Page 85 of Landon & Shay: Part One

We were wrestling again in the principal’s office, and by wrestling, I meant I had him pinned down and my fists were slamming repeatedly into his face.

“Landon! What in the world?!” Principal Keefe hollered, coming back into his office with widened eyes. He hurried to pull me off Reggie, and Reggie scrambled to stand up straight.

“See, Principal Keefe? He attacked me again,” Reggie lied, crying like a little bitch. “I didn’t have anything to do with him. It’s clear he has anger issues and is just mad that I’m dating his ex-girlfriend. I’m not one to fight, ever. This isn’t me. I have too much respect for you and your student body to do such a thing.”

I swore, if Reggie could have stuck his head up Keefe’s ass any more, he have been eating his shit.

Principal Keefe was buying it, too. Maybe because he was so used to me being the one to stir up shit. Maybe because he didn’t have a history with the likes of Reggie, but he had a long one with the likes of me. He knew I was trouble, that was a fact. What he didn’t know was Kentucky was even worse than me.

“Just keep your hands to yourselves, boys,” Principal Keefe instructed sternly, but his stare fell solely on me. “I am going to get another ice pack for you, Reggie. Landon?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t move.”

Roger that.

Reggie’s parents arrived with concerned Southern voices, worried that their “honey bear” had been in a fight.

“It’s not like him at all!” his mother announced, clearly completely unaware of who her child was. “Never in his life would my Reggie throw a punch. He’s a good boy. He must have been provoked,” she said, eyeing me up and down.

I didn’t say a word to her or give her any dirty looks. Soon enough she’d find out about the boy she was raising. No one could keep their shadows hidden forever, not even the Southern Charmer.

“He had a party at your house this weekend,” I muttered to his parents as they were walking out of the office. “Check your liquor cabinets.”

Reggie’s eyes widened with shock that I’d ratted him out. Yeah, it was a low blow and completely uncalled for, but what could I say? I was feeling extra petty that day because he’d had the nerve to put his hands on my friend.

They kept me in the principal’s office until my dad could get there. Mom was still over in Europe living her best life. She’d been leaving me daily voice messages, but I ever didn’t call her back. I figured she knew she deserved the silent treatment.

I did, however, text her letting her know I was alive. I didn’t want her to worry too much, even though she pissed me off.

Dad was going to be so mad at me. I knew he’d already be annoyed that he had to drive back into town from Chicago during a workday to deal with my dramatics, and when he walked in, I saw the irritation all over his face. My father never said much with his words but he said everything with his jagged facial expressions.

Principal Keefe explained that it was unclear how the fight had begun, saying all he knew was that it had ended with teachers getting involved. “Now, normally, we’d have to look at a short suspension, but since Landon is the lead in the school play that’s premiering soon…” Principal Keefe’s words trailed off, and he shifted some papers around. Our school was known for two things: basketball and the arts. The idea of the theater department losing their dear Romeo for a few days was a bit too much for Principal Keefe’s heart. “Also, we think him having the afterschool activity has been good for him. Even though he had this slipup, we are hoping it is a one-time offense. He and Reggie have also been advised to keep their distance from each other.”

No problem there on my end.

Dad looked surprised to hear about me being in the show. I’d never shown any interest in the performing arts, and well, we didn’t ever talk about it. His brow knitted, and he apologized on my behalf for me being completely reckless.

We walked out of the office, and Dad grumbled to himself.

I slung my backpack onto my shoulder and shrugged slightly. “I’m sorry they had to call you out here. It wasn’t even that serious.”

“You bashed a person’s face in, Landon. That’s serious.”

“Yeah, but—”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “I can’t do this right now. I can’t handle your antics. And what is this about a school play?”

“I just…” I took a deep breath and gripped my backpack strap. “I really like it, Dad, this theater thing. I’ve been thinking about going to school for acting in the fall.”

He huffed and shook his head. “Yeah, all right, Landon.”

“I’m serious, Dad. It’s something I’m really interested in, and UOC has a pretty good theater department and—”

He cut me off. “I forbid you.”

“What?”

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