The spoils of war include a week's worth of suspension at school. Pretty bland, considering I started the fight, in a pretty horrible way (Lyle mentioned the blood marks on classroom six's wall from me head-bashing Rude, which had to be painted over), and with heavy consequences for Rude. He ended up with a broken knee (he won't be walking around for at least two months), and a cracked cheekbone that needed surgery to put back in place.

On my front, things went more or less back to normal. Mom turned back to being the witch I always knew, and forbade me from going outside at least while my suspension lasts. She says it's just so I rest and heal (she's worried about my rib), but I know she's afraid Rude's cronies would try to get revenge while I'm in this sad condition, where I actively avoid coughing and sneezing to prevent the pain.

But the actual worst part of the whole deal, something I can't do anything about from here, is the fact that Abby hasn't replied to any of my messages or calls.

I bet she thinks the rumors started because of me.

But all of that ends today, as this is the day I'm finally allowed back to school, after Mom gives me a hundred and one recommendations on what to do and how to proceed should something hurts suddenly, and to call her immediately if I need whatever.

"What I need is to leave right now unless you want me to have to run for it to be on time."

"You're right. Do you want me to drive you to school?"

"No, I don't," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Okay," she says, fixing my shirt's collar. "You have your painkillers?"

"Oh my god, Mom! Let me go already!" I say, walking out.

Lyle is waiting for me outside. "Here he is! Maple Heights High hero, in the flesh!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say, slowly inching my way to him. This will be my default walking speed for a few more weeks, I was told.

"You'll see when we get to school," he says, a proud smile curving his lips. And sure enough, as soon as I get there, it's Celebrity round two. Everyone surrounds me in a blink, all cheering and rooting for me. The exception is that this time, Amanda isn't leading the crowd. And, not surprisingly, Ms. Higgins is the one who disperses the crowd. She shows me no mercy as she beckons me to her office.

"I have talked to your mother, Mr. Foster," she starts when I close the door behind me. "Please have a seat."

I do as she commands, but not a word escapes my lips.

"I hope you understand that's the only reason why you weren't expulsed," she says, resting her elbows on the desk. "What you and Mr. Riggs did last week is in no way acceptable."

Still, my lips are sealed. I know she's right, and I'm not in the mood to explain my reasons yet again. I suddenly understand why everyone goes mum when this woman is in lecturing mode.

"I also hope this is the last time we have this conversation," she adds, more a question than a certainty. "I'm expecting a reply, Mr. Foster."

I sigh softly, idly wiping my brow. I realize pushover John is nowhere in sight, which could very well be a bad thing. "I understand everything you say. However," I add, now holding her gaze. "I'd like to clarify that things are not black or white here."

"What does that mean?"

"I sure did the wrong thing last week, I realize that. But all in all, I did the wrong thing for the right reasons."

"Violence is never the solution to any problem, John."

"I agree with you on that, too, Ms. Higgins," I say, sitting straighter in my chair, and ready to argument my case despite not really wanting to be here doing any of it. "But I'm sure you noticed Scarborough's shiner, and Ackerman's split lip last week, didn't you?"

"Is that why you attacked Mr. Riggs with that level of violence?"

"Yes, and no. Again, this isn't a black or white situation," I tell her, now leaning back. "Yes, I did attack Riggs because he attacked my friends, but I only did it because nobody else seems to do anything to stop him, either."

"Are you saying it's our fault that you beat a fellow student unconscious last week, Mr. Foster?"

"Yes. I am." And then, because Ms. Higgins doesn't look one bit amused, I clarify. "Not you as in the school faculty. But you in general, as the adult population of Maple Heights. You have that guy running rampant through town, doing whatever he wants, and nobody thinks that's worth checking out?"

"What we can do is limited to the school grounds, to be honest."

"That might be Ms. Higgins as Maple Height High's Principal," I defy. "I bet Ms. Higgins the adult can do a bit more than sit back there and just expulse-slash-suspend kids for defending themselves or their friends."

"It would be best if you just went to class now, Mr. Foster. You're already in a delicate situation as it is, and you're doing yourself no favors here."

"Just make sure Rudolph Riggs stops messing around with me or my friends, and incidents like last week's won't happen again. I can promise you that much."

"The school has already taken action regarding Mr. Riggs," she says in monotone. "Make sure this is the last time you take part in incidents like this, otherwise you won't be getting away with just a suspension. Is that clear, Mr. Foster?"

"Perfectly clear. Thank you."

"That would be all."

I stand up to leave the room, but Ms. Higgins isn't quite done yet.

"Oh, I almost forgot," she says as she stands. "Mr. Sunderland wants to have a word with you, as well. You may have a seat and wait while I call him."

Once she's out of the room, I don't even have time to breath before Zeus opens the door, his massive frame blocking the whole doorway. I grow tense. Mr. Sunderland at school isn't the same man who promised to investigate last week at the hospital after praising my fighting skills. He paces the room slowly in his way to the same chair Ms. Higgins occupied not a minute ago.

"Good morning, Mr. Foster."

I just nod, because this is Zeus, and his deep thunder voice is still booming and ricocheting off the walls.

"This will be quick, don't worry," he assures me. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," I tell him. Kinda wetting my pants, I don't add.

"Good," he says, and leans in, lacing his fingers on top of the desk. "I just wanted to let you know I confirmed the information you gave me at the hospital. And actions have been taken."

"Ms. Higgins just told me as much."

"Given that Mr. Riggs had precedents, unlike you, his mother was given the choice to either transfer her son to a different school, or face expulsion."

I hope my face doesn't show the excitement coursing through me right now. My heart is doing happy backflips at these amazing news. No matter what, Rude's out of Maple Heights High School.

"So, naturally, Mr. Riggs' mother decided to transfer him, and she chose a military high school in New Harland." I bet Zeus sees the confusion in my face, because he adds, "That's three hundred and twenty miles north of here."

This time I can't really mask my delight. Rude's not only out of school, he's also out of town, and pretty far away, too. We did it! We got rid of him for good!

"However," Zeus roars, electricity setting me back to my own chair, and back to wetting my pants. "This also comes with a price tag for you, I'm afraid."

"How... How so?"

"There's one thing I want you to do in exchange for this."

"Uhm. What would that be?"

"I want this to stay out of the school grounds, so I'd like you to meet me after school..." he plucks a post it out of a bloc, and rapidly jots something on it before passing the piece of yellow paper to me. "Here. I want you to go here, as soon as possible. Three-thirty in the afternoon would work best."

"Should I be worried?" I say, as I pick up the piece of paper and examine it. It's an address. "This is all sorts of sketchy, you know?"

"This is highly unethical, I agree," he says, and there it is, the same smile from last week at the hospital. "But worry not. I'm sure you'll find this both interesting and rewarding."

I give him a puzzled look, wanting to ask him what's this all about, but I don't find the words. As if on cue, Ms. Higgins outside starts shaking her freaking bell.

"Let's just go to class for now," he says, and I see the smile vanish from his face like it was never there. We have literature at first period, so he kind of follows my pace to the classroom, where some things have changed. For one, now Lyle shares table with Corrine. And then Terry and Amanda share Scar's fate, sitting by themselves, and excluded from the rest of the class. Amanda's stare is a Gatling gun shooting icicles at me as I enter the classroom. Speaking of Scar, I also notice she's not here.

But I'm in literature class, so I can't ask anything at all for now. I take my usual seat next to Lyle and nod at Corrine, who smiles at me silently. There's too much to take in, and this day has just barely started.