His favourite Toy

Part 24: School Hours

"Yes it seemed that..." the principle spoke to me calmly, her hands clasped together on the desk as she leaned forward, towards me who kept a blank, but angry expression at her at all times, which I knew intimidated her. With my legs crossed, I turned over to see Vincent staring down at the floor with a busted lip, cut cheek and developing black eye. As he was fiddling with his fingers, I noticed the pink and purple markings on his knuckles - as did I after Kenny.
"Vincent was having trouble with a group of boys" she went on to say, catching my attention again.

"You do see his face right?" I angrily spoke to her, pointing up at his face. She glanced over at Vincent for a minute, her mouth slightly opened as she thought of what to say.
"This sounds like it was an ongoing thing. Bullying!" I spoke louder, causing Vincent to let out a groan at me as he raised his head up at the ceiling.

"I can assure you that-" the principle went on to say, however I spoke over.

"I want those boys punished, not Vincent" I pointed a finger at her, ignoring Mia giving the woman in front of me bunny ears, often snorting to herself. Then, Mia took steps around the room with her hands behind her back.

"and they will! But Vincent also laid a hand on those boys. Their parents will be-"

"So you're saying to no to self defence?" I raised an eyebrow, keeping my eyes on her.

"Damn, that's an ugly class photo" Mia cried beside me, covering the sight of the framed photo on the wall from her by covering her eyes with her hands, attempting to get a reaction out of me.

"Of course not! Im just simply explaining that we don't do exceptions" the principle gasped out, her eyes wide up at me in an attempt to not offend me.

"This wouldn't of happened If you guys did proper safeguarding" I reprimanded her, quickly standing from my seat and dragging Vincent to his feet by pinching his sleeve. Even though he pulled an unamused face up at me, he has now got to listen to my ear ache.
"Vincent will have no punishment, but the boys will" I turned to direct it to the principle again, who stayed silent in her seat.
"I'm glad we got to an agreement" I flashed her a Plastic smile before swinging open the door, bringing Vincent out with me. As we were walking side by side, he kept his hands in his pockets as he went to put in his earphones under his beanie, I snatched off his hat and swooped his earphones from his hand.

"The fuck?" He scoffed to me, pulling a disgusted face up at me.

"Why didn't you tell me you were getting picked on?" I spoke through my teeth at him, hitting him with his beanie on the head - not viciously of course.

"I didn't think you'd need the pressure" he shrugged his shoulders, beginning to continue on walking - leaving me stood still absolutely gob-smacked. As I stood there processing his words, I knew why he'd think that but I never ever taught him to hide things like that from me. Once I realised the distance between Vincent and I were, I jogged after him.

"Look at your face" i sternly spoke to him, hand gesturing at the state of him.
"Don't hide things like that from me" I then made my tone softer at him, my eyebrows arched up. He continued on walking, ignoring my words so I grabbed him by his sleeve again, assuring he'd stay in place. He however stared through me as if I was some clown.
"I mean it, Vincent. Of course, things are hard right now but don't keep things from me" I sighed, analysing his black eye developing by the minute.
"...but you did beat their asses right?" I smirked, slanting my head at him attempting to get a different emotion from disgust or carelessness. However, he scoffed up at me, waving his hands to himself.

"Jesus Grace, I mean..." he stopped himself midway, chewing his bottom lip as he thought of what to say next.
"What're you keeping from me" he raised a hand up at me before allowing it to drop from his side.