I was getting dressed for class the next morning when the door to our dorm opened. Jordan hadn't spoken to me, just shaken his head and muttered "Maroon loving faggot" when I came back from Jin's dorm last night.

                A Blue I didn't recognize entered the room. "Kai, you're not going to class. Headmaster Constance wants you down in his office."

                "Thank god. Now I can get away from this whiny bitch," I said, grabbing my cane and leaving the room before Jordan could reply to that.

                I left the dorm building and made my way towards the building Headmaster Constance's office was in. It was early, so I was wondering if I was the first victim of his punishment.

                We'd ended up in Jin's and Karson's room for most of last night, with pizza, wings, and soda. We'd played music and they'd shared stories of their past schemes before I'd come to the Academy. I heard about the worst things they'd endured at the Academy, from the abuse of the teachers to the abuse of the Blues and the emotional manipulation Mr. Constance used when they were sent to him.

                They told me the stories they'd heard about Beckett Townsend and Kaz Warrick. Apparently, those two had made quite the names for themselves when they were students here. Jin told me some of his teachers were still bitter about the things Kaz Warrick had done to them a decade ago.

                I entered the building and took the elevator up. I approached Headmaster Constance's office and stopped, the hallway blocked off by Mr. Constance.

                Jin, Karson, Lev, Amelia, and Isaac were standing there. Mr. Constance watched me as I approached, his eyes sharp.

                "Ah, there's our last rebel," he said. "Now the gang is all together."

                "Get out of the way," I said. "We're here because the headmaster wants to talk to us, not because some tossed-aside, irrelevant asshole wants to throw a tantrum."

                "Kai," Lev said in horror.

                "I was raised my whole life to inherit this Academy," Mr. Constance said, giving us all a dirty look.

                "Cool. We didn't ask," I said.

                Mr. Constance fixed that look on me. "You have no idea what you've all done. You've doomed Constance Academy. My father was always far too lenient with my sister. She doesn't have what it takes to run the Academy. And my brother? My brother is a pampered child. The favorite of the bunch who was spoiled until he was useless. They will destroy this Academy."

                "Good," Karson said. "It's a shitty place anyways."

                "Your family drama doesn't concern us. I don't care if you're jealous over your siblings. Get out of our way," Jin said.

                "Go bitch to someone who cares," I said.

                "Jin and Kai are such a bitchy power couple," Amelia whispered to Lev.

                "Jin and Kai are going to die if they keep this up," Lev whispered right back.

                "You are children with no futures, who have just ruined my family's Academy. I hope you go down in the Academy's history as the first students to be expelled." He straightened up, face composed. "You haven't won. When my father sees that my siblings aren't fit to run the Academy, he'll hand it back to me. It's just a matter of time and careful planning."

                "I wonder what it feels like to be so deprived of your dad's love that you have to threaten kids to feel good about yourself," I said.

                "I recommend alcohol," Jin said to Mr. Constance. "Really helps you forget that your dad doesn't love you."

                We marched past him and towards Headmaster Constance's office. We all looked at each other before nodding and pushing open the door.

                I guess I wasn't that surprised that he'd bring us all down at once. But I was surprised as we entered the office to see him sitting with his daughter next to him.

                "Sit," Constance instructed us once the door was closed.

                We all sat down across the desk from them. Caroline Constance had the same powerful air about her that her father and brother did, but she also had a less threatening smile to her.

                "I'm Ms. Constance," Caroline said. "Today is my first day training under Headmaster Constance to take over Constance Academy. Headmaster Constance and I have thoroughly looked into the punishments for the six of you, with Leon's opinion on the matter."

                "What are you punishing the bastard for?" Karson said, raising an eyebrow.

                "Isaac didn't do anything wrong. He was just talking to Maroons," Lev said.

                "Don't you dare punish that sweet boy or I'll hack the entire Academy system and have all the computer screens frozen on pictures of wet sloths," Amelia threatened.

                "Isaac knows very well he's not supposed to be around the Maroons. I'm not a fool. I know he's been working with you all," Headmaster Constance said, eyeing Isaac. "I'm friends with Mr. Ruvolo, and we've spoken on the matter."

                Isaac frowned, hanging his head a little. "I guess I was naughty. I'm sorry, Headmaster Constance."

