Just like a criminal.
Might as wel get used to it. Some things ran in the blood. At least he’s not handcuffing me.
Yet.
Hanging his head low, he tried not to look at anyone as the other students sniggered and whispered about him.
“That’s what happens when you come from trash.”
“I hope they don’t let him back in.”
“Serves him right.”
Nick ground his teeth in anger as he neared his locker and reached for the combination lock.
Brynna Addams was pul ing her books out, two doors down.
Tal with dark brown hair, she was very pretty and one of the few people who hung with Stone and crew that Nick could stand.
She paused to look at them with a frown that only deepened when she saw the guard with him. “What’s up, Nick?”
“Got suspended.” He paused before he swal owed his pride. Again. “Could I ask a favor?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”
“Could you get my assignments so that I don’t fal behind?”
“Absolutely. You want me to e-mail them to you?” And I stupidly thought I couldn’t feel any worse. “Don’t have a computer at home.”
Her cheeks darkened. “Sorry. Um, where do you need me to take them?”
Nick was grateful she was decent—unlike the rest of the jerks she ran with. “I’l come by your house after school and get it.”
She wrote down her address while he pul ed al of his books out. “I’l be home about four.”
“Thanks, Brynna. I real y appreciate it.” He tucked the paper in his back pocket, then al owed the security guard to escort him off campus.
Heartsick over having to face his mother, he made his way back home to their side of the ghetto and dreaded every step that took him closer to his door.
Inside their crappy house, his mother was waiting on him with a stern frown on her face. Dressed in a threadbare pink robe, she looked about as tired and ticked off as he’d ever seen her.
He dropped his backpack to the floor. “You should be asleep, Mom.”
Her eyes cut him to the quick and made him feel even lower than Peters had. “How can I sleep when my boy’s been thrown out of school for fighting? You of al people know how hard it is for me to keep you there. How much money it takes. What I have to do to pay for your books and lunches. Why would you be so stupid as to throw this chance away? What were you thinking?”
Nick didn’t say anything because the truth would kil her and he didn’t want her to feel as bad as he did when there was nothing she could do about it.
I’m the man of the family. It was his job to protect her. It was al he knew.
Take care of your mom, boy, or you’ll answer to me. You lip off to her and I’ll cut out your tongue. You make her cry and I’ll kill you myself. His father was pretty worthless, but the one thing about him was that he made good on his threats. Al of them. And since he’d already kil ed twelve people, Nick figured he wouldn’t think twice about kil ing him either.
Especial y since his father had no great love of him.
So he kept his anger locked in and refused to say anything to hurt her feelings.
Unfortunately, his mother gave him no reprieve. “Don’t you get sul en on me, boy. I’m sick of that look on your face. Tel me why you attacked that kid. Now.”
Nick clenched his teeth tight.
“Answer me, Nick, or so help me, I’l spank you, even at your age.”
He had to stop himself from rol ing his eyes at her ludicrous threat. Even at fourteen, he was more than a head tal er than his tiny mother and he had a good forty pounds on her. “He made fun of me.”
“And for that you’d jeopardize your entire future? What were you thinking? He laughed at you. So what? Believe me, that’s not the worst thing that wil ever happen to you. You have to grow up, Nicky, and stop acting like a baby. Just because someone mocks you is no reason to fight. Now is it?” No. He swal owed attacks against him al the time. What he wouldn’t suffer were attacks against his mom. And he shouldn’t have to. “I’m sorry.”
She held her hand up. “Don’t even go there. You’re not sorry. I can see it in your eyes. I am so disappointed in you. I thought I’d taught you better, but apparently you’re determined to grow up into a no-account criminal just like your daddy, in spite of everything I do to keep you straight. Now go to your room until I calm down. You can stay there for the rest of the day.”
“I’m supposed to work this afternoon. Ms. Liza needs me to help move her stock around in the storeroom.” She growled. “Fine. You can go, but then it’s straight home.
You hear me? I don’t want you wasting time with any of those hoodlums you cal friends.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Nick headed to his “room” and pul ed the blankets closed. Sick and tired of it al , he sat down on the old, lumpy mattress and leaned his head back against the wal where he saw the pieces of the ceiling that were discolored and peeling up.