Tale of Life (Essence Series #2) (19 page)

“Or maybe I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t working with a Hara-Kir.” He laughed.

“Well, it’s a good thing you checked. Togo’s sounds like a place a Hara-Kir would infiltrate,” Calloway said sarcastically.

“You never know.” Marquan laughed.

Monday morning arrived and Calloway traveled to school with his aunt and uncle to speak to the principal, hoping they could remove the offense from his permanent record since he was innocent. Uncle Scott called in sick just so he could come along, determined to protect his nephew from being incriminated for a crime he didn’t commit.

They sat in the lobby of the school office until the secretary ushered them into the principal’s office, where they took their seats in front of the massive desk that took up most of the room. The walls were covered with various fancy degrees and the table was laden with pictures of Hawk and his mother. Calloway wanted to vomit at the sight.

The principal stood up from his desk and shook hands with Aunt Grace and Uncle Scott. “Hello,” he said. “My name is Principal Charles. What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

“You wrongfully suspended my son from school,” Aunt Grace said. “There is no pleasure in that! We want his suspension to be dropped and erased from his permanent record.”

Principal Charles sighed, tapping his fingers against the wood of his large desk while he thought for a moment. He had brown hair just like his son and the same eyes—it was creepy. It was like looking at Hawk in twenty years—only fatter. “I was under the impression that Calloway was your nephew—
not your son
.”

“Same difference,” she spat.

“And Calloway was seen assaulting another student, who happens to be my son, fracturing his nose and bruising his face. There was even a witness to testify against Calloway’s account of the story. She claimed Calloway assaulted Hawk for no reason—he was just jealous.”

“With all due respect, sir,” Uncle Scott said. “Your son is a
big, fat liar
. He broke Calloway’s camera in photography and now this—
he is a bully
.” Calloway glanced at Uncle Scott, astonished by his aggression and anger. He had never seen him so furious.

Principal Charles clenched a pen on his desk, masking the true anger he felt at the insult. “I am telling you the facts of the situation,” he said gently. “Since I was not at the scene, my evidence is unbiased. You have no witness to prove Calloway’s story.”

“I want to speak to Hawk and Beatrice,” Uncle Scott said. “Bring them here.”

“I’m not pulling students out of class for this,” the principal said firmly.

“I want your son to look me in the eye and lie to my face,” Uncle Scott said. “And I want to question the girl as well.”

“Well, the students—”

“We aren’t leaving until we question them,” Uncle Scott interrupted. “You may as well save your time as well as ours.”

Calloway was amazed at Uncle Scott’s resolution and determination. His uncle had never been so firm and commanding in his entire life—he was astonished.

“Well?” Uncle Scott pressed, waiting for the principal to make the call. “We don’t have all day.”

The principal stared at him for a moment, clearly irritated that Uncle Scott was controlling the situation, and then spoke into the intercom on his desk. “Please retrieve my son and Beatrice Reese from class,” he said politely. “And bring them to my office.” Hawk’s father leaned back in his chair and avoided their gaze.

They sat in awkward silence while they waited for Hawk and Beatrice to arrive. Uncle Scott stared at the principal with a look of rage, and Calloway was frightened of the sight—he had never seen him so angry.

“Can I get you anything?” the principal asked finally.
“A cup of coffee?”

“No, thank you,” Aunt Grace said tonelessly. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window.

Finally, Hawk and Beatrice walked into the room, dispelling the awkwardness that infected every corner and crevasse of the office. When Beatrice saw Calloway, who still had a large bruise over his eye, her eyes widened in fear. Hawk avoided Calloway’s gaze and didn’t glance at his guardians, too pretentious to even look at them. The sight angered Calloway.

“This is Mr. and Mrs. Donahue,” Principal Charles said. “They are Calloway’s guardians and would like to question you about the incident.”

“I already told you everything,” Hawk snapped.

His father glared at him. “
Well, tell them again
.”

Hawk sighed. “I was in the parking lot when Calloway attacked me from behind,” he said without looking at Aunt Grace or Uncle Scott. He glanced at his father then the opposite wall. “He started punching me and kicking me until help arrived.”

“Look at me when you speak to me,” Uncle Scott snapped.

Hawk met his gaze with an insolent glare. Calloway wanted to punch him again.

“So, Calloway attacked you until help arrived?” Uncle Scott asked.

“That’s what I just said,” Hawk snapped.

“It looked like you had ample time to hit Calloway,” he said, pointing to Calloway’s bruised face. “He looks pretty beat up.”

Hawk glared at him. “It was self-defense.”

“And what were you doing in the parking lot?” Uncle Scott asked.

“Beatrice was sick—I was taking her home,” Hawk answered hesitantly.

“Don’t you have to sign out if you leave a dance early?” Uncle Scott asked.

“Well, we didn’t have time,” Hawk spat.

Calloway was getting more irritated with Hawk’s obvious disrespect towards his uncle. It angered him as much as it did when Hawk pushed Weston to the ground.

“And what was the source of your sickness?” Uncle Scott asked Beatrice. “You seem well now.”

Beatrice played with her hands for a moment. Calloway stared at her, begging her to be honest about what happened. Calloway had rescued her again, even after she betrayed him, and he deserved her honesty. If he was suspended because of Beatrice he would never forgive her—
ever
.

“My stomach hurt,” she said quietly.

Calloway shook his head. He couldn’t believe this was happening. For the first time, he wished Beatrice nothing but bad things. He wanted her to suffer and wished she had—that he hadn’t saved her. If only he had pursued the Hara-Kir and left her to fend for herself this wouldn’t be happening. On that afternoon in photography when Hawk was harassing her, he should have just walked away, letting her suffer his torment. Calloway was full of regret. He never should have helped her, not the first time or the second time. And now he hoped Hawk would hurt her, damage her irrevocably, and make her regret everything she had done to Calloway. Never had his thoughts been so dark but now they were—they were covered in black.

