Flip of a Coyne

A Coyne Twins Story

Chapter 12: Fiona's News

"Shit!" Fitz cursed, slamming his palm against the lockers in anger. "Why did she get in the way? Why? Dammit!" He ran his hands across his face and let out a breath of annoyance as the sound of clacking heels reached his ears.

"I heard what happened. Way to screw up your chances and make it easier for me to win this bet," Bianca said with a laugh, putting her hands on her hips.

"You're the one who told us about the freak in the first place," Fitz pointed out.

"Right, but I didn't tell you to beat up his brother," Bianca laughed in his face.

"I was defending myself. The guy came at me," Fitz sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm really going to get it now."

"The worst you'll get is a suspension seeing as you got into a fight and it's your first one," Bianca said with a shrug, lifting her purse over her shoulder and pushing her wild hair back with her hands. "Sure, they have a zero tolerance policy but they won't expel you right off the bat."

"How do you know that?"

Bianca laughed. "The principal's office is like my second home. So, do I get to choose your fate when you lose?"

"I'm not going to lose this bet, B," Fitz snapped as the door to the principal's office opened. He turned and flinched visibly at the stern look on Mr. Simpson's face.

"Inside. Now," he ordered, pointing. Fitz replaced his face with a look of apathy and walked into the office. Mr. Simpson closed the door behind Fitz and walked over to his desk. Fitz sat down in the chair opposite the desk, resting his hands on his stomach as he watched Mr. Simpson tapping his fingers on his desk, wondering how long it would take for him to say something. "Do you understand that there is a zero tolerance policy for fighting in school?" Mr. Simpson finally asked.

"I understand that," Fitz replied.

"Yet you attacked someone based on their sexuality," Mr. Simpson continued.

"I wouldn't call it attacking," Fitz replied with finger quotes. "I was merely helping him to the right bathrooms. You know…since he's a girl and all…"

Mr. Simpson let out a slow breath through his nose. "Mark, you threw Adam at a glass door—"

"That was Owen, not me!" Fitz protested

"—all because of his sexuality and then you attack his step-brother—"

"He came at me first!" Fitz spoke up.

"For attacking Adam!" Mr. Simpson bellowed. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a breath. "I have no choice but to put you on suspension. Only for a week since it's your first offense. Owen is put under the same punishment. I want you to understand that the teachers and I still expect for you to have all your homework completed by the time you come back. This suspension is supposed to be treated as a punishment not as a vacation. I'm going to have to notify your mother of your suspension," he said, picking up the phone.

"No! You can't!" Fitz practically shouted, sitting up in his seat.

Mr. Simpson paused with his finger hovering over the buttons. "I have to, Mark."

"You can't call her Mr. Simpson. Please," Fitz said quietly.

"I'm sorry, Mark, but this is procedure. Pack up your things. You're not allowed back on this campus until next week," Mr. Simpson replied, pushing buttons on his phone.

Groaning, Fitz got to his feet and left the room. I am so dead.

"A fight? Really?" Matt demanded, standing over his twin, glaring. "A few weeks in and all ready you're sent to the principal's office?"

"I didn't hit him, Matthew," Mack said with an eyeroll, propping her elbows up on her knees and rested her chin in her hands. "I didn't even lay a finger on him." Matt lifted an eyebrow. "Ok, I shoved him, but I didn't do anything else and I was sent to the principal's office as a witness. I'm not in trouble or anything."

"Whatever happened to laying low?"

"Whatever happened to not letting bullies win?" Mack shot back. "They're beating Adam up for no reason at all. I can't just stand by and let them do that."

"Mack, you can't help everyone in the world," Matt sighed. "I know you have good intentions but sometimes it's better to just let things happen and not get in the way."

Mack slowly shook her head. "I can't do that, Matt. I can't stand by and watch someone get hurt because of ignorance."

Matt grumbled and rubbed his hands across his face. "Whatever. We don't have practice today so I can give you a lift to work."

"Ok, just…give me a minute," Mack replied, turning her attention to the door that had opened. Matt lifted his eyebrows but didn't say anything as his twin stood and moved over to Adam and Drew who left the principal's office. "Is everything ok? Adam?" She asked, turning to the smaller boy.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Adam replied, nodding a bit. "We have to do a follow up meeting in the morning, though." He rolled his eyes. "I just want this to be over with all ready."

"The students aren't going to make it easy," Mack pointed out.

"Which is exactly why I wish someone would just…erase their brains in the middle of the night. Like an alien invasion or something," Adam said with a tiny smile.

Drew clapped him on the back. "You've been reading too many comic books," he laughed. "Thanks…for helping," he addressed Mack.

