"Did you forget lunch money?" Bellamy gestured to the empty table as he plopped his lunch tray down next to his younger sister, Octavia. He was glad to have an excuse to pester her; she was sitting alone in the crowded cafeteria and knew she would not accept his presence without an excuse.
Octavia rolled her eyes. "I have money, I'm just not hungry. Can you please move?"
Bellamy bit into his apple as a response.
"Okay, then I guess I'll move." Octavia stood up and swung her more stylish than functional leather backpack over her shoulder. She waved to a small group of girls, other sophomores at school, and started to walk toward them. Bellamy felt better.
"Nice ass," a male voice called as it crossed behind his sister's path. Bellamy nearly cricked his neck looking around for the culprit. Then he saw him. John Murphy. The resident school scumbag was swaggering away as if he hadn't just catcalled a female student two years his junior. Bellamy pushed his lunch away and stood up.
"Bell!" Octavia attempted to grab Bellamy's shoulder as he bellowed past her but her voice sounded light in his roaring ears.
"Hey, Murphy!" John turned around in time to match his cheek with Bellamy's right hook. John stumbled back a few steps and Bellamy sunk a fist into his flank before he had the chance to straighten. By now, the entire quad realized they had lunch time entertainment and started to gather around the two boys.
Murphy clutched his side and squared his shoulders to retaliate. Before he had the chance, two campus security monitors reached the scene. The officers broke through the circle of students and gripped each of the boys, pinning their arms at their sides.
"To the Dean's Office! Now!" A phrase Bellamy was quite used to hearing by his senior year at Arcadia High School. He caught Octavia's eyes as he walked past and she looked furious. Bellamy had the decency to dip his eyes to the floor. He could care less about what Dean Kane had to say to him, or what the student body had to say about him, but Octavia's opinion was the only one that mattered to him. He desperately tried to be a role model for her, and sometimes that meant standing up to creeps.
After waiting an hour in the busy office (two girl fights were ahead of him, and he winced when he saw one student missing a chunk of her hair in the back), the same security guard appeared before him. "Cummon, Blake. We're going to the Principal."
Bellamy was surprised. High and mighty Principal Jaha rarely came out of his office or interacted with students. Bellamy was pretty sure Jaha was biding his time until he could run for some education board or office. At the very least it would be a change of pace from Dean Kane's loud lectures.
When they reached the office, Bellamy was immediately ushered in. Principal Jaha had his fingertips pressed together like a wise wizard. He nodded to the security officer and then the door shut.
"Well, Mr. Blake. You've accumulated quite the record." Bellamy stayed silent, trying to size up the older man.
"Including today that makes three fights this year, two suspensions. Last year, five incidents, one suspension. Sophomore year, four writes ups and three in-school suspensions. Freshman year, eight incidents." Bellamy had never heard his infamous statistics rattled off before and tried to figure out if they made him feel repentance.
Nope.
"I'm not sure if you understand how precarious your situation is, Bellamy. Arcadia High has expelled students for much less. With your record and how deep we are into your senior year, I doubt another school would take you."
Bellamy's pulse quickened. Although Dean Kane was repetitive, they had a rapport. Kane always went relatively easy on Bellamy. Principal Jaha did not look forgiving and for the first time, Bellamy was worried he wouldn't obtain his high school diploma.
"My grades—" Bellamy began.
"Are good. Excellent, in fact. Which tells me you aren't stupid. You are making choices, and bad ones at that. I think you need a change in environment, Bellamy. You've never joined a club, sport, or been involved on our campus."
"I work after school." Which was true; Bellamy worked five hours after school each day and weekends. Someone had to support the household if his mother wasn't willing to.
"Good. Working instills responsibility. But you have a choice: join a campus program or be expelled. If you contribute to our school, perhaps you will be less willing to break our rules."
Bellamy sighed. "Which program?"
"I was hoping for a sport to get out your… physical energy. However, winter sports have already held tryouts… The drama department is about to hold auditions for the school musical."
Bellamy chuckled. "I don't act. Or sing. Or dance."
"This may be perfect for you then. Get you to try something new." Principal Jaha smiled serenely.
"You're joking?"
"No, Bellamy. I am not joking. But, the choice is yours. You can try and be a part of something, or be expelled. Without a diploma and without a regard for rules, my bet is that you would be arrested within a year. What example would that set for your sister?"
Bellamy's eyes flashed. Jaha was intelligent and he knew Bellamy's weaknesses. Everything Bellamy did was for Octavia. Most of his "incidents" were from defending Octavia in some way. "Fine."
"Wonderful. I'll let Mrs. Green know. And beware, Bellamy. She will be reporting to me regularly. If you cause trouble, miss a practice, or act destructive, you will no longer be a student at Arcadia High School."