“Oh, I get it. I left you hot and bothered, so I’m not nice. Okay, Gabriel. I’m sorry I didn’t let you deflower me on a filthy rooftop. I guess I just think more of myself than you do of me.”
Doyle is talking, trying to assure us that the school is safe and new security measures are in place, including metal detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs in the halls, and new procedures intended to secure the building. He also announces that in the spirit of compromise, Governor Bachman will be here several days a week to consult on security concerns. She stands up and asks to speak, but Doyle shakes her off. I swear I just saw her stamp her foot, but he holds his ground. Nothing he is saying is easing anyone’s mind. Most of the students look like they’re on the verge of a nervous breakdown, watching the exits for the next lunatic to come storming in with a weapon.
Gabriel won’t stop his rant. “So now you shut me out completely?”
“I have a lot going on.”
“Or maybe it’s because you’re giving it up to someone else, or should I say something else?” he seethes. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll get one of its diseases?”
I can’t help it. A stream of curse words sprays all over him. I unload every frustration and bad thought I have ever had about him, multiply them by a thousand, and top them with colorful metaphors and emasculating insults. To put a period on it, I pull back and smack him right in the face. I am my father’s daughter, and no amount of lectures about me keeping my head down will change what’s in my DNA.
“Is there a problem?” Mr. Doyle says. I turn to find his eye, and every other, trained on me. I turn bright red, but I’m not embarrassed. I’m furious and I want everyone to see it.
“No,” Gabriel says as he holds his raw cheek.
When Doyle returns to his speech, Shadow leans forward. “Gabe, I’m going to tell you this once. You shut your mouth right now or I am going to knock you out.”
“Bring it on, fatty,” Gabriel growls.
Shadow stands, and the people around us “ooohhh” with anticipation.
“Gabriel Bowen,” Doyle bellows.
“What?” Gabriel snaps.
“Come down here and join us in the front row,” Doyle says.
“What? He started it,” he shouts, and points to Shadow.
Doyle gestures to an empty seat, and Gabriel stalks down to sit in it.
When Shadow sits down, Bex slips her hand into his. “I am crazy in love with you, Tito.”
Shadow becomes a big, red, grinning idiot.
“Mr. Doyle, I’d like to say something,” Mr. Ervin says. He stands and joins Doyle at the podium. The principal looks like he just dug out a bitter seed from between his teeth, but he lets Ervin talk. I’m positive he only allows it because it will make Bachman’s head explode. She crosses her arms and huffs. Hilarious.
“Welcome back. It’s good to see you all safe and sound,” he starts. “People, I’m going to be completely honest with you. All the experts have suggested that what we need here is some sense of routine. I’ve been instructed to just move on like nothing happened. Well, I can’t do it, and I’m probably going to get fired for saying this, but routine is the last thing we need. We need a whopper of a change.
“Almost two weeks ago a man came into these halls to hurt us. All of us. Not just the Alpha kids, but human kids too, teachers, staff—all of us. He wanted to hurt the whites and the blacks and the Asians and the Latinos. He didn’t care who you were or where you came from. He wanted you dead. One of our own let him in so he could try to stop the community we’re trying to build here. He wanted to kill us because he didn’t get his way. Luckily, he was stopped, but there are more just like him. Keeping them out is our job, and we blew it. The country, the state, the city—this school—they failed you. The cops and the soldiers failed you. The administration failed you. I failed you. And you failed yourself.”
“You’re blaming the kids for what that man did?” Bachman cries.
“Yes, I am, Governor. Oh, and I blame you, too.”
“How dare you!” she cries.
“You’re a miserable sideshow act, Governor. This ridiculous circus you lead drove that man over the edge. His blood is on your hands.”
I look around to see how everyone is reacting to Ervin’s accusation. There are a couple of kids in the back scowling, but for the most part we’re all listening. Even Ghost and Luna are giving him their attention.
“You’re insane,” Bachman shouts.
Ervin laughs in her face. It’s a raw, mocking sound. I had no idea he could be sarcastic. I like him even more this way.
“The Alpha are here, folks, and we have an opportunity that no other generation in the history of the world has ever had. We get to talk to a completely new species of person, with a culture that is thousands of years old. They have a language and art and science no human has ever witnessed. You are the envy of billions, and you all took a crap on it. What a waste.”