Brittle

Chapter 7

Jay walked in and kicked his boots off. "This new job is the best man." He had found a job at the local wood factory and dropped out of school so he could work full time. Liam wans't entirely happy with his friends decision but he knew it wasn't his life to live and decided to let Jay do what he wanted without any interference. "Want a beer?" Liam asked as he reached over to the mini fridge by his bed. "Does the dress ever make her look skinny?" They both laughed and Liam looked over at the clock. "I guess I should be heading to school." He said grabbing his shoes.

"I don't see how you can stand that place." Jay said stretching out in the lounge chair. "I can't but what else am I gonna do with my time." "Tell Mr.. R. I said get bent." Liam laughed a little and shook his head as he picked up his keys. "You tell him, I could go the rest of the year without seeing him and be just fine."

As he walked into the school Liam was greeted by the schools secretary. "Good morning Liam. You're needed in Mr.. Reeves office." Liam tried to think of a reason Mr.. Reeves would want to see him. He hadn't been in any trouble or to his knowledge done anything wrong. As he sat down on the sofa Mr.. Reeves looked up at him from his desk. "Liam, how've you been?" Liam shrugged still trying to figure out what was going on. "I've been okay I guess. What's going on?" Mr.. Reeves sighed pulling a paper from his desk.

"What do you know about the incident yesterday in the second floor bathroom?" The second floor was strictly off limits to students but Liam had heard rumors of students sneaking up there to get high during school. "Couldn't tell you Mr.. R. I was in all of my classes yesterday." He said feeling relieved it wasn't something he had done wrong. Mr.. Reeves tapped his pen on the desk for a moment before looking back up at Liam. "You know we don't allow students on the second floor correct?" Liam suddenly felt his relief fade. "Yah, everyone knows that Mr.. R. why?"

Mr.. Reeves pointed to the paper on his desk. "I have three students who say you were up there smoking marijuana during lunch yesterday." Liam felt his chest tighten. "That's bullshit, Mr.. R. I left campus for lunch yesterday." Mr.. Reeves sighed laying his pen down then leaned back in his chair as he placed his elbows on the arm rests interlacing his fingers in front of him. "That's the problem Liam. Three people say you were up there and none of our faculty was able to account for you." Liam kicked his backpack and grunted "This isn't fair! I..." Mr.. Reeves held up a hand stopping him. "It's out of my hands Liam. It's your word against theirs."

Liam stood up grabbing his bag. "I'm out, fuck this place and fuck you." Mr.. Reeves stood up. "Now look.." Liam cut him off "NO! You look! I'm done, quit, finished." Mr.. Reeves sighed shaking his head. "You don't have to leave Liam just take the suspension and come back when it's over." Liam let out a sarcastic "Heh." before turning around and grabbing the door. "Yah Liam just take the suspension for something you didn't do and can't prove your innocence for." He mocked opening the door. "Here's a thought. Take that suspension and shove it up your ass. I quit!"

Liam pulled the rest of his things from his locker and slammed it shut. How could he be in this situation right now? He hadn't done anything but work his hardest to stay out of trouble and now this. He wasn't going to put up with it. If they wanted him to snap they had gotten their wish. It wasn't his fault Mr.. Reeves wouldn't listen and he didn't feel bad about his decision to leave. He was an adult so it was his life and his choice. If he wanted to quit no one could stop him from doing so.

Liam threw his things in the car and started it up. Since he wasn't going to school anymore he would be able to work full time again so he decided to head to his work and talk to his boss about going back to full time. He had already told Liam that when ever he wanted the hours they would be there for him so Liam wasn't worried about him saying no. He just needed something to take his mind off things and he wasn't ready to break the news of him leaving school to Jay or his father yet.