The Boys and Me

49. Defending Them

"Scott, Alissa. This is a private meeting" Principal Butler said.

"We know Ma'am. We'd just like to know what's going on with our friends" Scott said honestly.

"Well not only are you two out of classes when you shouldn't be but that is also none of your business." She said and Scotty shrugged.

"Well we're here and they're here. Since you've known us five boys, when have we ever allowed ourselves to get caught doing something we shouldn't be?" He asked.

"Scott Sire, I won't ask you again. Get back to class, now" She said.

"Or better yet, when have you ever accused Todd of something without him yelling back? Sophomore year he ripped your door off it's hinges, last year he kicked a hole in your wall and threw your computer at your window. But now he's silent" Scott pointed out.

"These boys are guilty Scott, and no amount of defending them is going to change that" She said.

"Do you have evidence?" Scott asked simply and she coughed, somewhat awkwardly.

"I told you this is none of your business" She said.

"You don't have any, do you?" He said, smiling as he realised.

"I'll have you suspended" She said, threatening him and he laughed.

"Do what you want to me, it doesn't change the fact that you're showing prejudice. They cause a bit of trouble so we can accuse them for shit they didn't do? Great idea Butler." He said.

"Scott, I swear to God-" She began but he cut her off.

"Why don't you just tell the truth for once? That you don't have all the answers" He said.

"How else in the hell are all their grades changing if they're not hacking the system or sneaking in the answers and cheating?" She asked and he laughed, turning to me. Scott walked over and grabbed my arm, pulling me into the middle of it all.

"Because we've been studying. Did you ever think of that Butler? Alissa's been tutoring us. She's the reason their grades are improving. But you had to blame us for breaking the rules first, right?" He asked, letting me go and walking out of the room.

Principal Butler looked at me before finally turning to the others.

"So you weren't lying to protect yourselves?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"No, we told you we'd studied" Todd said, not able to resist anymore.

"You didn't mention Alissa was your tutor" She said.

"With all due respect, we didn't want to drag her into this. Surely you know that she's got enough going on" Heath said. He knew she knew about my situation because his mom had ben the one to ask us for permission to tell her.

"I was aware of the issues within her family life, yes" Butler confirmed.

"And surely you know this means you owe us" Zane said and she sighed with a single nod.

"You're right, I'm-" She began but Zane cut her off with a laugh I was all too familiar with.

"You don't owe us an apology, you owe us a favour. We sweep this under the rug and Scott and Alissa don't get in trouble for breaking in here." Zane said, his smile dropping.

Principal Butler said nothing. She wanted to argue this, we could see it. They had been honest and had only repaid that with deception, no, with blackmail. She could see nothing had actually changed among them and that made her want to say no to it all.