“I suggest you find my daughter.” Madeline’s mom was on the smaller side, a Tinker Bell look-alike except with longer hair, but even I could feel her anger from across the room.
We all turned when the office door opened again, and in walked Madeline.
It felt like I’d been shot in the chest. Her mascara was skewed, no sign of life in her eyes at all.
Her mom choked on a cry as she wrapped her arms around her slender torso. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” She kept repeating herself, over and over again, getting more and more worked up, and everyone in the room was uncomfortable. Headmaster Walton cleared his throat, but Madeline’s mom didn’t even acknowledge it. She pulled back, holding onto Madeline’s tear-streaked face.
Look at me, babe. I needed Madeline to look at me.
Her mom’s voice shook. “You do not have to go into that office, Madeline. We can leave right now.”
Headmaster Walton cleared his throat again, this time louder. My father stood in front of Madeline and her mom, almost blocking them from him. I wasn’t sure if he was protecting them from him or the other way around.
I switched my gaze back to Madeline, but she still wouldn’t look at me. Why won’t you look at me?
“Is he pressing charges?” Madeline directed her question to Headmaster Walton, brushing her mother away.
Headmaster Walton nodded. “That’s what he’s stating, yes.”
“Madeline,” I warned.
She ignored me. “Tell him I won’t go to the police if he drops the charges.”
“You have no proof.” The man came out from behind Headmaster Walton’s half-opened door like a scheming snake, and I snarled.
“Don’t fucking talk to her. Don’t even fucking look at her.” My voice shook the room. My father stood in front of me as Christian grabbed onto my forearm. He was standing now, along with Ollie.
Madeline took a step toward the man, everyone watching her command the room with bated breath. “How do you know?” she asked. I could hear the fear in her voice, but I could hear the strength too. “Do you really want to take a gamble on whether I have proof or not? How do you know I didn’t go to the hospital after you left?”
The fucker was still sporting a busted nose and lip. Blood was dried on his crisp white dress shirt, just like mine. I should have broken his fucking arms. He scowled, knowing that the entire room would know what a piece of shit he was if he took her bait. But did he have a choice? Would he take a gamble on her threat?
“Drop the charges,” she urged. “Or I swear to God I will go down to the police station right now and tell them all about you sneaking into my room, whispering in my ear that I wanted you even when I said no. And how you put your hand over my mouth and pulled my pants down, all while my mother was asleep in the next fucking room.”
My father’s shoulders tensed, and his fists clenched. “I’d take her offer, and if I were you, I’d leave this room immediately.”
Headmaster Walton shifted his attention from Madeline to the board member, waiting. Everyone was waiting.
The man finally grunted, walking back into Headmaster Walton’s office for a moment before coming back out with his jacket clenched in his busted knuckles. Madeline shifted on her feet as she made way for him to walk through. Her head turned to the side with disgust, or fear, maybe both, as he breezed by. She grabbed onto her mom’s wrist, pulling her back, as she was about to follow him out with her quaking anger.
“Don’t, Mom,” she whispered. “Let’s just go home. Please.”
Her mom’s eyes watered as she took in Madeline’s request. Her lips trembled, and a brief gasp of air left her as she tried to gather herself. Then she nodded once, and as soon as we heard squealing tires sound out, they both turned to leave.
“Madeline.” I rushed forward, but she pulled her mom even faster, trying to get away from me. “Madeline, look at me.”
Her head barely turned, and we caught eyes. Fear. She was battling something behind those blue eyes; I could see it plain as day. What are you afraid of, baby?
“Don’t you dare,” I whispered. Don’t you fucking dare shut me out. Not now.
She licked her trembling bottom lip, shifting her gaze to everyone else in the room. Her light locks swayed in front of her face when she continued to turn, walking through the office door with her mom without a single word to anyone.
“Give her some space, Eric.” My father came into view as I stood, staring at the spot she was just in like a lost puppy. What was she still afraid of? Was she afraid he’d come back? Was she afraid he’d somehow sneak back into her room?
I said nothing as Headmaster Walton called my father and me into his office to discuss what needed to be done about my impulsive act of violence, even given the circumstances. Mrs. Boyd gave me an ice pack for my eye and a wet rag for the blood all over my knuckles. My mom eventually showed up, and it was an entire family ordeal. I stayed silent the entire time, too stuck in my head.
The final bell rung for the day and my mom, dad, and I w
ere all headed out of the office before it hit me.