Before You Go | A Prequel

4.2 | Cold Blooded

"I HAVE TO SAY, I'M DISAPPOINTED."

"Of course," Nico adjusted his glasses as he nodded, "I believe that would make two of us." He cut his eyes at his brother, slouched in the seat next to him. Bruised knuckles propped the teen's disinterested head up, and he barely glanced at Nico before acknowledging him with some unaffected shrug.

"—Mr. Floyd," the principal began again, his voice gravely and strained, like he had sandpaper in his throat,"Or uh... Nick-less, is it?"

"Oh. No, that's close," Nico chuckled, "It's uh... Nicolai, actually? With an I?"

"Right. Sorry," the principal swallowed hard and coughed on some hack of saliva that made Nico cringe. He watched as the man gathered up the red-marked papers arranged along the desk and straightened them into a stack, "Well now, unfortunately, Mr. uh... Nigguh-lie—,"

"Oo–," he hissed as he cringed. "Actually, sir? You can just call me Mr. Floyd. I would much prefer that. Or Nico? Just Nico is fine too."

Principal Kilmartin eyed him suspiciously. Stubby fingers removed his glasses from his face, and he pointed the spectacles at Caspar as tiny eyes squinted as if to size Nico up.

"Look here, alright? You see your brother, here? Kid is on his third suspension. That's one more infraction, and then he's got to face the panel at the state board of education, and nine times out of ten, I can guarantee you that  almost always expulsion. And after that, well. The only other option is going private. Or Sunnyside."

Nico shifted uncomfortably, rolling his shoulders back as he nodded. "Right. Sunnyside. That's the um—,"

"That's the alternative school," the principal cut him off, "It's out in Garrett County, 'bout close to the state line. There's no state sanctioned transportation that'll take you straight to it, not like with the buses. It's on the families to arrange reliable day-to-day transportation,"

The principal coughed to clear his throat once more, his chair sliding back as he went to pull a drawer out from his desk. Nico took the opportunity to send a glare of admonishment to his brother, who shrunk only slightly.

"Here you go," Kilmartin coughed again, in time with the drawer as it slammed shut, and he slid a small pamphlet across the desk.  The prison-like building pictured on the front proved to be a hideous juxtaposition to both its name and its slogan. 'Sunnyside Alternative School: Molding a finer mind for the wayward child. '  The words sent a shiver down Nico's spine as he grimaced, but he recovered quickly, maintaining a tight smile as he thrust the pamphlet against Caspar's chest.

"Don't worry, Mr. Kilmartin. I'm sure my brother's behavior will improve, and there won't be a need for any um... alternative solutions. Right, Cas?" He gritted his teeth as Caspar managed a shrug and a nod which seemed less than convincing.

The principal cleared his throat once more, swollen fingers fixing his glasses back on his face, "Excuse me, but I'd like to insist upon a verbal answer, yes? You would agree that's fair, wouldn't you?"

"Oh. Well. I mean...," Nico trailed off as he glanced at his brother. Childish eyes betrayed everything else about the kid's appearance. Acne scars, and the dark stubble which prickled at the jaw he'd seemed to grow into overnight. And yet, the cautious green eyes remained the same as they always had, sending a silent SOS which his brother couldn't yet bring himself to decline.

"Principal Kilmartin," Nico pulled a smile as he straightened up, channeling the same schmoozing energy which had saved his own ass time and time again, "Excuse me, but when was the last time you went to a doctor?"