Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest High #3)(21)

Principal Green drawled, “I highly doubt that.”

“It’s true. We’re like a walking Hallmark card, full of quotes and bible verses. We make people feel like they’ve been touched by an angel.”

“Oh, shit,” someone laughed.

Another commented, “He makes people feel touched all right.”

A third snorted, “And not from anything angelic.”

I cleared my throat and everyone shut up. “What’d you come here to say?”

“I got an interesting phone call from our local police.”

I glanced at Logan. What the f**k? Then I narrowed my eyes at the principal again.

“They’re screwed,” a guy laughed.

Principal Green twisted around. “Don’t you people have classes to go to?”

A few left. Most stayed.

He sighed. “I’d rather not have this conversation with an audience. Mason. Logan. Both of you come to my office?”

It was asked as a request. It wasn’t. We followed him to his office. As we were about to turn right into the main office, Sam was coming from the left. Both of us saw her and she stopped mid-stride. The arm that held her books fell to her side and her mouth opened. A questioning look came into her depths, but I also saw the hurt still there. My jaw clenched and I turned away.

Logan wolf-whistled at her.

She didn’t reply. I felt her gaze burning into the back of my skull. My shoulders tensed and I gripped the handle on the office door harder than necessary. I knew Logan caught the exchange and I knew my little brother wouldn’t understand.

Fine. He could explain it to her himself. Then Logan would understand.

As we took the two seats across from Principal Green’s desk, Logan bumped his knee against mine.

I ignored him.

He hissed, “What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“Mase,” Logan hissed again.

“Okay, boys,” Principal Green started.

I ignored him too. “Remember the thing you talked to me about last night?”

“Oh.” Logan fell back against his chair. He let out a long breath. “She knows.”

“She picked up on it. You can tell her.”

“What? No way—”

“Gentlemen,” their principal clapped his hands together and leaned over his desk, “am I interrupting a little spat between the two of you?”

Logan rolled his eyes and slumped down his chair. I leaned forward. Principal Green had never done anything to screw us over, but he was an adult. It was bound to happen. “What do you want? We haven’t done a thing so the police stuff has nothing to do with us.”

Principal Green smiled to himself, leaning back in his chair. “Always down to business, Mason. I do appreciate that. Like I said before, I received a phone call. I was going to mention it to you at some point, but when I saw both of you in the hallway, I figured I should get it over with.” His top lip lifted in an attempt at a smile.

“Congratulations, Principal Green.” Logan rolled his eyes. “But here’s a tip. Don’t give your number out to hookers. They can’t call for bail the next day.”

“I was called by the police station this morning.”

“You know a hooker that got arrested?”

“Logan Kade.”

“Or don’t even use hookers. If you get a mistress on the side, buy a pre-paid phone. Make sure to use cash. The wife can’t catch you and your lady friend can call you all she wants.”

“Mr. Kade, you should leave before I put you in detention.”

He ignored him. “Don’t go on Facebook either. I wouldn’t even have an account if you become a pro cheater.”

“Leave or I’ll give you detention. I am not in the mood.”

Logan snorted as he stood up. “Detention? What will the coach say? I’d miss practice.”

“Leave, Mr. Kade.”

“Leaving, Principal Green.” Logan flashed him a grin and lifted two fingers in the peace sign. “Remember my tip: Don’t give your number out to hookers and no Facebook. It’ll save you a lot of trouble.”

As soon as the door closed, I stated, “We didn’t do anything.”

“I know. They know that, too, but someone else did. Budd and Brett Broudou. They went to Quickie’s and beat up a clerk. When the clerk was questioned, he indicated an earlier incident with them this week. He said you almost fought them.”

“They beat the guy up?”

“Yes, they did.” He cleared his throat. “Everyone is aware of the strained relationship between the two schools. There have been past incidents and this is my warning to you, Mason. Stop it. This rivalry with Budd and Brett Broudou needs to stop. This is between them and you, but both parties have included their schools. Other students will be hurt by this. Have you considered those consequences?”

My tone went cold. “I’m aware of the consequences.”

Then I left. Principal Green didn’t stop me, but it wouldn’t have mattered. I didn’t care to listen to any more advice from him. I was more aware of the consequences than anyone else.

As the rest of the week passed, I was in an alternate universe. Logan was pissy because I disapproved of Tate, who continued to stop at his locker every chance she got. Nate was pissy … well … that was deserved. We kicked him out of our meeting. I was pissy with Mason because he didn’t disapprove of Tate anymore, or because he didn’t explain it to me. There must’ve been more to it than what he said. He didn’t have some ‘sudden’ realization that Logan wasn’t going to fall in love with Tate again. There was a reason—this was Mason—there was always a reason, and as the rest of the week wore on, I was starting to realize he wasn’t going to tell me.