"It's no big," she said with a wave of her hand. "I just don't like anyone being picked on. I had to deal with it with Max, it's like a reflex."

"Good reflex. You looked like you were about to kill him."

"So'd you."

"Are you two actually having a normal conversation?" Matt jumped in.

"Huh, must've lost my mind for a second there," Mack commented. "C'mon Matt, I gotta get to work and I'm sure Fiona and Holly J are going to attack me as soon as I set foot outside of this school." She squinted at the smile that was working its way onto his face. "Just walk!" She snapped, shoving him as he laughed. "Hey, you still need a tutor?" She asked, turning to Drew.

He lifted his eyebrows. "Yeah."

"Meet me at the Dot around seven. That's when I got off work." She turned to walk away but stopped. "Oh, don't bring that Bandhari girl with you either. You're going to need a lot of help but without distractions."

"Someone's getting soft," Matt said in a singsong voice.

"Shut up!" Mack said, slapping him on the shoulder. He stuck out his tongue and took off down the hall, laughing, as Mack ran after him as fast as she could, yelling something in French at him.

"Huh, looks like getting beaten up helped in your advantage," Adam noted, nudging Drew. A crooked smile formed on Drew's face.

"You think this could be a regular thing?"

"Not on your life," Adam laughed. "I don't care how cute you think she is, I'm not getting beaten up every day."

Drew shrugged. "Worth a shot."

"Thanks for coming over here. What with Declan being with Holly J again Ms. Cartwright being out I didn't want to stay in this big place by myself," Fiona said as she dug in her purse for her keys.

"It's no problem," Matt replied with a shrug. "I didn't want to stay in my condo by myself either. I'm glad that I finally get some time to myself but at the same time I miss the noise that my sisters create."

Fiona grinned, successfully turning the key in the lock and pushing open the door. Matt waved his arm and smiled, signaling that she should go through first. She curtsied and he made an exaggerated bow, causing her to laugh before stepping into the condo. She hung her jacket up on a hook, marveling at how fast it got cold in Canada, and walked into the living room. Matt almost crashed into her because she stopped so suddenly.

"Mom…Dr. Sandler, what…what are you two doing here?" Fiona asked, nervously looking back and forth between the two.

"You're not happy to see me?" Laura asked with raised eyebrows.

Fiona sighed and forced a smile, walking over to her mother. "Of course I'm happy to see you, Mom. I just meant what are you two doing here together?"

"We came to talk to you about the t—" Laura stopped when Fiona widened her eyes. Laura shifted her gaze from her daughter to the boy who was standing behind her. "Hello," she said curtly, her gaze hardening. "Who might you be?"

"I might be Matthew Montgomery," Matt replied with a hint of amusement. "I live next door."

"He's in my class, Mom," Fiona added. "He and his twin sister. Isn't that cool?"

"Yes, that's very cool," Laura replied. "But Fiona you can't have guests over now. We have…" she hesitated and looked at Matt again. "Some family business to tend to."

Fiona's eyes flickered over to Dr. Sandler. "Can it wait?"

Laura stepped closer to Fiona and hovered her mouth next to her daughter's ear. "No, it can't wait. We need to get this trail moving forward as soon as possible so we can put this call behind us."

"What if I don't want to advance this to a trial?" Fiona replied.

Laura let out a little laugh. "Fiona, just because you ran away doesn't mean that everything's suddenly going to get better. Chasing after a new guy isn't going to make a difference. He's going to find out about you and drop you like a sack of potatoes. He might even think you're crazy as well."

Fiona stiffened. "So you do think I'm crazy?" She hissed.

"No, I think you need to get your head on straight for once and stop running away like a scared little girl."

Fiona glared at her mother before turning around and walking over to Matt. "Sorry, mom says it's a family problem and it's really important."

"That's ok. I just hope everything's ok," Matt replied.

"Yeah, everything will be fine once we talk some things out," Fiona said with a forced smile. "I'll just see you tomorrow."

"Or you could see me later tonight," Matt replied. Fiona lifted her eyebrows. "Mack's working late and she has to tutor Drew and Max has this sleepover thing tonight. I don't like eating dinner by myself so I was wondering if you'd join me. Anywhere you want to go."

Fiona lifted an eyebrow. "Are you asking me out?"

Matt smirked. "Someone's jumping the gun. That'll be your downfall." He gave a little wave and turned to leave the condo. "Oh, I'll get you around seven, ok?"

"Ok," Fiona said with a bright smile. She waved and he nodded his head, leaving the condo completely.

"Fiona!" Laura snapped.

Fiona turned, the smile never leaving her face. "Yes Mom?"

"Get your head out of the clouds."

Thanks for the reviews everyone. Keep 'em comin', they make me update faster. =)

~Crystal