Tantrum

Ch. 14 An Education

*** Spencer's POV ***

I didn't want to leave her alone but Tim obviously had something he needed advice on. She seemed okay on her own, drifting off to find something to drink. Tim immediately starts spilling about the girl he is sure likes him. He confirms that she is showing all the signs.

"And do you like her?" I ask.

"I...I think so." He admits, awkwardly. I grin at his discomfort, remembering the confusion of youth, realizing the opposite sex isn't really all that bad, and in fact, can be quite interesting if that's your thing.

"So how are you going to show her you're interested? You'll stand out from other guys your age if you do this right." I add.

"Um, I...I don't know. What should I do?" He asks with ignorant innocence making his eyes shine.

I give him advice. Don't play games. Be upfront, assertive but not dominant. Take no for an answer if she turns him down. I swear he'd be taking notes like a diligent student if he had pen and paper, the way he's hanging on my words.

"If it gets physical..." I start to lecture.

"Get your hands off me!" I hear Gwen exclaim as I turn to see some tall dude gripping her upper arm forcefully. I'm not the only one who has turned to gawk. I charge through the crowd like a bull to reach them, scattering everyone in my path.

I smack the stranger's hand off her and insert myself. "Do we have a problem here?"

"This...woman is not allowed to be here. She's barred because of her indecency." The man hisses, shaking out the hand that I hit. "And you're about to join her for assaulting me!"

"From what I and the dozens of witnesses around saw was you assaulting a woman who has done nothing wrong. She is permitted to be here like any other parent." I defend.

"Except she's not a parent! She's a stand-in and a lousy one at that! A drunk and a whore!" He proclaims.

Gasps ripple through the crowd at his brazen attack. I see red and before I know it, screams surround me. This jackass is sprawled out on his back, loafers in the air, and my fist aches with the contact it made to his jaw.

I feel a hand touch my shoulder. I turn, expecting it to be Gwen but it's the superintendent who I called in the favor with. I can tell by the twinkle in her eye that she's not mad in the least that I decked this asshat but she can't give me that validation right now in front of the crowd.

Instead, she very carefully states. "Miss O'Neal is permitted to be here as she has been cleared per the conditions of her trial. Any additional sanctions need to be cleared through the school board. Because of your involvement, Chad, you probably shouldn't be a part of that decision."

I smirk and search behind her for Gwen, but she isn't there. My eyes scan the crowd surrounding us to no avail. She must have run. Shit.

"Thanks, June." I mumble as I turn away.

"Good luck with that trainwreck." I hear Chad call after me.

Out of nowhere, something whizzes past me. I hear cries of surprise and the solid sound of a punch. I turn, concerned that it's one of the boys defending their aunt but it's Heath. He is standing over Chad and yelling at him as Tim and June try to hold him back.