Page 9 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

B lake

Everything here seemed…fake.

It didn’t feel right being at school without Ren, but I couldn’t fail my last year. If she knew that happened because I’d been spending time at the hospital with her, she would kick my ass. I walked into the cafeteria to grab some lunch and was struck by the normalcy of it all.

Nothing had changed. How was it that we thought we were such big shit and yet…

the world moved on without us? It was humbling and terrifying.

Our whole world had turned upside down with Ren’s accident, but no one stopped me to ask how she was doing, and apparently, no one had noticed that the guys were missing for days.

How was it that Ren had become such an integral part of our lives, but no one else cared?

Ren wouldn’t be bothered, but it sure as hell pissed me off. Grabbing a tray, I headed for the back of the short line when I was all but tackled to the ground. Arms looped around my waist and squeezed. I stared down in shock at the top of Ivy’s head.

The universe loved to make a liar out of me.

“Oh my god, you’re here. Does that mean Ren’s awake? Please tell me she’s okay because I haven’t been able to sleep or eat properly, and I’ve been worried sick.”

“I’m sorry, Ivy. I should’ve thought to call you,” I said as she pulled back and looked up at me. Her big eyes seemed larger than normal as she held perfectly still.

“You’re right, you or Myles should’ve called.

Chantry is away for two weeks, and my dad has been so busy that I couldn’t get a ride to the hospital.

I’ve been dying for any scrap of information.

Please just tell me she’s okay,” Ivy said, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. She was practically vibrating.

“Ren is awake. Let me get my food, and you can sit with me while I fill you in,” I said, and Ivy sucked in a deep breath.

“Oh, thank God. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said, and then punched me in the shoulder. “That’s for forgetting about me.”

“Fair enough,” I said, rubbing at my new bruise and smiling.

I stepped up to be served when the P.A. dinged and everyone grew quiet.

“Blake O’Brien to the office. Blake O’Brien to the office.”

“Uh oh. What did you do,” Ivy asked as I handed her my empty tray.

“No idea,” I said, stepping out of line to the sound of curious whispers and jeers.

Before I could escape into the hall, Vicky appeared with Jennifer and another girl—whose name I could never remember—to block my exit. She put her hands on her hips, and the three of them took up most of the doorway.

“Can I help you with something?”

“You can tell me why my father was in a car with Ren. He won’t talk about it, and I can’t get near Ren’s room to ask her. I swear to God if that little bitch is moving in on my father, I really will rip out her white hair.”

The irony was fucking killing me. I snorted and started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“First, I’m not saying shit. So, you can stop posturing. I’m not intimidated by you. Second, if your father hasn’t told you, then maybe butt the fuck out until he wants to fill you in. Lastly, I was just summoned to the office, so kindly step aside,” I said, completely and utterly annoyed.

Vicky huffed and looked like she was going to have one of her famous eruptions before she moved out of the way. I started walking, and she grabbed my arm.

“I will find out what you’re all hiding,” she said, like a threat.

“I really don’t give a fuck if you do, but I’m not going to be the one to tell you. Now let go of me,” I ordered, and she dropped her hand.

That answered a question I hadn’t even thought to ask. We weren’t the only ones kept in the dark. Vicky had no idea that Ren was her sister. I smirked. An epic freak-out was on the horizon. Not only was Ren—her arch-nemesis—her sister, but…Nash had married Ren instead of Vicky.

The laughter overwhelmed me as I stood outside the office. I took a moment to collect myself so the admins didn’t think I’d lost my mind.

“Oh man, that’s going to be good.”

I pushed open the office door, wiping the tears from my face. As I stepped up to the long desk, Dean Henry called my name before I could say a word. The woman working smiled and went back to typing.

Dean Henry looked up at me when I poked my head into his office.

“Come in and close the door,” he said.

Even though I hadn’t done anything wrong, my mind raced with the possibilities of why he wanted to see me.

The dean stood up and made himself a coffee while I sat down in the chair facing his desk. I glanced around, taking in the school awards and pictures of influential people shaking hands with Dean Henry. I’d never been in here before. Four years, and this was my first experience being summoned.

“Would you like something to drink? Coffee, tea, or water, perhaps?”

I shifted in my chair like I was taking a pop quiz about nuclear physics. His eyebrow lifted when I remained quiet.

“There is no wrong answer,” he said as if reading my mind.

“Water, please.”

Opening the small bar fridge, he grabbed a bottle of water and his coffee before sitting down.

He pushed the water in my direction, and I felt like this was somehow a silent interrogation.

I’d watched way too many cop shows that started with them asking the perp if they wanted something to drink, and then taking DNA from the cup.

