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“Thanks,” I whispered, melding myself into his side.

“No problem,” he replied gruffly.

Next to emerge was Sinead Biggs, followed swiftly by Gibsie’s mother, whose name I learned was Sadhbh.

“Oh, boys.” Claire’s mam sighed as she wrapped her arm around Hughie’s waist. “What are we going to do with you?”

“I didn’t hit anyone today,” Gibsie offered brightly. “I was a good boy.”

“‘Today’ being the appropriate word,” his mother replied with a sigh. Ruffling his blond hair, she added, “Come on, Bubba. Let’s get you home before more trouble finds you.”

“That’s the thing, Mam,” Gibsie replied as he bounded after her. “Trouble findsme, not the other way around.”

It wasn’t until we were on our own that Johnny spoke. “When did it happen?” His voice was low and thick with emotion. Shifting sideways to face me, he choked out, “What did she do to you, baby?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I mumbled, feeling bone-weary. I’d already explained it all to Mr. Twomey and Darren when it was our turn to speak to him in the office earlier.

“I need to know, Shan,” Johnny replied. “So please…justtellme.”

Exhaling a tired sigh, I explained what had happened in the bathroom with Bella and her friends, leaving nothing out. Too exhausted to censor myself, I told Johnny everything, right down to the vomiting.

“Why didn’t you call me?” he asked when I was finished. “Or come find me. Shan, I would have—”

“Because you had a French test and I didn’t want to get you in trouble,” I whispered, knees bopping restlessly. “I know the Academy and the scouts are watching your every move right now, and I was afraid you’d get mad and retaliate, so I called Joey because I thought he would come pick me up—” My voice cracked and a huge sob tore from my throat. “I just wanted a spin home. I didn’t think he woulddo that.”

The door of Mr. Twomey’s office opened again, and this time, Mr. Kavanagh stepped out with both Darren and Mr. Twomey in tow.

“Again, I am terribly sorry for what happened,” Mr. Twomey said, extending his hand to Darren. “Please, rest assured that Tommen adheres to a strict zero-tolerance for bullying policy and this matter will be dealt with immediately.” When Darren didn’t take his hand, Mr. Twomey’s gaze flicked to me and he grimaced. “Shannon, I saw the photographs and I am very sorry.”

“So, what are you doing about it?” Johnny asked in a tight tone of voice. “It’s all well and good saying you’re sorry, but that means nothing if you don’t take action. Is Bella being expelled? What about Kelly? She was involved, too. And Tash? She’s just as bad for walking away and not stopping them.”

“Johnny.” Mr. Twomey sighed wearily. “Stay out of this.”

“No!” Johnny erupted, springing to his feet. “Three of them cornered my girlfriend in the bathroom. Two of them held her down and assaulted her. They’re all sixth years. They’re over eighteen. Shannon’s a minor. They should all be done for assault.”

“Johnny,” I muttered, feeling another wave of shame sweep through me. “Just let it go.”

“No, Shan,” he shot back. “I’m not letting this go.” Glaring at our principal, he hissed, “I wantjustice.”

“It’s not good enough,” Darren shocked me by agreeing with Johnny. “My sister was brutally assaulted by two girls during school—one of whom, I learn, has been bullying her for months. My brother has been arrested for defending her when your teaching staff failed to do so. We’re going through hell as it stands, something you are well aware of, and all you can say is that you’resorry?” Darren shook his head. “Forgive me for saying this, Mr. Twomey, but why the hell are we paying thousands of euros in school fees if you can’t do something as basic as guarantee my sister’s safety at school?”

“Bella has been suspended for the next three days,” Mr. Twomey responded, cheeks flushed. “I will be bringing this incident to the attention of the board of management at our next meeting. We’ll decide on the appropriate action to take then.”

“Take action byexpellingher,” Johnny seethed, furious. “Screw a three-day suspension. That won’t do any good. She shouldn’t be let back inside this school after what she did to my girlfriend!”

“My hands are tied,” Mr. Twomey replied, looking to Johnny’s father for help.

“This is a mess, Seamus,” Johnny’s father stated calmly. “I sincerely hope the school has sufficient legal representation—and for the Wilkinson family’s sake, I suggest you let them know the same. I will, of course, be offering my services to the Lynch family and will be in touch when my client decides on the course of actionshewishes to take—be it against Miss Wilkinson alone, or the school for their negligence and failure to safeguard a minor in their care.”

Mr. Twomey’s mouth fell open in surprise, and I was pretty sure that his expression was a mirror image of mine and Darren’s faces as we gaped at Johnny’s father. “Excuse me?”

“Well, it’s very clear, Seamus,” Mr. Kavanagh replied in that sickly sweet voice only people with great power used. “You were so quick to call the Gardaí and press charges on the Lynch boy for his role in the incident that I find it only fair, and my personal responsibility, to make my services available to their family. However, given the circumstances surrounding both Lynch children, I feel I should advise you that you will have a challenge on your hands to find a judge the length and breadth of this country unsympathetic enough to their plight to convict Joey Lynch—and believe me, I know several of those judges.” Adjusting his tie, Mr. Kavanagh smiled. “Have a good day, sir.”

Johnny grinned at his father. Meanwhile, Darren and I both continued to gape in wonder.

“Let’s go,” Mr. Kavanagh instructed in the cool, calm, and collected tone of his as he turned to his son. “Your mother needs me to pick up pepper sauce for dinner, and I have to take a trip to the Garda station before I—”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Mr. Twomey choked out. “Mr. Kavanagh, can you step back into my office, please?”

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