They would keep me in the principal’s office until my dad could get there. Mom was over in Europe living her best life. She’d been leaving me daily voice messages, but I didn’t call her back. I figured she knew she deserved the silent treatment after saying she wouldn’t be home for my birthday. I did, however, text her to let her know I was alive. I didn’t want her to worry too much, even though she pissed me off.
Dad was going to be so mad at me. I knew he’d already be annoyed that he had to drive back into town from Chicago during a workday to deal with my dramatics, and when he walked in, I saw the irritation all over his face. My father never said much with words, but he said everything with his jagged facial expressions.
Principal Keefe explained that it was unclear how the fight had begun, saying all he knew was that it had ended with teachers getting involved.
“Now, normally, we’d have to look at a short suspension, but since Landon is the lead in the school play that’s premiering soon...” Principal Keefe’s words trailed off, and he shifted some papers around. Our school was known for two things: basketball and the arts. The idea of the theater department losing their dear Romeo for a few days was too much for Principal Keefe’s heart. “Also, we think him having the after-school activity has been good for him. Even though he had this slipup, we are hoping it is a one-time offense. He and Reggie have also been advised to keep their distance from each other.”
No problem there on my end.
Dad looked surprised to hear about me being in the show. I’d never shown any interest in the performing arts, and well, we didn’t ever talk about it. His brow knitted, and he apologized on my behalf for me being completely reckless.
We walked out of the office, and Dad grumbled to himself.
I slung my backpack onto my shoulder and shrugged slightly. “I’m sorry they had to call you out here. It wasn’t even that serious.”
“You bashed a person’s face in, Landon. That’s serious.”
“Yeah, but—”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “I can’t do this right now. I can’t handle your antics. And what is this about a school play?”
“I just...” I took a deep breath and gripped my backpack strap. “I really like it, Dad, this theater thing. I’ve been thinking about going to school for acting in the fall.”
He huffed and shook his head. “Yeah, all right, Landon.”
“I’m serious, Dad. It’s something I’m really interested in, and UOC has a pretty good theater department and—”
He cut me off. “I forbid you.”
“What?”
“I said I forbid you. I am not going to pay for an idiotic major just for you to waste your time and my money. I forbid it. You’re going into law, like we’ve already determined.”
“We didn’t determine it. You did. Dad, I—”
He wasn’t listening. He never listened. My words were pointless.
At least Mom would’ve listened. She always listened whenever she was around.
He glanced at his watch. “I don’t have time for this. I needto get back to Chicago and try to play catch-up for today, which means I’ll probably have to go in this Saturday too. And just a heads-up, I’ll probably be busy the following weekend, too.”
“The following weekend?” I stood up, alert. “But that’s my birthday weekend. I figured you’d be home, seeing as how Mom won’t be.”
“Yeah, I thought the same—until you went around swinging your fists like a wild man. You say you’re serious about this theater crap, but you can’t even act mature enough to stop using your fist to solve your problems. The only kind of acting you need to do is acting your age. You’re not a kid anymore. Stop acting like one. We’ll talk about this later.”
We wouldn’t, though. It would be brushed under the rug like every argument we’d ever had. Dad would fall back into his work world, and I’d fall back into my mind, and we’d deal with our issues on our own.
I missed Mom.
He walked off, leaving me standing there like a dumbass, fully in my feelings about him not being there for me on my birthday. I needed him. I needed him more than ever that day, and he wasn’t going to be there for me.
Perfect.
I started walking toward the exit after Dad left. My mind was already too messed up about my birthday, and there was no way I was going to sit through American History and talk about dead dudes when I had my own mind haunting me on the daily.
“Where are you going?” a voice said as I pushed the door open. I turned to see Shay standing there with the same concerned look she’d had when Mr.Thymes was dragging me away.
“Anywhere but here,” I pushed out. I didn’t feel like talking. I didn’t feel like being around people, especially Shay. I didn’twant her to see me at one of my lows. She’d already seen that enough.