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I swipe the blood from my lip then cross my arms over my chest, slumping further into the seat opposite Principal Rodgers.

“Your brother, Xander, will be here shortly.” He grunts, annoyance plastered all over his face.

“I don’t understand why Stacy isn’t also sitting in here. The bitch started it,” I growl.

“We have a zero-violence policy here, Sarah. You’re well aware of that. While Stacy may have said some offensive words, it was you who initiated the fight.”

I scoff then glare out the window of his office.

A few minutes later, there is a knock on the door. “Sir, Xander Wilkson is here.”

“Thank you, Brenda. Let him in.”

Xander steps through the doorway with a frown. His face morphs into rage when he takes in my busted lip and the forming bruise on my left cheek.

“What happened?” he barks, swinging his eyes to Principal Rodgers.

“It appears that Sarah was in an altercation with another student.” He holds out a hand, gesturing to the seat next to me. “Please, have a seat.”

“Can’t be an altercation if she got her ass kicked,” I mutter and Principal Rodgers scowls.

I feel Xander’s disapproving eyes on my face but refuse to look at him. When he finds out what Stacy said, he’ll be on my side. I know it.

“Who was the student?” he asks, resting further into his seat.

“It was Stacy,” I answer.

“The same Stacy who has been bullying you since the start of the year?” he snarls.

I nod and he leans forward, shooting daggers at Principal Rodgers.

“Now, Principal Rodgers, if I remember correctly – which I do – we’ve discussed Stacy Jones several times.”

I can’t stop the smug smirk that forms when I see Principal Rodgers swallow tightly, the look of panic on his eyes.

Of my brothers, Xander is the most level-headed, but he’s also the scariest when he’s angry.

“It seems to me my sister handled Stacy; all the while, you and your staff have been sitting with your thumbs up your asses.”

“N-Now, Xander. You know our polic—.”

“You also have a zero-bullying policy, do you not?” Xander interrupts.

Principal Rodger gives a small nod. “W-We do.”

“And yet, nothing has been done regarding Sarah’s bully.” His eyes narrow. “If I receive another phone call about my sister dealing with Stacy instead of you and your staff, you and I will have a problem.”

Xander pushes to a stand. I do the same.

“Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes.”

Without another word, we leave Principal Rodgers in his office and exit the school.

“Let me see your face,” Xander says, taking my chin between his forefinger and thumb, moving my head side to side.

“She barely clocked me,” I say, pushing his hand away.

“What did she say this time?” He pulls open the passenger door and I hop inside his truck.

“That mom didn’t bother sticking around because she was a coke-whore, and I might as well accept that I’ll be one too,” I say when he climbs into the driver’s side.

The truck jostles roughly from the slamming of the door.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” he growls, red tinting his skin as he struggles to control his rage.

I shake my head. Sadness begins to form in my chest as the anger I felt against Stacy fades.

“Was she on drugs?” I whisper, dropping my eyes to my hands that rest on my lap.

Xander hesitates before answering. “I don’t know… maybe.” He sighs, running his hands through his hair.

“So, what Stacy said was right.” Defeat fills my voice. My shoulders slump.

“Look at me,” Xander demands.

I raise my eyes to his. I can’t name the emotion that swirls in his blue irises.

“I don’t know why she left, but you have me, kid.” A small smile lifts the edge of my lips. “You have me and three other brothers who will always be here for you.”

He lightly nudges my chin with his fist, pulling a chuckle from me.

“Always,” he promises.

* * *

“What the fuck happened to you?” Tommy laughs when we step inside the house.

“Stacy Jones happened,” I huff, tossing my backpack onto the couch.

“She kicked your ass?”

I give him a bored expression which makes him chuckle. “Right. Stacy couldn’t kick your ass even if she wanted to.”

I roll my eyes and push past him, heading to the kitchen. Pulling open the door to the freezer, I pull out an ice pack. I let out a hiss when I press it against my cheek.

Choosing to ignore Xander and Tommy as they discuss what happened, I walk upstairs to my room.

I drop my body onto the mattress and let out a groan.

Stacy Jones has hated me since Colson rejected her advances. Which, if you ask me, doesn’t make a lick of sense. Colson is sixteen, why would he want to take a girl in Jr. High when he has an entire high school of girls who want him?

Now, she’s made it her mission to make me miserable. Her words sometimes hit their mark, other times, I don’t really pay her any mind.

But today… it’s been officially two and a half years since mom skipped town. So, when Stacy opened her stupid mouth, I lost it.

I saw nothing but red as I tackled her to the ground and laid all my frustration and resentment into her.

I didn’t even feel when she punched me in the face. It wasn’t until Mrs. Johnson – the gym teacher – pulled me off her that I came to.

Stacy and her posse of stuck-up snobs looked at me like I was a rabid animal on the loose.

Serves her right.

Maybe this time, she’ll leave me the fuck alone.

When the icepack is no longer frozen, I stand and walk downstairs. My brothers are nowhere in sight as I toss it into the freezer and close the door.

Just as I’m about to head back up to my room, a stack of papers catches my eye.

I peer over my shoulder to make sure no one is around then lift the papers from the counter.

PAST DUE

PAST DUE

FINAL NOTICE

PAST DUE

The bold bright-red letters distort as tears fill my vision.

Xander, Tommy, and Ronny have been working nonstop to pay the debt that mom left us with but no matter how much money they make, we’re still drowning.

Colson and I are not old enough to get jobs and help pay some bills but there has to be a way for us ease some of their stress.

“What are you doing?”

The papers scatter on the floor when I startle at the sound of Ronny’s voice.

His shoes lightly thump on the floor and he bends to sweep them into in hands. His face is set in stone as he scans through the pile.

“Let me find a way to help,” I whisper.

His eyes snap to mine. “No.” Tossing the papers onto the counter, he steps toward me. “The only thing you and Colson need to worry about is being kids.”

Clenching my fist, I chew on the inside of my lip. “I can help.”

His fingers run through his hair, and he lets out a sigh. “I know you want to, but right now, we got this. I know it might not seem like it.” He gestures to the papers. “But we’re okay.”

A soft smile lifts his lips, but it fails to meet his eyes.

My brows furrow as I scan his features. There is more stubble than usual on his face. His eyes are sad, defeated.

“I love you, kid.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I love you too.”

He pulls me into his arms and kisses my temple. “We’re going to be okay,” he whispers. I don’t know if he’s trying to convince me… or himself.