                "Beckett Townsend had a similar problem when he was a student here. Always talking to Maroons he wasn't supposed to. We tried a few different methods with him, and none of them worked. So with you, Isaac, we'll be trying something a little different," Constance said. "You'll be allowed around the Maroons, but only in public. You are absolutely forbidden from going to their dorm without permission from your father. Anywhere else on campus, however, is allowed."

                Isaac seemed surprised. "Really? I can hang out with my friends on campus?"

                "With Beckett, we forbid him from seeing the Maroons, and he simply snuck around to do it. We then allowed him freedom to do as he pleased, and he only got more rebellious. So with you, we're going to try a mix of those solutions," Constance said. "But any trouble and we'll get stricter with you, do you understand?"

                "Yes, sir!" Isaac said, his expression brightening.

                "Caroline," Constance said, nodding to his daughter.

                "Right, the punishments for the rest of you," Caroline said, looking at a clipboard in front of her and flicking through papers on it. "Lev and Amelia, Leon called your parents and had a phone conference with them about the situation. In the end, we determined to keep the two of you in the same classes, but put Amelia in the computer club, which meets weekly. It won't interfere with your time in the Peer Program. We believe it'll be a good way for you to learn to socialize without Lev around."

                "What if she doesn't like it?" Lev said.

                "Then we'll work from there. But the whole point of the Maroon program at Constance Academy is to fix the individual problems of students, and Amelia needs a positive outlet for her computer skills and a chance to learn how to interact without you there to coddle her," Caroline said. "Lev, as for you, since you have no prior history of trouble, we're going to keep an eye on you to make sure it stays that way."

                Lev and Amelia looked at each other in confusion. Lev shrugged helplessly.

                Caroline turned to Karson. "Karson, you have a history of violence and instigating trouble."

                "My reputation proceeds me," Karson said joyfully.

                "We've spoken with your brother and agreed to set you up with one of the campus counselors. You'll meet with them for weekly sessions," she said.

                Karson choked out a laugh. "A fucking therapist? Damn, that is a punishment."

                "If you skip sessions, you'll be assigned an escort. What happens during the sessions are confidential, of course, but your assigned counselor will be required to let us know whether or not you're making progress," Caroline said.

                "Yea, I like getting the shit beat out of me better," Karson said.

                Caroline ignored that. "Jin, you've proved to be quite a problem for the Academy. However, your parents sent you here due to your drinking problems, emotional disconnect, and social issues. You've evidently overcome your drinking problems and are working on the other two issues. Therefore, we've agreed the best thing to do with you is to assign you a campus counselor as well, and put you in a campus club of your choosing."

                Jin shrugged. "I don't care."

                "We have matching counselor sessions, that's so adorable," Karson said, snickering. "Now we can talk out our many issues with complete strangers."

                "Kai," Caroline said, finally turning to me. "Your parents were concerned about your leg and your social skills. So you'll be assigned to one of our special physical education programs for students with physical disabilities. We spoke with your parents, and after they talked to your doctor, they agreed this would be a good way for you to strengthen your bad leg. You'll also be placed in a club of your choosing."

                "The book club," Jin said. "That's where you're going to drop the two of us. It's the least shitty club on campus with the least shitty people."

                "I can speak for myself," I snapped, glaring at him. "And I don't need..." I stopped and glared at my bad leg. I didn't want to mope about my leg anymore. I wasn't useless. Maybe with time, I could even walk a little better. "Fine. But if my leg hurts, I'm not going to run laps around a gym."

                "We have educators specially trained to work with physically disabled students. Your exercises will be unique to your condition," Caroline said.

                "So that's it? We get off easy?" Karson said.

                "No. Those are just the extra measures we're taking. Leon and I wish to have a focus on improving Maroons students in ways catered to their individual situations," Caroline said. "You students will be my first experiment in this. However, due to the riot stunt, the six of you will also be receiving detentions. Lev and Isaac have detentions for the next month, Kai, Jin, Karson, and Amelia will have detention for three months, and all of you will be put on janitorial duties for the rest of the year. You will also remain in the Peer Program, though it will be undergoing reforms in the coming months."

                "Why do we only have detention for a month?" Lev asked.

