Page 12 of Friend
My father’s voice was thick with disapproval when he responded, but at least I knew he’d respect my wishes. “Why do you push him away? He wants to be a part of your life.”
“I am a part of his life!” I protested, my chest tightening. “I’m his Er Bashou, aren’t I?”
That should be enough.
“You know that’s not what I meant,” my father argued. “He’s worried about you. He—”
“He can mind his own business!” I snapped angrily even though, at the same time, my face grew hot. It’d been a long time since Damen and I were close. He was so angry after I bonded with Kiania, especially at first. He’d pushed me away, asking me to give up my shikigami and my position. And even though I was fine now, it took a long time for him to get over that.
Now though, I had no problem with him. Outside of his personality, which was sometimes annoying, I thought he was pretty great. He was everything that I could never be. Everyone loved him, and even though I was sure I was smarter than him, he had a way about him that made people think he really knew what he was talking about.
But even if I wanted to repair our relationship now, it was too late. Now it was my turn to keep him out. If Damen got close—if he started becoming suspicious about my life, and Bianca—everything I’d been working so hard to build for the last eight years would come crashing down around us.
It was essential for Bianca and Damen to not meet yet. He would ruin her innocence by just being… him. And, if history served, once they got to know each other, she might kill him for being a degenerate.
I was trying to save his life.
Right now, he had time to get his act together. When all was revealed, I was certain he’d be grateful.
At least, that’s what I was pretty sure everyone meant.
I bit my tongue, trying to ignore the uncomfortable weight against my chest.
Then why didn’t it feel right?
“Okay, fine,” my father sighed. “I won’t tell Damen that you’ve made a friend. But really, you should bring her to dinner one night. I’d love to meet her.”
Not any time soon.
“Sure, fine,” I answered.
“But I’m serious, Finn,” he continued. “Outside of that, this fighting cannot go on. The next time I get a call—”
“I don’t have a choice.” My voice was almost a whisper, even though I knew that Headmaster Roberts heard me anyway. “They go after her.”
There was a short pause, and when my father spoke next, he was sharp professionalism. “What do you mean? The people you’re fighting target your new friend?”
“Yeah.” I hated talking about this—especially in front of Headmaster Roberts—but what other choice did I have? I could not leave Bianca defenseless.
“Finn, even if they are hurting her, you can’t hit women,” he said. “Go to a teacher.”
“Not girls.” I glared at the desk in memory. “Boys. Wolves.”
There was another second of silence. “Is there a bullying problem at that school? What is going on there?”
“No,” I protested. It wasn’t exactly a problem—I could handle it just fine. Just so long as I stopped getting into trouble over it all the time. “Just them.”
“And there are male wolves going after agirl?” He sounded incredulous, and furious. Dad, after all, was always a firm supporter of chivalry. “You’re all over sixteen now—way too old for this; not that it would ever be acceptable. But they should know better. Are you throwing the first punch?”
“No.” Not usually. Only if they opened their mouths first.
“And you’re only fighting to defend her?” he asked, and I knew where this line of questioning was growing. I glanced at Headmistress Roberts, who was now looking at me with something akin to horror in her eyes.
She’d known about this forever but claimed there was nothing she could do. Boys would be boys, and that it was only another way for children to flirt, were her main arguments. And that we all, eventually, would outgrow these behaviors.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Good.” He didn’t even hesitate in his reply. “This is completely unacceptable. You do whatever you need to, outside of sending anyone to the hospital. Just make sure it’s not unwarranted. You already have a record.”
