Page 55 of These Family Ties

Thicker Than Blood

Winter Paige

Writing as W.P. Woodbine

Prologue

In the chaos, we collided, and somehow, hidden amongst down-pouring ignominy, our sins were simply overlooked in a quickly rising sea of opprobrium. We thought ourselves lucky. Got comfortable. Careless. We both knew what could happen if we were caught. What would happen when we were caught. But lying there with him, a desperate tangled mess of passion, sin, and secrets, I believed in his whispered assurances. And when the walls around us finally crumbled, light seeping in and illuminating our illicit affair for the world to see, I still clung to his words.

“You’re safe. I love you. I’m sorry.”

We were naïve to think this would last. Life is never that kind to the broken… and our story is no different.

Chapter One

“So, you thought the proper response to this situation was violence, Calder?” The principal arches a single brow, tilts his head, and looks at my cousin over the rim of the glasses perched precariously at the end of his nose. I wonder how long the man practiced this look in the mirror before he made it a part of his principal repertoire – his bag of tricks looks like more of a change purse. He may scare the other students, but he’s ill-prepared for my Calder.

“The proper response to someone sexually assaulting Alara in the lunch line? Fuck yeah, I did,” he spits. I reach for his armrest and place my hand over his. I give him three quick soft squeezes, saying what I can’t out loud.

We’re safe. I love you. I’m sorry.

“Actually, I was just-”

“Slander and lies!” Dr. Murphy cuts Aaron off, jumping to his feet, and accusing in a voice much louder than the situation calls for. It’s a broom closet of an office, for fuck's sake. “Now listen here, boy. You shouldn’t be throwing around words you obviously don’t understand. Yes, admittedly, Aaron should have found a better way to show his interest, but boys will be boys. It was a compliment, really. If you weren’t being so sensitive about it, you could see that.”

“Is that how you taught him to compliment women, Doctor?” Calder sneers. “Now, is it just your office policy to shake tits instead of hands, or does that extend to your patients too? You’ve raised a fine young man who knows he can get away with anything. Him and his friends are total fucking cunt bubbles and a threat to every female they see. I bet you love having your very own mindless mob of pricks, don’t you? You should be–”

“If you all would just listen for a second –” Aaron tries to speak, but he’s cut short again. Am I the only one here who can hear him? I mean I don’t feel bad for him right now, but I would kinda like to know the actual reason he introduced himself to my right tit in the lunch line today.

“Enough!” Principal Willemsen shouts, slamming his fist against his desk. Taking a calming breath, he continues looking back at Aaron and his father. “Aaron, go get your things, and take the rest of the day. You’re excused.”

“You’re suspending him, Richard?” his father asks, taken aback.

“No, Kyle. I’m giving him the afternoon off while I clean up this… mess.” He gestures to us. Figures. “I need all of them to level out before mingling with the other students, so none of them are going back to class today. And when you get back on those idiot boxes this evening, tell your friends the same thing. It’s over. If I see this fight plastered all over social media, all of you will be punished.”

Aaron and his father turn to leave the room, but right as the door opens, Aaron looks back and nods in our direction, still holding an icepack to his face. “And those two? What are you going to do with her? His temper is –”

“You know I can’t share that with you.” Principal Willemsen sighs, waving him off. Seems they listen to him less than they do me. Damn. “But I promise their actions will not go without punishment.” I take that back. Fucker.

“We’ll still be seeing you and Hannah at dinner tonight?” Aaron’s father winks.

“Of course.” He grins. “We’ve been looking forward to it all week. Now get on out of here, and take your son to cool down. Tomorrow is a new day for Aaron. A chance to do better.”

“Thanks, Richard.” Aaron’s father nods and pushes his son out of the small office, closing the door behind him. He’s a person too, dick.

The room is silent, uncomfortable, and I shift in my seat, shrinking under the weight of it.

“Calder, this is your third offense this year, and we’re only ninety days in. That means –” He breaks the silence and turns in his chair, retrieves a large folder, and hums while thumbing through the pages.

“I’m free to go home early. New days and brighter tomorrows. Inspire young minds and souls.” Calder stands and heaves my backpack onto his shoulder. “Lesson learned, sir. Wonderful talk.”

“Sit back down, son.”

“Fuck.” I exhale, rhythmically tapping my right index finger against my left collarbone.

“Indeed.” Calder drops back into the chair beside me and nods, adding, “Stop doing that. You’ll bruise again.”

“I was saying…” He places the folder on his desk and points to a piece of paper. “I know your home life isn’t…” He hesitates. I’m sure trying to find the most politically correct way of saying we’re messed up in a seriously permanent way. “– ideal. You’ve lacked the guidance and stability needed to learn proper emotional regulation. For that, I’m sorry. Truly. But you’re both technically adults now. It’s up to you to overcome whatever this is. You can’t just lash out and hit every problem that comes your way.”

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