Page 29 of Unraveled

She looked back at Mr. Hiller, and he cleared his throat. “Right, so, this isn’t something we can ignore. Drugs of any kind are under a zero-tolerance policy here at school. And what happened with Izzy…” He shook his head. “I can’t say what Miss Donovan will do outside of school, but here, assault falls under another zero-tolerance situation. If it hadjustbeen the assault, we could have probably gotten away with In School Suspension, but the magnitude of the situation is just too great. I don’t see any other choice than to expel Zane.”

“What?!” He jerked forward and slammed his hands down onto the table.

“Absolutely not,” his dad said.

His mom just looked sick. “We’retwo weeksaway from graduation.”

“I’m sorry. That’s my decision, and I think the school board would back me one hundred percent on this.”

Evelyn shot her husband and son a look like she was daring them to speak before she was through. “Mr. Hiller, please. Isn’t there something we can do? Anything? Can’t we at least work it out so Zane can graduate?”

“No.” Mom jumped in. “I donotwant this boy anywherenearmy daughter again. Mr. Hiller, if you allow him to attend school here even another day after what he did, you will have so many complaints filed against you that you can bet on not working here next year.”

I gaped at her threat while Mr. Hiller held up his hands. “Whoa, Mrs. Donovan. There’s no need to get so upset. I have no intention of letting Zane come back to school.”

“That’s not a wise decision,” Brian warned. “I’m sure there are plenty of people in this community that wouldnotbe happy to hear that the man in charge of our youth’s education is refusing to let someone finish their last fewdaysof school.”

“Oh, take your law degree and shove it,” Mom spat, and Uncle Blake had to hide his smile behind his hand. “Your son wouldn’t be denied his education if he could keep his temper in check.”

“Yes, because you’ve always been an expert on that, haven’t you, Bridgette? If your daughter has a temper anything like yours, I’m not surprised if my son couldn’t control his own around her.”

Mom leaned over the table to deliver her most intense glower yet. “Your son better stay far away from Isabel, Brian. She’s been through more than enough, and she doesn’t need any more trouble fromhim. Mr. Hiller’s wise not to let Zane back in school. I’m sure the restraining order I’m going to make sure my daughter gets would cause a problem here on campus. And don’t get me started on the assault charges I’ll make sure she brings against him.”

Brian jumped up from his seat, shrugging off his wife, and I jumped when his hands smacked down hard against the table. Uncle Blake stood, alert and ready to step in.

“Throw all the charges our way that you want. I’ll find a way around them. My sonwillgraduate and go off to college. And as for that restraining order? Zane having to avoid a loose, teenage mother that likes to pin all of her own problems on someone else would be a fucking perk.”

I winced. That wasn’t how it was at all.

“Brian!” Evelyn exclaimed, horrified.

“You son of a–” Mom started.

“Enough!” Mr. Hiller yelled above them. “Mr. Hernandez, I’ve been plenty tolerant, but that last remark was over the line. You need to leave.”

“I have every right to be in here.”

Mr. Hiller stood, crossed his arms over his belly, and set his jaw. “You need to leave.”

Furious, Brian held the stare at first but then slowly stepped back. He gripped Zane’s shoulder as he passed before stepping out.

“I’m going to make sure that goes smoothly.” Uncle Blake followed him from the room.

“I’m so sorry, Bridgette,” Evelyn said once the two were gone. “That was an awful thing for him to say.”

Mom gave her a tiny, sympathetic smile through her frustration. “You know as well as I do that you can’t control what he says.”

Evelyn sighed. “Mr. Hiller, please. Isn’t there something we can do here? As much as I hate it, I completely understand the restraining order.” She looked at me, then Mom. “But I just can’t stand the idea that the last thirteen years of my son’s education are about to go down the drain along with his future. Just a couple of weeks away from graduation on top of it. He has scholarships for next year. This is hisfutureon the line.”

I was watching Zane and how his smug, confident air had diminished now that his dad had left the room and he had to deal with the reality of his consequences shoved in front of him.

“Evelyn, I don’t want to ruin anyone’s future. I just want to make sure that my daughter is safe. Please, don’t take this the wrong way, but Zane needs help.”

He scowled, his familiar anger flaring to the surface, and Mom fixed him with a stern glare. “Like it or not. Believe it or not. You do.”

“So, allow him to get it.Please.” Evelyn looked around the room, her gaze pleading. “Expelling him and placing assault charges on him won’t make things better. I’ve seen too many cases in court where things go wrong. Where kids and people just get worse.”

“I don’t want to have to expel him, Mrs. Hernandez. But there’s just too much against him for me to allow him back here at school.” Mr. Hiller shook his head sadly, and Evelyn’s shoulders visibly sank.

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