Chapter 4:
Brett launched himself at Josh. Josh wasn't expecting it and they both tumbled to the floor.
"You jerk." Brett said.
"Brett what the heck?" Josh asked, he tried to fling Brett off him. The guy may be small but he weighed a fair bit, and he was crushing his spine.
"You broke into my system!" Brett screamed. Josh was just confused now.
"No I didn't." He said. Brett twisted him round.
"Look at what it says Josh!" He snapped. Josh read the message and his eyes widened. "Only you and Principal Kirkpatrick knew I was improving the system! So, unless you think your dad had something to do with it?!" Brett was so angry. He'd trusted Josh! He'd believed him! And Josh had probably lied to him. Sometimes he really hated the guy. The alarm had stopped and Principal Kirkpatrick was running down the hall. He took one look at Josh and Brett and sighed.
"Cadet, if you could get off Josh." He said calmly. Brett got to his feet and started explaining what he thought about what happened. Josh slowly got to his feet. His dad looked at him. "Joshua, you told me you had nothing to do with the alarms."
"I didn't do anything." Josh said. He was getting a bit tired of proclaiming his innocence. Principal Kirkpatrick sighed. He really wanted to be believe Josh. He couldn't see why he'd keep pulling the same prank. But he didn't know anyone else who knew Brett had been updating the systems.
"That's exactly what a guilty person would say!" Brett exclaimed. Josh looked as if he'd been sucker punched.
"It's also what an innocent one would say." He pointed out. "Just because something bad happened, doesn't automatically make it my fault."
"It usually is." Brett said. Principal Kirkpatrick rubbed his face tiredly.
"Dad you don't really think I did this?" Josh pleaded. Principal Kirkpatrick eyes his son carefully. His blue eyes were wide and there was the slightest tremor in his bottom lip. It was never obvious when Josh was upset. And he meant really upset.
"I believe you Josh." He said. Josh's face brightened slightly.
"That's not fair! Just because he's your dad you're getting off!" Brett snapped. Josh looked distraught for a second but then a scowl appeared on his face.
"I didn't do anything." Josh repeated.
"He is not getting off because he's my son." Principal Kirkpatrick said. He knew that was what Josh hated the most about attending Galaxy High. "Josh, until we find out who is behind this I want you to stay within someone's sight at all times." Josh shot him a hurt look. "You are known for pranks Josh." He added rather helplessly. Josh nodded silently. He smiled at Brett.
"I guess we're going to be sticking together." He said. Brett glared at Josh.
"Fine by me." He said. He grabbed Josh's arm and pulled him along. Principal Kirkpatrick sighed in relief. Now he would have reassurance that Josh wasn't involved. He went back to office and started looking for whoever was really the culprit.