Chapter Ninety-Six

John took a tissue from Principal Anderson, wiping the blood from his mustache and the hairs on his chin. He tried to clean himself up as best he could, ashamed of what he'd done. He picked up a pen, scribbling a few words down on a paper, in his best handwriting. "I'm sorry, Sir. I was only trying to protect my girlfriend. See, he touched her breasts while I was grabbing something from my locker and not paying attention to her. It reminded me of something in my past, and I lost control. I'd be happy to spend time in detention if you choose to give it to me. Just please don't tell Clarissa and Thomas what I did. I don't want them to be ashamed of me."

Principal Anderson sighed, looking up at John as he handed him a doctor's note. "You lost your voice?"

John nodded, writing a few more words down. "It blew out on me in the middle of my last song on Friday." He touched his throat, trying to convey exactly how bad it was. "Ryan told me not to speak for a couple weeks."

He shook his head, folding his hands on his desk. "John, we have to tell your guardians what you did. I believe that you weren't the instigator, but Toby's nose being broken makes us have to fill out a lot of paperwork and go through a lot of hoops to make sure everything works out… So, we will have to have Clarissa or Thomas come down today to help us work it all out."

John nodded, dropping his gaze as he thought about how disappointed Claire's parents would be. He took the paper back from the Principal, writing a couple more words. "Yes, Sir."

Clarissa stormed into the school, her heals clicking an angry rhythm on the tiles as she walked to the Principals office. "Johnathan Kurtis Bender." She looked down at her charge, noticing how he bowed his head even lower. "What is this I hear about you breaking someone's nose?"

John lifted his dark eyes to look at her, his lashes moist from the tears he was holding back. He rubbed his fingers around his wrist, turning the skin red from the friction.

"Johnathan, tell me what happened." She slapped a notebook into his lap, handing him a pen from her purse. "And if I need too, I will pull Claire and your cousin from their classes to learn exactly what happened."

John nodded, writing the story down with shaking hands. "I was grabbing my Spanish book from my locker, and Toby grabbed Claire's boobs while I wasn't looking. She screamed and slapped him away but he kept trying to make advances on her… so I hit him. He pushed me against the lockers and when I got out of his hold, I punched his nose. I didn't mean to break it. But I guess I was running on adrenaline and got carried away." He looked up at her before writing the last part. "I'm sorry Mom… I'll do anything to make it up to you."

Clarissa took the notes from him, reading over what he said had happened. "John… what the hell am I supposed to do with you?" She shook her head, looking at Principal Anderson who'd sat quietly through the whole exchange. "I am so sorry for this."

Principal Anderson nodded, looking at John's bowed head. "I've given him and Toby detention for this Saturday… but I think Johnathan needs to see a therapist." He held his hand up as John looked at him. "Or go to some anger management classes. With his history… this could not only become an issue that bullies would target… but it could get him expelled if the parents decide to raise a fuss over it."

Clarissa looked down at John, knowing that he'd been fighting her on therapy since she'd first brought it up to him a few days after his relapse at the prom. "John." She raised a brow as he looked up at her, knowing that he would fight her on this if he had his voice. "It's up to you. Therapy? Or anger management?" She handed him the notebook, happy to see that he'd written down he wanted to go to therapy. "I'll start looking into counselors this afternoon."

John bowed his head again, knowing that he'd be labeled as a nut if anyone found out.

Principal Anderson sighed, looking at John as shame washed over him like the waves of the ocean. "I'm afraid he's been suspended for the day as well."

Clarissa nodded, pinching John's ear as she pulled him to his feet. "Let's go home. I've got a lot of things for you to do."

John rolled his eyes, pretending that his hand was a bottle of alcohol and acting like he was chugging it.

"Johnathan Kurtis Bender." She warned, tapping him on the small of his back with the back of her hand. "That is enough."