Troubled

19

chapter nineteen
percy

My heart nearly stopped in that moment.

In my dorm stood Mr.D, dressed in an aggressively purple suit (which as fairly disheveled), his arms crossed angrily.

Standing besides him, practically shaking, was Grover, his eyes wide. And behind Grover was....Luke. I was dead.

Luke glared at me with his one good eye (his other was practically swollen shut and looked worst than mine.) He must've visited the school nurse, if there was one, as his hand was wrapped in a pristine white cast.

Annabeth looked from me to Mr.D and then at Grover and Luke, her smile slowly disappearing.

"Percy, I think we must have a little chat in my office. Follow me and Leon Castella," he said bitterly.

Luke raised his non injured hand. "Uh, sir, it's Luke. Luke Castellan, actually—"

"That's what I said, Landon Castle, now follow me. George Overwood and Annabel Cheese can stay here," he said, glaring at all of us.

Annabeth peered at me as I reluctantly walked out, her eyes full of disappointment.

The walk was short and when we arrived at his office, Mr.D instantly crashed into his chair and groaned.

"Ugh, children, why must you misbehave?" he said. "Now I have to do paperwork. Can I just get a confession out of Mr.Johnson and call this done?"

I shook my head, deciding to ignore him calling me the wrong name as correcting him would just take up too much time. "No, uh, I don't think I'm the guilty one here."

Mr.D squinted at us and shrugged. "He's more injured. You did injure him, correct, Johansson?"

"Uh, yes," I replied. "But he—"

"Okay, then, there's my confession and goodbye," he said.

"No! He hit me first!" I sputtered. Luke and Mr.D rolled their eyes.

"Sure, and I love teenagers. Larry, you can go now," he said.

"It's Luke—"

"That's what I said, Lawerence."

Luke sighed and reluctantly left, glaring at me one more time before leaving me and Mr.D alone.

"Look, he hit me first. How do explain my black eye?" I asked.

Mr.D shrugged. "Look, kid, I don't know. But all I do know is that Luis Christmas's family does a lot for this school, and I also know you have a history. You were sent here for excessive fighting, at least that's what your stepdad said."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "He's not my stepdad anymore."

That part was true. My mom, convinced by me, was in the midst of a divorce with Smelly Gabe, but who knew how long that would take.

"Whatever. All I'm saying is, kid, that you have a past. I'm not gonna give you detention or anything. I really don't care about serving justice or whatever, but I am going to give you a warning," he said as he straightened in his chair. "Linus Charleston is not a kid to mess with. His whole family is wildly rich beyond measure. I don't care if you didn't start it, don't punch the kid. You hear it, Pedro Jehovah?"

"Yeah, whatever," I said as I stood up from my chair. "I don't need your warnings. I'm fine for now."

He shrugged as he focused on his nails. "Fine by me. Less time talking with whiny, ungrateful children."

I rolled my eyes as I left his office. Then I saw her. Annabeth was waiting for me outside. And for some reason, I was more scared of her than Mr.D.