Brother Sharpens Brother

8. Something

8.Something

Lloyd: 

    Lloyd sniffled, wiping his nose with his hand and rolling his eyes exasperatedly at the blood running in droplets between his fingers. What a perfect highlight to the afternoon. Today's events had distracted him so much that he was out of focus patrolling the streets tonight. Unwrapping one of his gloves, Lloyd sat down tiredly on the dormer of one of the many terracotta roofs in Jamanaki village pinching the bridge of his nose and holding the fabric to it. Looking out at the quiet scenery, he grew increasingly irritated at his luck lately. 

    He knew better than to play vigilante with a bad temper, but he couldn't stand to be at school any longer tonight. He couldn't be complacent with his mother's whims anymore. He was sick of playing along with her neglectfulness as if she was just busy. He wasn't a child anymore and he was all the wiser about her tendencies than he used to be. 

If she didn't want a kid she should just be honest.

    He sighs and leans back onto the tiles, looking at the stars as he recalls the meeting with the principal earlier that afternoon. He knew his mom was coming up to discuss this upcoming fall semester but he was in no way prepared to hear the plans she had for him this fall. It wasn't fair. Of course, none of his mothers decisions ever were to him. This time however, he had lost his last bit of faith in her he had for fairness. 

    He had barely walked into the room before he could hear his mom's voice begging the principal to keep him enrolled for the rest of summer school, but the principal refused, saying that Lloyd was a fulfillment to their program and no longer needed the extra guidance. Lloyd paused, waiting to hear his mom's response to the principal's praise of him, but his mother only groaned in frustration. "Well isn't there something you can do? I have nowhere else to leave him!" Misako pleaded. 

    The principal shook his head, firm in his decision. "I'm afraid we can't accommodate you Mrs. Garmadon. This school was created to help guide troubled boys to see right from wrong and regulate themselves in a healthy way. Lloyd has successfully taken up all of his redirection and it would only stifle the boy to continue with a program he did not need." Lloyd listened quietly from the other side of the door, his hand ready on the doorknob but still curious about what the two were going to say. He swallowed to calm himself a second when his mother raised her voice in irritation. "Look mister! I don't care what kind of kid my son is! He needs to have a roof over his head for the next semester! And after all the money I've paid to this lousy establishment-!"

    Lloyd sighed, deciding it better to open the door and get it over with. His mother stopped mid-rant and grew a sweet smile at the sight of him. "Lloyd! How has my baby been doing? I've missed you so much! It's been ages!" Lloyd tried to hide his disdain as his mother wrapped her arms around him in a hug and he tiredly patted her back. "Hey Mom." He forced a smile as she released him. "It's definitely been a while. You haven't changed a bit." He chuckled, taking the second seat in front of the principal's desk leisurely hoping to be over with the meeting as soon as possible. 

    Misako smiled, oblivious to Lloyd's underhanded comment and pinched the blond's cheek with a giggle. "You're right, but look at you boy! You've grown so tall! What are you, thirteen now?" His mother doted. Lloyd and the principal shared a silent look with each other and the principal sighed in exasperation before clearing his throat and addressing the woman. "Mrs. Garmadon, please have a seat. Thank you for joining us Lloyd." As his mother sat down beside him, Lloyd couldn't help but feel angry at the woman, instead, keeping his attention on the principal as he began to speak. The man gathered his thoughts, taking his glasses off and setting them neatly on the table before crossing his arms over the top of the desk, smudging a bit of fresh ink onto his elbow.