Page 113 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“Those men,” I correct her. “And yes, they’re worth it.”

My face is burning, but at least I don’t cry. That might happen when I recover the ability to feel the full blast of my emotions. I stride down the corridor, wanting—no,needing—to get out of here before anyone can see me. I have the sense the walls are closing in, and my air is running out.

I’m heaving when I finally walk out of the school building and bump into Louis and his mother.

“Miss Summers! Did you come to get me?” Louis asks with a big smile.

Sensing I’m seconds away from bawling, I bite the inside of my cheek. I can’t let Louis see his teacher break down in front of him.

“No, I’m go—” The sound of tires screeching pulls my attention to the street.

A blue sedan just stopped in front of the school, and a man wearing a wrinkled suit and stained shirt gets out of it.

“Anne, you stupid bitch!”

Louis’s mother gasps, then steps in front of her son. “Harold, what are you doing here?”

“Did you think you could get a judge to keep me away from my son?”

“You’re not allowed to come near us. I’m calling the cops.” Anne takes out her phone, but her ex-husband knocks the device from her hand, sending it flying. It cracks when it hits the ground.

“Dad! Stop, please,” Louis begs.

My heart is beating so fast, it hurts my ribcage. “Sir, you need to leave now.”

“I will, but I’m taking my son with me.” He takes a step toward Louis, but Anne tries to block him.

“You’re not taking him.”

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” The school’s security guard finally decides to show up.

Harold takes a gun from inside his jacket and shoots the guard. He collapses and doesn’t get up.Oh my God!We all scream, but that doesn’t stop the deranged man. I fear he’s going to shoot Anne next.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go!” He makes a grab for Louis.

Louis jumps back and clutches my side. “No! Leave me alone.”

Harold’s face twists in anger, and he points the gun at me. “Come with me, boy, or I’ll shoot your teacher.”

Anne grabs Harold’s arm and tries to pry the gun from his hand. I watch them struggle for a second before I snap out of my paralysis and urge Louis to run into the school.

“I’m not leaving my mom!”

I turn and see the barrel of the gun pointing in our direction. I jump in front of Louis, prepared to carry him inside with me, when a loud pop goes off, followed by a burning pain in my shoulder. The impact of the bullet sends Louis and me to the ground. Even though I’m wounded, I try to cover him with my body. We’re all too young to die, but if someone has to go, it’s better if it’s me.

CHAPTER 47

LACHLAN

We head over to the practice rink first thing in the morning, and it’s like the showdown last Friday in the locker room never happened. That was all thanks to the meeting we had with Coach Haagen and Malcolm. We sat in Coach’s office for an hour, getting scolded. It helped that Malcolm took all the blame for the incident, as he should. We still don’t know what’s going on with him and his evil wife, but it can’t be good.

I will never be able to trust the guy again, regardless of what happens next. Going through another scandal was fucking hell. Knowing that strangers have access to a moment that was private and beautiful and turned into something vile makes me sick. The media has been unkind to all of us, not only June, although she’s had it worse.

Part of Doug’s official plan was for us to issue statements to the press apologizing for the incident. It kills me thatwehave to apologize for something that has been done to us. But accepting the blame might help get the media to back off from June. The statements will be released today. The unofficial plan was set in motion last Saturday when certain online publications received juicy gossip about Wendy. I didn’t care to know what thoserumors were. My only concern was to protect June from unjust defamation of character.

I’m near the bench, splashing water on my face, when Banksy skates over. “How’s June?”

“She’s hanging in there. She’s a tough girl.”

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