The door swung open with a heavy creak and Grace stepped out first, with a pale face but she looked controlled, followed by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, whose expressions were anything but calm.
Her father didn't look pleased at all while her mother walked briskly, as her heels echoed sharply in the hallway, glancing back at Grace with a pointed glare. She simmered with disappointment barely held in check.
Behind them, Jax walked out dragging his steps slightly and his father trailed behind him, a smirk pulling faintly at the corner of his mouth like he savored the chaos.
As soon as they were a few steps clear of the office, Mr. Monroe spun around on Grace with a quiet fury, "When we get home we're having a serious conversation."
Grace looked down at her shoes, feeling her throat tightening.
"You're grounded. No phone. No privileges and I don't want to hear a word about it." said her mother.
Grace opened her mouth to speak but then she spotted Amber and Maya waiting across the quad as concern was etched all over their faces. "Can I...can I have five minutes? Please."
Mrs. Monroe's lips pursed like she was about to refuse but then she sighed, looking over at Amber and Maya, recognizing them and more importantly their families. "Five Minutes."
Grace nodded and her father gave her one last hard look before he stalked off toward their car and her mother followed him without another word.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Amber and Maya rushed over, "What happened in there?" Amber asked.
"Grace are you okay?" Maya was concerned too.
Grace exhaled shakily trying to hold herself together as the weight of everything pressed down on her shoulders, "I got suspended."
They both stared at her in shock.
"For how long?" Asked Amber.
"A month. They're going to check my exams to make sure I didn't cheat, but...I didn't. You guys know I didn't."
Amber placed a hand on her shoulder and Maya nodded fiercely, "We believe you." "And when you get back, we'll be right here."
Grace nodded forcing a small, grateful smile and from across the lot, Mrs. Monroe called out, "Grace! Now!"
Amber gave her one last squeeze on the arm, "We'll visit, okay? Text us when you can."
"You got this." Maya added.
Grace nodded again, taking a steady breath before walking towards the car.
As Jax stormed away from the building, his hands were shoved deep in the pockets, and he was vibrating with anger, his entire body taut like a live wire, 'I should have walked out of that office without looking back.' Jax thought he could have said something more in the meeting but instead he just sat there and took it, like he always did.
His father, walked calmly beside him, finally speaking, "You're going to have to get used to this." But Jax didn't respond.
"I'll be around more. Charity committee and all that." He continued.
Then Jax stopped abruptly and turned to him with a cold expression, "I don't give a damn."
His father's smirk deepened like he enjoyed the fight in him, but he said nothing more, letting Jax storm ahead.
Across the quad, Rowan and Theo watched the tense exchange from a distance and then Rowan nudged Theo, "Is that who I think it is?"
Theo's brow furrowed, nodding slowly, "Yeah. That's his old man."
Then they exchanged a look, being that they already knew Jax's story, they were shocked to see that his father had returned.
When Jax moved past them, Rowan took a step forward,"Jax."
Jax stopped but he didn't turn around.
"You good?" Rowan asked.
Jax lifted his shoulders and they fell with a shallow breath, then he half-turned, his face still tight, "I'll call you guys later. I'm suspended."
Theo looked like he wanted to say something but Rowan just nodded, "Yeah man. Do that."
Jax gave them both a stiff nod before he headed toward the bike lot, they watched him go, worry written all over their faces.
---
Later, Derrick was lounging on his couch, with his phone in his hand, scrolling through messages and watching the aftermath of the day's events blow up on social media, he looked pleased and then his phone buzzed. It was a text from his dad, Mr. Callahan.
"Come by later. We need to talk."
Derrick's wicked grin spread across his face as he typed back quickly, "On my way soon, dad."
The word Dad was almost mocking, he still didn't use Callahan's last name even after all this time. But the connection ran deeper than names and they both knew it.
Derrick glanced out the window at the setting sun, as he got comfortable on his couch, stretching out like a predator who was satisfied with the kill but ready for the next hunt, "I can't wait for the next month."
Later that night, Derrick was seated on his couch, dressed down in joggers and a fitted tee, one leg propped on the coffee table. His phone was on his hand, as his thumb hovered for a moment before he tapped the Video Call button.
On the screen, the call rang a few times, then Maya and Amber answered together. They were sitting cross-legged on Maya's bed, both in oversized hoodies, their faces looking tired but alert.
"Hey, Derrick," Maya began.
"Finally. We were wondering when you'd crawl out of whatever rock you had been hiding under." Amber added.
Derrick gave them an easy sheepish grin, shifting his weight casually, "Yeah, sorry about that. Been...distracted with family stuff." Then he ran his hand through his hair. "What the hell happened today? My phone's been blowing up but I've barely had time to check."
Maya and Amber exchanged a glance then sighed, "You seriously don't know?" Asked Maya.
Derrick widened his eyes, playing innocent like it was second nature, "I've heard bits and pieces. Something about a video leak, right?" Then he leaned forward while knitting his brows together. "Grace was involved?"
Amber crossed her arms with a furrowed brow, "She and Jax both. They got suspended."
Derrick choked, dragging it out just enough to seem genuine. His mouth fell open like he couldn't believe what he was hearing, "What? Suspended? and then she shook his head slowly, "You're kidding."
Maya, ever the calmer one, rubbed the back of her neck. "No. It's serious. Grace's parents were at the school today. Jax was there too. His father came. Apparently, they both got pulled into the principal's office."
Then Amber leaned in close to the screen, "But Grace said she was okay. I mean...as okay as she can be given everything."
Derrick exhaled slowly through his nose as he nodded, "Yeah, Grace is tough. She'll be fine. I'll check in on her tomorrow." He said as he smiled faintly.
Then Amber smiled back, a little relieved, "She'd like that."
Maya nudged Amber teasingly, "Look at you, playing Ms. Supportive."
Derrick chuckled softly, "Somebody's gotta do it."
Then there was a short comfortable silence and Derrick glanced at the time on his screen, "Hey, I should let you guys get some rest. We'll talk about this tomorrow at school, yeah?"
Maya and Amber both nodded
"Yeah. Tomorrow." Said Maya.
"Night, Derrick." said Amber.
"Night." Then Derrick closed off.
Then he hang up smoothly, staring at the darkened phone screen, and then his easy smile faded. His eyes returning to a cold expression.
He tossed the phone onto the couch cushion beside him and leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head with satisfaction, "See you tomorrow ladies," he muttered to himself with a cackle.