Page 2 of Reasons We Break

“It’s fucked,” he said.

“Language, Rajan.”

“Golly gee, it’s fucked.”

Ms. Fernandez pursed her lips. “Simran’s the best junior tutor we’ve ever had. She’s helped many students. Never failed, actually.”

“First time for everyone.”

She sighed. “You’re never going to convince me you’re a lost cause, Rajan. Why don’t you tell me how I can help you, instead?”

He winked. “Give me my weed back.”

She sighed again, clearly not getting that he’d answered honestly. Thanks to his stash being confiscated, he was going to fall short with the cash handover tonight. And he was short last time, too.

The office released him after sentencing him to a week’s worth of detentions. By that time, he’d missed art class, which sucked since he actually liked that one, and it was lunch hour. Restless, he wandered to his usual hangout—the smoke pit, on the corner of the school property facing the woods.

His mood soured further when he saw Zach Singer among the people there, smoking a cigarette and flicking his pretentious brand-name lighter. Zach was one year older and kind of a dick. He was also a business competitor of Rajan’s, in a manner of speaking. But the smoke pit was neutral turf, so they tolerated each other here. Mostly.

As Rajan passed him, Zach punched his shoulder slightly harder than could be considered friendly. “Where’ve you been?”

“The circus.” That was the common name for the admin office in his social circle. Rajan leaned against the chain-link fence and wished he had a joint.

Zach wasn’t done. “What about yesterday after school?”

“Math tutoring.” He considered asking Zach for a drag off his cigarette. But he wasn’t about to stoop that low just to soothe his nerves.

“Oh, right. What’s that bitch’s name again? Susan?”

“Simran,” Rajan said shortly. Zach noticed.

“What’s the matter? You hot for teacher?”

Rajan rolled his eyes. Zach was always trying to get a rise out of him. “Dude, come on.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Zach chuckled, blowing a smoke ring at him. “She’s the last teacher anyone would be hot for.”

Rajan said nothing.

“You think she could be hot if she tried? If she got rid of that moustache, or something?” Zach looked around at the group. He seemed to mull it over, cigarette stuck in the corner of his mouth. “Nah. Not even a hot librarian type. She’s ugly as f—”

Rajan ripped the cigarette out of Zach’s mouth with one hand and punched him in the face with the other.

Zach staggered back several steps, then looked up, eyes screaming bloody murder. He was bigger than Rajan, but most people were. That never stopped Rajan when his blood ran hot.

Zach lunged. Rajan took a drag of the cigarette, then waited until Zach crashed into him to press the smoking point into his arm.

Zach swore, momentarily distracted enough for Rajan to get another hit in. Blood spurted from Zach’s nose. That was the last satisfying punch he threw, because then Zach tackled him to the ground. Things sort of devolved after that.

Later, Rajan was back in the office for the second time that day. This time, the principal’s office.

Mr. Kerr sat at his desk, two files open in front of him, as he droned on about responsibility. Rajan nodded along while sneak-reading Zach’s file upside down.Long detention record, yeah, obviously.Suspected gang affiliation, no shit.Family on income assistance...thatwas interesting, considering Zach made being rich half his personality. He’d probably stolen that fucking lighter.

“Rajan, youburnedZach with a cigarette,” Mr. Kerr said, pulling Rajan’s attention back to him. “That’s a very serious assault.” Rajan rolled his eyes. He hadn’t even pressed it long enough to cause any lasting damage, but clearly Zach was going to milk it for all it was worth. “We can only move forward if you help us. Did Zach threaten you?”

So that’s what this was about. Kerr just wanted dirt on Zach. Zach, who was even more of a pain in his ass than Rajan. Rajan shifted in his seat, wincing slightly at his aching ribs. That dickhead hit like a truck.

“Rajan?” Kerr prodded. “Why’d you hit Zach? I don’t buy that it was about cigarettes.”