Dean Henry sat back in his leather chair, with a far more relaxed look on his face than I could hope to muster. Sweat broke out on the back of my neck, and I gave in and took the water. The cracking of the lid was loud in the deadly quiet.

I gulped down a third of the bottle and then set it down.

“Thanks,” I said, my knee beginning to bounce.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve called you to my office.”

“Yes, sir.”

He sighed and picked up a folder from a tall stack and laid it down between us on the desk.

“I’m going to tell it to you straight. I’m concerned.”

“About?”

“Your lack of direction.”

I shifted in the hot seat, not liking where this was going, but I knew this was coming eventually.

“I’m not sure what I want to take, or if I even want to go to college,” I said.

“It shows.”

Ouch, those two words were harsh.

He opened the folder and started pulling out test results and reports from the last four years.

“You are all over the place. Other than what you’re required to take, everything else screams that you’re floundering with no direction. When you leave these doors in a few months, there is no safety net.”

“I know, but…” I paused, looking down and wringing my hands.

“You don’t know what you want.”

“Yeah. Nothing seems to fit, and I don’t have Theo’s grades.”

“We aren’t here to talk about your brother and what he can or cannot do. This is not his path, it’s yours. Just because you are brothers doesn’t mean you need to travel the same road. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. With that said, I’ve noticed that you are happiest when you’re helping others.” I sat up straighter. “I’ve also noted your patience and kindness. You aren’t quick to judge despite your playboy reputation,” he said with a smirk, and I’d never wanted to crawl under a rock so badly in my life.

I’d honestly never considered the dean bothering himself with rumors or status labels. Apparently, I was wrong. The look on his face screamed that he knew everything I’d ever said or done, and that was wholly terrifying all on its own.

“So, this is what I propose. I understand that time is something you’re lacking right now with Ms. Davies in the hospital, but I need someone to tutor a handful of grade nines who are struggling.”

“Me, a tutor?” I smiled and almost laughed again. “You can’t be serious? I don’t have good enough marks to be a tutor.”

“If you were going to be tutoring someone in your year, I would agree. These are freshman, and their academic abilities are not the reason they are struggling.”

“Okay…I feel like there is a punchline coming,” I said.

“Depends on how you look at it. These kids are suffering from image issues, and some come from broken homes. They are shy, overreactive, acting out, and taking substances. You can personally relate to some of these instances.”

“Oh…I don’t know. I mean, most days I barely hold myself together. How do you expect me to teach these kids when I hardly know how to survive?”

“That right there, Blake, is the reason why I’m confident you will do a great job. You aren’t cocky or arrogant. You don’t think you’ve won because you made it eight months and fourteen days without taking anything.”

My mouth dropped. “You know?”

He smirked and picked up his coffee to take a sip. “I know everything.”

No one, except Ren and my online support group, had been congratulating me on my monthly milestones.

“Oh…I…”

“No need to explain. Believe it or not, I was once a teenager, too. I remember the pressure and the ups and downs. I’m impressed with how far you’ve come and your resolve to stay on the right path.

These kids need someone who gets them. Someone who they think is cool.

I unfortunately lost my cool edge a while ago,” Dean Henry said and smiled.

“Yes, they need help with their classes, but it’s more about creating a connection with someone they can trust. They need…

a support system outside of the teachers, me or their friend groups. ”

The corner of my mouth turned up.

“If I say yes, what exactly are you hoping I’ll gain from this?”

“Good question. My hope is to open your eyes to other opportunities outside of these walls. Beyond your friends and family business.” Dean Henry leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk.

“I think you would make an excellent teacher. Whether it is here or somewhere else, I see in you what we need in our staff. Someone tough but fair, smart, not egotistical, and patient. Most of all, you’ve struggled, and that means you can relate to what they are going through. Sometimes all someone needs is an ear.”

I bit my lip. I’d never considered myself in a teaching role, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

I hated the corporate world. I wasn’t cut out for, and had no interest in, becoming a lawyer.

I loved to sing and play the guitar, but didn’t want to perform for a massive audience, so there went my rock star career.

Dean Henry was right. I had no idea what I wanted, and this was an opportunity to try something in which I could excel.

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Excellent. You will tutor them for one hour after class on Thursdays, starting next week. If anyone needs more help and you want to give it, that’s up to you, but that is all I’m requiring. And as a bonus, these hours will be put down as extra credit.”

This could be amazing or a complete disaster. But it felt good to have someone as important as Dean Henry believe in me, like I could do something worthwhile.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling, and stood as Dean Henry did.

He held out his hand for me to shake, and a wave of confidence I hadn’t experienced in ages washed over me. I clasped his hand.

“I believe you can make a real difference, Blake. It’s time you saw that in yourself. Have a good day.” And just like that, a door was opened that I never saw coming.