Uncle Scott leaned forward. “So, my son, Calloway, attacked Hawk for
no reason
? He left the school dance, followed you to the parking lot, and assaulted Hawk
randomly
?”

She shifted her weight. “Yes,” she said quietly.

“Why would he do that?” Uncle Scott pressed. “What was his purpose?”

“He was jealous of Hawk,” she said. “That I went to prom with him.”

Calloway could help it—he laughed. His date to prom happened to be Weston, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and that never would have happened if he was still dating Beatrice. He would have worn a ridiculous suit and had a miserable time. He was glad their relationship was over. Now he finally saw Beatrice for what she was—
a coward
.

Uncle Scott leaned back in chair and stared at Beatrice for a moment. His face changed from anger to sheer disappointment. “And that’s what happened?”

“Yes,” she whispered, avoiding his gaze.

Uncle Scott shook his head but said nothing more. Aunt Grace blatantly glared at Beatrice, furious that she would do this to Calloway.

Principal Charles cleared his throat and dismissed Beatrice and Hawk. “You may go—both of you.”

They left the office and returned to the lobby, disappearing from Calloway’s sight. He didn’t look at Beatrice when she walked away. As far as he was concerned, she didn’t exist. If she ever needed his help again, even if Hawk was beating her, he wouldn’t come to her aid. He was officially done with Beatrice Reese.

Principal Charles stood up from his desk. “Are there any further questions?”

“No,” Uncle Scott said. “But I sincerely hope you are a better principal than you are a father.” He turned to the door and opened it for Aunt Grace, who left the room without saying goodbye, an action she herself considered immensely rude, and walked into the hallway. Calloway was the last to leave.

“Thanks for trying,” Calloway said after they were out of earshot. “We did our best.”

“I can’t believe that girl!” Aunt Grace snapped. “That she would do that to you after you dated for months. I’m glad the brat never came to dinner.”

Calloway smiled. “It looks like I dodged a bullet.” He wrapped his arm around his aunt. “Let’s go home.”

“This better not ruin your college admissions,” Uncle Scott said. “I would be livid.”

“It will be fine,” Calloway lied. In truth, he didn’t know what was going to happen. A suspension as a result of a fight was a serious misdemeanor, but he didn’t want to tell his family that—they already felt horrible.

They were about to leave the building when Calloway heard a voice behind him.

“Calloway?” She sniffed. The voice was full of tears, crackling with the sound of emotion.

Calloway turned around and saw Beatrice standing behind him. Aunt Grace and Uncle Scott stared at them both, waiting for their interaction. “What?” he said harshly. The sight of her face ignited a rage within him. Never had he been so angry before. He clenched his fists at his sides like he was preparing for a fight. “
What do you want
?”

“I’m sorry about everything,” she said as grabbed his arm.

Calloway jerked it away savagely, unable to control his ferocity. He never wanted her hands on his him again. Every memory of their previous kisses made him want to vomit. She had always been embarrassed of him but now it was his turn to be ashamed—he was too good for her. “Don’t ever touch me again!” he hissed. “And don’t speak to me—
ever
.”

“Wait!” she said. “I’ll tell the principal everything. I just wanted Hawk to leave first.”

“How admirable of you,” he said sarcastically.

She stared at him for a moment, still crying hysterically.

“Am I supposed to be grateful?” he asked. “That now you decided to do the right thing when all of this could have been avoided?
Leave me alone, Beatrice.”

“Let me talk to him,” she said. “Hold on.”

She knocked on the principal’s door and he opened it a moment later.

“Hawk was lying,” she said without preamble. “I was just too scared to tell the truth when he was standing there.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Hawk was making me leave the dance against my will and Calloway saved me, pulling me away to safety. I’m so sorry about lying before.”

Principal Charles stared at her, his look changing into one of annoyance. “Are you speaking the truth
now
?”

“Of course!” she said. “Hawk threatened to hurt me if I told the truth.”

“Okay.” He sighed, clearly disappointed that this was the real story. Calloway noticed he didn’t seem surprised, however. He probably knew how much of a jerk his own son was. “Thank you, Miss Reese.” He stepped toward Uncle Scott, who had his arms across his chest with a scowl etched onto his face. “It seems that I owe you an apology.”

“Yes, you do,” Uncle Scott said.

Principal Charles nodded. “All the charges will be dropped and Calloway’s record will remain clean.”

“And Hawk will be serving the same punishment?” Uncle Scott asked. “In addition to being disciplined for lying about it?”

The principal nodded. “Of course.”

“I want proof that this incident is going on his permanent record,” Uncle Scott snapped. “If you give him any special treatment I will file a report to the school district. I suggest you don’t call my bluff.”

“It will,” he said. “His punishment will be most severe.”

“It better be,” Uncle Scott spat, his anger seeping out like a toxin. He turned away with Aunt Grace and left the building, leaving Calloway standing alone with Beatrice. The principal returned to his office a moment later.

“I’m so sorry.” She sniffed. She wiped her tears away. “You forgive me, right?”

Calloway stared at her for a moment, affronted that she would even ask that. The falling tears had no effect on him. He felt no pity. “No.”

“But I told the truth!” she said. “I told them what really happened.”

“Only because my uncle called you into the office!” he snapped. “I was already suspended and you didn’t speak the truth. And you only did it because Hawk wasn’t here. You’re a coward, Beatrice!”