Royal’s POV
âš ï¸Mentions of Abuseâš ï¸
Cash and I had both woken up earlier than we had before and gotten ready for school. Now we were just lounging on Jeremy’s couch while he was at work and his girlfriend slept in. Not that she had anything else to do being unemployed.
“Marcus is on his way with our bags along with a change of clothes for each of us.”
“Eh, what clothes?”
“Well, he’s got mine for my house and he got yours when he… picked up.. your little sister.”
I rolled my eyes, “of course he did.”
30 minutes later we were changed and sitting in the backseat of Marcus’s truck in front of the school. He and Nat had gone inside, but we decided to stay out of a little longer kinda preparing ourselves for what’s to come.
“You going to be ok?” I felt Cash’s hand rub my back.
“I’ll be fine… it’s just…. This is all new for me and we weren’t even allowed to do it on our own terms.”
“I know, baby, but we can do this. Not like we have a choice now,” we both chuckled before taking a deep breath and getting out of the car.
We made sure to lock it before walking up to the school’s entrance and pausing before going inside. As Cash pushed the door open I panicked and pulled my arm out of his while shoving my other hand in my pocket as my cast hung between us. He paused again looking at me with a gaze I wouldn’t meet before he finished opening the door.
When we walked in a scene straight out of a movie popped out at us. Every single pair of eyes within viewing distance was looking at us. We started making our way through the hall meeting up with Jasper and Tristan halfway through.
“How’s you’re wrist?”
“Fine, I guess, not as sore as it has been since I broke it.”
“Are you going to be okay today?”
“Yeah, so,” I lowered my voice, “did you two do the dirty?”
They both turned red and started spluttering coming up with explanations even as the bell rang and we made our way to class.
At this moment I couldn’t tell whether or not Cash and I having Home Ec together was a good idea, but whatever happens is going to happen either way so at least we’ll be together.
As we entered class and took our seats I quietly celebrated since it was a day to just work on our projects. Not that we needed it since we know everything there is to know about each other.
As the bell rang we continued our conversation until a girl. I think she was a freshman. Walked up to us.
“Are you two, like, actually dating?”
“Yes, we are,” Cash answered quickly… almost too quickly. That is probably the reason the girl looked at me to verify what he said. Please, before we dated he hated me as much as I hated him, so why would he be lying about this now.
I looked at Cash before looking back at her, “you heard the man. He’s my boyfriend now scram.”
She kinda looked stars strucked before walking away as the bell rang. I looked back at Cash who just gave me the ‘seriously’ look like he didn’t expect me to respond like that.
“I may like you more now doesn’t mean I like everyone more.”
“So, class, as you know today is a day to work on your connections projects, but time is running out, so I hope you’ve already made good progress. I’ll let you guys get to work now except Mr. Hawkson the principal would like to see you.”
Fuck, nonetheless I stood up ignoring the look Cash was giving me and made my way out of the room. A couple seconds later I found myself in a storage closet, “baby? Why are you being so cold to me?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”
“Royal.”
“I- I’m sorry. I just… they’re all looking at us with this look on their face and I- I don’t know. I have a lot going on,” I looked down ashamed.
“Do you want to break up?”
My head flew up as my eyes bulged out of my skull, “WHAT! NO!” I started involuntarily panicking, “I’m sorry, Vito, I’ll be better please no, no, no-“
“Hey, hey! Baby!” He started to hold my face, “Not break up break up I admit that was a flaw of wording on my part,” he lifted a thumb to wipe a tear off my face that I didn’t know was falling, “just like… pretend to break up.”
I carefully examined his face for a sign any sign before answering, “no. No, I don’t want to go back to pretending to hate each other. No, I don’t want to go back to even pretending not to date. I’ll handle it’s okay. Now,” I grabbed his hand on my face with my good hand, “I’ve got to go see what our principal wants and you have to go back to class.”
He softly smiled and placed a quick peck on my lips before we exited the closet and separated ways. This time I didn’t want to let go of his hand even as I thought about it walking down the hall.
I could feel some of the different gossipy women in the admissions stare at me, but I didn’t react to anything until I walked in the principals office.
To my surprise not only was Principal Simmons there, but so was Coach Black and the school councilor, Mr. Remro. Along with a couple officers I didn’t recognize.
“Before you say anything kid from here on out anything you say can be used in a court of law. It’s all being recorded by the lovely officers here.”
“Uh, why am I here? If you don’t have proof it’s innocent until proven guilty.”
“Royal,” Principal Simmons started before taking a break and looking at Coach Black, “we didn’t bring you here cause you are in trouble or anything,” he stopped again looking at Mr. Remro, “we need to talk to about something probably very delicate.”
“What?” I looked towards Coach who was the only person I truly trust in that room. Even his eyes were filled with pity, “Coach… what happened?”
“Kid..”
An officer suddenly interrupted, “Mr. Hawkson , we have a strong reason to believe that your father is… how do I word this.”
“Your father is facing charges of domestic violence against his wife and children,” I paused looking at the other officer as he finished is sentence before busting out in laughter.
To say the least that surprised everyone, “you… you think,” I was gasping for breath at this point, “my father is abusive. I mean he’s probably a drunk but I wouldn’t call him abusive.”
As I continued laughing Mr. Remro started to talk, “kid… the actions he made towards you and Mr. Hugh on the football field when… you were…”
“Outed?”
“Yeah. Those were very concerning actions. Along with a bunch of staff reporting it other families also reported it.”
“On the field,” I was bewildered now, “that was nothing, but a hissy fit thrown by my father not getting his way. He gives us a good life we wouldn’t be where we are today if he hadn’t paid for everything. So, what he hits me around a couple times it’s nothing. He’s never laid hands on my mom or sisters so it doesn’t matter,” as they looked around I realized I must’ve said something wrong, “what?”
“Kid,” Coach Black sat next to me, “you do realize that even if he doesn’t raise his voice or touch anyone else he’s still abusive towards you, right?”
“No, that’s not true. He’s secured me for life. Im set to take care of his company and even if I don’t I’ll never be in need for money. Please my children’s children will probably be millionaires.”
“Son, your father has been arrested and is being held in hospital as a criminal at this moment. When he heals everything will be taken to court. Your mother is facing charges of negligence along with still in a condition where she is unfit to be watching her children. You and Natalie are set to stay with Coach Black here for time being while the rest of them go and stay with your Aunt and Uncle in Texas.”
“You’re joking, right? When did my mother become apart of this?”
“No, I’m sorry. You’re mother and sisters were all being talked to and interviewed, much like yourself, when we found out about her negligence and how you take care of the others.”
I placed my face in my hand and sighed before looking up, “what about my father’s company? What happens to that?”
“It will be sold to the highest bidder if your father is sent to prison, but you will still keep at least 30% of all profits made on top of the entire first billion since you are the inheritor. You’d get the entire company, but you are underage.”
“Please my father has the biggest pharmaceutical business in the world he makes a billion in a month,” I rubbed my face to sooth my oncoming headache before harshly standing up and looking at each one of them, “you know what? Fuck you. Fuck you all!”
With that I left the office and slammed the door.
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