Owen, Ed and Me

7: ED

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I meet Principal Carol for the second time in my life that day. The first was just after Dooms Day, when the police came in to question students. He's a nice enough man, in his forties with way too much grey hair. My mom says it's the job. After assuring my parents it would be fine, he leads me to our new school counsellor's office. Mr. Pike came to our school about a month ago, after our old counsellor went into retirement. Principal Carol swings open the door and I have to hide my amused smirk at the sight of Mr. Pike. He's a young man, probably mid-thirties, with an afro as big as his head and a spunky shirt on. I can tell he's the type of staff that gives Mr. Carol his grey hairs.

"Toni Tyron! Carson," He jumps up. I'm grateful his jeans are normal, at least. But overall he still gives the impression of one of the Jackson 5. My poor heart seizes when I realise that this guy is in no way authoritative enough to control Owen Knight. He shakes Principal Carol's hand and then mine with a big smile.

"Come, sit. I want to hear all about you. Carson, you can leave now."

Mr. Carol sighs. "Toni, this is Mr. Pike-"

"You can call me Ed." Mr. Pike interjects with a smile in my direction.

"Right. And this is Mike; he's our school security guard. You've probably never run into him." True. Only the bad students and the illegal smokers have to deal with Mike. Well, he has to deal with them. Mike, I thankfully take in, is at least one-ninety tall and definitely wider than Owen. I can't really tell if it's muscle or fat, but mass is mass and will protect me from Owen Knight.

"Well aren't you a big fella Mike!" Ed exclaims, eying the man up and down. "Well, come on in." He scowls: "Toni, why would you start a feud with someone twice your age and three times your size? Didn't you read any scary stories as a kid?" Ed comes in close to me to assess my face. I lean back slightly.

"Uhm, my 'feud' isn't with Mike. It's with-"

"It's with me," and there he is. I instantly shrink in closer to the principal and my heart contracts at a much faster pace. Is it possible for a heart to pump too much blood? Focus, Toni. Owen is leaning in the doorway, a black V-neck shirt putting emphasis on those arms. A tattoo peeks out at the collar as well as his left arm. When did he get that? His washed out blue jeans fit him perfectly, of course, but those black boots scream danger. I swallow hard as he looks over Mike. "Hi bud. Miss me?" He smirks. Mike doesn't even look at Owen, just stands with his hands in front of him the way bouncers do at clubs.

"Another big one!" Ed swallows now too.

Principal Carol makes to move after greeting and welcoming Owen back awkwardly. Ed stops him. "Hey, hey, hey - why you leavin', Carson?"

Principal Carol rolls his eyes and then leaves us, shutting the door. The blinds are already down, so no one can see inside.

"Well, sit down kids." Ed takes a seat behind his desk, nervously looking between Mike and Owen. I love how I'm not even the centre of attention anymore between all these "big fellas".

Owen has a steely, calculating expression on. It twists into a wicked smile when I look over at him. "After you," he gestures to the chair in front of me. Well, it's a good start at least. Aand nope – just as I'm about to take a seat, the chair slips away from behind me and I nearly fall into air. I frown but refrain from saying anything. Owen's expression is as innocent as it can be. "Watch your step there, chipmunk."