papa?” Wyatt asked.
“An incident with hot coffee,” he explained.
“He crashed into me,” Casey added. “It was his coffee that burned me.”
Jeb let out a loud sigh. “Right. Let’s go.” He did up her belt and shut her door.
Wyatt got into the back seat and she turned to him as he buckled in.
“I think the principal made your dad’s stomach queasy too. Think I should offer him candy?”
“Probably best not to.”
Jeb climbed in and gave them a suspicious look. “What are the two of you talking about?”
“Nothing.” Casey gave him a big smile. “So, can I go back to the motel now or are you gonna kidnap me and take me somewhere else? If you are, could it be somewhere fun like the ice cream shop?”
“Ooh, I like ice cream.”
“What’s your favorite flavor, sugar?” Casey asked, turning to look back at Wyatt.
“I like cookies and cream,” Wyatt told her.
“Good choice. I’m a fan of butter pecan.”
“Nobody is getting ice cream,” Jeb said. “And that’s final.”