The Genius Freak and The Bad Boy

Chapter 4

"Ms. Kennedy? Please come to the principal's office immediately." I gulped and stood up as the announcement rang through the building. People were whispering as I got my hallway pass from the teacher and exited the classroom.

My hands were trembling and I didn't know what to think. Was I in trouble?

"Of course you are! You just got into a brawl." My conscience pointed out.

Well, technically Tia got into a brawl on my behalf and I was, technically speaking, the victim. So doesn't that kind of make it 'self-defense'?

I made my way to the office and kept my head down to avoid the stares I was receiving from everyone else that heard the announcement made through the intercom. I tried to block out the hushed whispers that followed me as I walked past people.

I arrived in the office not long after and knocked before entering.

"Ms. Kennedy? Your brother is on the phone." I gulped nervously.

"Of course he was." My conscience mumbled, attempting to be sarcastic but too scared to even pull it off.

My parents might be busy so they don't really hear from the school about these kind of situations, which was why my brother has been somewhat my guardian for most of my life. He's been looking after me since we were kids. He used to beat up any guy who did as much as lay a finger on me when he was still in school.

I took the phone from the secretary and tried to stall time as I breathed softly to calm my nerves before slowly bringing the receiver to my ear.

"Hello?" I asked timidly into the phone and was rewarded with questions thrown at me in five seconds flat by a frantic over-protective older brother.

"Luce? The school called. What happened? Are you alright? Did he hurt you? What's his name?" He said through the line in a rush and I quickly answered his questions hurriedly before he panics even more. "I'm fine, Drake. The guy left no bruises and I found out that he was a sophomore. I-" I tried to continue but got choked up between sobs.

"Shh, it's alright, little sis. I'm here, just take it slow. Alright, tell me what happened. What do you know?" he coaxed me, ceasing his question cannonballs to calm me down. I breathed slowly before I started talking and telling him what I found out after the fight.

"Okay, so there's this guy who just came back from Cali. His name is Ryder Park and he turns out to be this popular guy in school who caught Gina's attention, you remember her, right? The school queen bee. It was raining yesterday and you know mom wouldn't buy me a car so he saw me stuck at the school and offered me a ride home," I was cut off with a warning tone from brother dearest, "Lucy.. What did I tell you about hitching rides?"

I got defensive instantly, "I know, but it was raining! Do you really not care about my health? What if I end up catching a cold?" I argued.

"You know I do, it's just that you're a girl and you know there are hormonal teenagers in Wyns High. Catching a cold is better than the things they might try on you. At least you'll be able to get better from a cold." He debated and I knew he was just looking out for me but I couldn't help but be sarcastic.

"You don't say," I muttered, trailing off. "Anyway, Ryder dropped me home and the next day, he saw me walking to the bus stop when it was still raining, and he asked me to hop in-"

"Lucy.." And there he goes again.

"I didn't have a choice, alright. He stopped in the middle of the road and caused traffic, waiting for me to get in the damn car. Now let me finish dammit!" He muttered a quiet 'fine' and let me finish the story.