A/N: Sorry this has taken so long to update. I know I've been really slow about it lately. A big thanks to Teenwriter for keeping me motivated on this story. I appreciate all the swift kicks you've been giving me.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, I don't own a thing, except Mr. Peterson, the social worker.
Sean sat outside Mr. Raditch's office. His eye was throbbing. Adams had managed a good shot to his eye and his mouth before Sean gained the upper hand. Sean's lip had stopped bleeding, but it still stung where it had been ripped open. He knew he was going to have a black eye too, but he didn't look half as bad as Adams.
Sean sighed. He had come so close to making it through the day. Tracker was going to be furious when he heard about this. He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. He wished Raditch would hurry up. He wanted to get his punishment over with. He had never felt the need for a drink so strongly before.
"Sean?" Mr. Raditch interrupted his thoughts. "In my office please."
Sean reluctantly grabbed his bag and trudged into the office. Raditch did not look pleased.
"Sit." Sean did as he was told. "Do you want to explain what happened?" His voice was harsh, but not cruel. Sean had heard that tone a lot in last few days. "Well?"
Sean shook his head. He didn't have the energy to defend himself. He was a screw up. He knew that. He didn't need Raditch to remind him of it. "Sorry, it was my fault."
Mr. Raditch was taken aback by Sean's honesty. Two teachers had seen the fight and had indicted Sean as the troublemaker. He had expected the boy to at least try to lay some of the blame on the younger student. He had seen Sean in his office many times through the years, but he had never seen him look so despondent. "Is everything okay Sean?"
"What would you care?" Sean spat bitterly. Now this was the Sean that Mr. Raditch was familiar with. "Can we just get this over with?"
Less than half an hour later, Sean was sitting on the steps outside the school. The school day had just ended, and for Sean, it would be his last day this week. He had been suspended for four days. He supposed he might have gotten off easier if he hadn't been so rude in Raditch's office, but he didn't care. He didn't know how he was going to explain this to Mr. Peterson or Tracker. He especially didn't know how to try to explain things to Emma. Snake had been one of the teachers that had broken up the fight. Surely he would tell Emma all about it over dinner.
Sean stood. The school building had emptied. He had hoped to see Craig, but he must have missed him. He glanced at his watch. He had twenty minutes before he had to be at his social worker's office. He had time to stop by Craig's house if he hurried.
He walked quickly to Craig's and was there in a matter of minutes. He hesitated at the door. He wasn't sure what he would say to Joey if he answered the door. He decided to take his chances and knocked.
The door swung open almost immediately, and as it seemed appropriate to the day Sean was having, Joey stood in the doorway.
"Woah, Sean, nice shiner." Joey stepped aside and let him in. "Are you okay?"
Sean had forgotten about his appearance. He nodded. "Just a little fight at school." He hesitated. "Um, could I talk to Craig?"
"He's grounded, so only for a minute."
"Thanks."
"He's upstairs in his room."
Sean silently climbed the stairs. He wasn't in as much of a hurry as he had been the last time he was here. Craig's door was open, and Sean let himself in.
Craig looked up from the book he was reading. "What happened to you man?"
"Just a fight at school." Craig nodded. "Look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry –"
"Don't worry about it man." Sean looked up, shocked. "It wasn't your fault." Sean stared, quizzically. "Okay, well it was partly your fault, but it was partly mine too. Don't worry about it."
Sean let out a sigh of relief. "So how bad was the punishment?"
"Not bad. Huge lecture from Joey. Huge. Grounded for three weeks. Not too bad, considering…"
"Yah, I don't think I'll get off as lightly."
"What happened to your face?"
Sean started to tell the story, but was interrupted by Joey. "Sorry, Sean, you'll have to go now."
"Meet me at lunch tomorrow?" Craig asked.
"Make it Monday," Sean answered. "I'm suspended until then."
Once outside Sean glanced at his watch again. His appointment with his social worker was scheduled for five minutes ago. He thought briefly of blowing it off, but decided better of it, and quickened his pace.
He really wasn't looking forward to this meeting.