See No Evil (Brotherhood Trilogy #1)(22)

I’m not that kind of guy.

I like girls—their shape, their flavor, the way they feel pressed against me. It turns me on.

I’ve had to remind myself of that a lot lately.

Girls turn me on.

So why am I having all these feelings for Chris?

I feel protective around him, like I want to shelter him from trouble. But it’s not like it was with Riley. Back then, it was an excuse to pound Ivan, a chance to teach another guy how to stand up for himself.

This is different.

This time I want to put the guy behind me so he doesn’t even have to fight.

It’s insane.

I have to get over myself.

I like girls!

In spite of my warning, my eyes snap back to Chris. He’s slumped back in his chair, daring the teacher to respond.

Mr. Adler lets out a sigh and crosses his stubby little arms. “Mr. Lorden. I advise you against flat-out refusal. When I ask you to take out your study notes from Friday, I expect you to do it.”

“I don’t feel like it.” He shrugs.

Mr. Adler’s forehead crinkles. “I was informed by Headmaster Williams that you are a star student, not a star ass.”

“Ooooh.” Chris sniggers. “You speak to your mother with that mouth?”

“Get up.” Mr. Adler storms down the aisle and stops directly beside Chris’s desk. “I will not tolerate that kind of attitude in my class. Take yourself to Headmaster Williams.”

Chris makes a face, pursing his lips as if contemplating the order. Finally he shrugs. “Don’t feel like doing that either.”

What the hell? What is he doing? It’s so out of character it makes me suspicious. He’s trying to get kicked out.

But why?

Mr. Adler’s cheeks flare red, his double chin wobbling as he trembles with rage. “Get up!” he shouts, tugging Chris’s arm and hauling him out of his seat.

Chris gently shoves him back. Mr. Adler loses his balance and has to catch himself against Kade’s desk. His wince tells me it hurt, fueling the anger within him.

But Cocky Chris doesn’t seem to notice. “You really want to be touching a student like that, Mr. Adler? I could get you fired.”

“And I could get you expelled!” Spittle makes his bottom lip glisten.

“Perfect.” Chris smirks. “I hate this place anyway.”

It stings when he says it. I don’t know why. Like I should give a shit. But after we had so much fun doing one of the school’s worst jobs, I thought he’d be up for kicking around a little longer.

Something obviously switched in his mind, propelled him to want to get out, fast.

Was it me?

Mr. Adler’s nostrils flare and he points to the door. “I will walk you to the headmaster’s office myself!”

The class is quiet. Everyone’s too shocked at Chris the Schizo to make a sound.

Mr. Adler’s never been so red.

Still smirking, Chris grabs his bag and follows Mr. Adler to the door.

“Read over your notes while I’m gone,” Mr. Adler yells across the room. “We’ll have a civil discussion when I return!”

I ignore Mr. Adler’s rage. All I can do is stare at Chris, but he won’t catch my eye, even though he knows I’m looking at him. I’m sure of it.

He’s avoiding me on purpose and for some sick reason, I want to know why.





#13:

Eton Prep Code of Conduct



Christiana



I lope to the headmaster’s office, still smirking, but the closer I get to the front entrance, the harder it is to keep it in place. Mr. Adler is steaming. His quiet rage vibrates off the walls, pinging back to hit me between the eyes.

If he has his way, I’ll be packing my bags this afternoon.

That’s what I want too.

Right?

I was so sure of myself last night as I lay in bed scheming. I’d come up with a million ways to get booted and finally settled on making a teacher so irate that I’d be expelled on the spot.

It nearly happened to me once before. Miss Filamore. Two years ago. She was such a mean witch, and I prodded her until she went ballistic. When she blew her top all I could do was laugh, which set the whole class off.

I was suspended for a week and removed from her class.

Crossing my fingers, I hope for a more drastic result this time.

I have to go.

It isn’t safe here anymore.

Trey will unravel me. Ivan will kill me.

There has to be a better hiding place.

Mr. Adler doesn’t touch me the entire way to the office. I’m sure my accusation unnerved him. As soon as we arrive, he orders me into one of the waiting room chairs and storms across to reception. I can’t hear exactly what’s being said, but the sharp tone and dark looks tell me enough.

It takes Headmaster Williams less than twenty minutes to call me into his office. Mr. Adler storms away, triumphant yet still in a rage.

I try to keep my composure as I shuffle into the office, try to keep up the bravado I’ve been showing all morning, but Headmaster Williams has an icy look. The blue fire in his eyes, the warning on his tight lips…it makes me falter.

I ease into the chair opposite his desk and have to resist the urge to sit up straight.

“Well, I must say, this is disappointing, Chris. When your parents pushed for a quick enrollment, I accommodated them with the understanding that you were an upstanding student with great things in your future. We gave you your own room. We’ve accommodated you in every way possible, and this is how you show your gratitude? You’ve been here just over a week and already you’re sitting in my office having humiliated one of my best teachers.”