C a t h e r i n e A u s t e n
164
Advance Reading Copy
Xavier curls up on the tiles and closes his eyes. He
scratches his head like he’s trying to claw something out of it
and starts to sob, raw heaving cries of torment. His hair falls
across his face like a veil streaked with blood. I can’t take this.
I’m on my feet. I don’t know what I’m doing.
Werewolf sops his nose with a blue mitten stained purple.
“Don’t let go of his arms!” he shouts. He looks prepared to
kick Xavier in the kidneys.
I intend to take him down, but Dallas blocks me and
shouts, “Help! You don’t belong here!”
Mr. Graham marches into the room with two secu-
rity guards. They yank Xavier to his feet. He’s limp now,
muttering, a mess of snot and confusion. The principal stares
at him in disgust.
Brennan brushes himself off and sits at his bloody desk.
“Would you like our statements, sir?” I shout at Mr.
Graham.
“Don’t do this,” Dallas whispers.
“We are all witnesses to the disrespect that occurred in
our classroom today!” I shout. “I would like to give you my
statement.”
“I don’t want your statement,” Mr. Graham says. “I have
Mr. Warton and the recording.”
“I want to give you my statement,” I repeat. I push
forward, but Dallas won’t let me by without a fight.
Mr. Graham walks out the door, followed by the guards
dragging Xavier.
I turn away from Dallas, squeeze between desks to the back
of the room and up the middle aisle. I’m in front of the camera
now. I know I should stop, I tell myself to stop, but I don’t stop.