                "Because you and Isaac played the smallest role in the riot. Kai and Jin plotted the riot, Amelia was hacking into private emails, and our investigation of the incident revealed that Karson was one of the first to throw a punch," Caroline said.

                "I mean, are you really surprised?" Karson said.

                "Jin and Karson, you'll start your counseling sessions next week," Constance said. "Kai, you'll be enrolled into the physical education program by next week. You will all start your club activities next week, as well. Your detentions start tomorrow, as do your janitorial duties. Any further trouble, and your punishments will be as harsh as I originally intended. Be thankful I left the punishments up to Caroline and Leon in the end."

                "None of us are separated?" Isaac said, eyes wide and hopeful.

                "No," Caroline said, the hint of a smile on her face. "I looked into your files, and while you get up to trouble together, I also think you six have been better together than apart. But Headmaster Constance will be in charge of your punishments if you cause any more problems."

                "I expect you in your classrooms for the start of your next class," Constance said, checking the time. "But for now, you are all dismissed."

                We stood up and filed out of the classroom. As I turned to shut the door, I saw Caroline slumping back in her chair, looking relieved that our meeting was over. I pulled the door closed, rolling my eyes a little.

                "I can't believe we got off that easy," Lev said in disbelief.

                Amelia threw her arms around his neck, smiling. "We're not separated!"

                He smiled and nodded. "I'm glad. I'm also glad Caroline Constance has a heart."

                "This is..." Jin shook his head. "She's actually trying to help us, not just beat us down until we're too empty to fight back anymore."

                "You're already empty," Karson said. He winced as Jin punched him.

                We reached the elevator and I got in. I waited for them at the bottom and we headed towards the doors together.

                "I get to stay friends with you guys," Isaac cheered, throwing a fist in the air triumphantly. "I'm so happy!"

                "I can't believe we're stuck with the pest," Jin said with a sigh.

                Isaac beamed a smile at him. "Uh-huh. You're stuck with me, Jin."

                "With Caroline in charge, you can probably put in paper work to get a new room assignment," Jin said to me. "Or to have Jordan kicked out since you need special accommodations for your leg."

                "Oh thank god, I hate that prick," I said in relief.

                We left the building, all of us in better spirits now that we knew what our punishments were. The detentions and janitorial duties would be a pain in the ass, but it was a relief compared to what Constance had been threatening before.

                "Karson."

                The voice was unenthused and a little awkward. We looked over at the older boy standing there, looking like he wished he was anywhere else.

                Jin's arm shot out and he gripped the back of Karson's vest. But Karson didn't make any moves forward, just glared at the ground and fixed his glasses.

                "Why are you on campus, Aspen?" he asked.

                "I wanted an in-person meeting with your headmaster about this whole counselor thing. I wanted to make sure you had someone who will actually work with you. I also figured I'd just get you breaking my nose over with," Aspen said, shrugging.

                Karson shoved Jin away from him. "You owe me answers."

                "I know. If you're old enough to call and demand them, you're old enough to hear them. Let's go talk," Aspen said.

                Karson looked from us to his brother before walking over to Aspen. "Just because I haven't beaten the shit out of you yet, doesn't mean I forgive you."

                Aspen smiled, just a little. He gave Karson a light shove forward. "I know. Get walking, Kar."

                The disappeared around the side of the building. Amelia slung her arm around Lev's shoulders.

                "Aw, I hope Karson doesn't kill his brother," she said.

                "I'm glad his brother came to campus. I'm glad they're going to talk. Even if Karson still wants to kill him, at least he'll finally have answers," Lev said.

                "Let's go. I don't want to be around if Karson does decide to murder Aspen," Jin said, starting down the path. We hurried to follow after him.

                "So what do we do now?" I asked Jin.

                He shrugged. "Live our lives, I guess. We watch the changes around here and we act if things start going wrong again. We make sure Adam Constance stands no chance of getting back the position of headmaster. We show that Caroline can do a better job than her brother. Leon can't officially work here until the beginning of next year, but he'll be working behind the scenes."

                "He'll probably be around campus a lot," Amelia said with a content sigh. "He's so cute. His sister is pretty, too."

                "Please don't start hitting on the headmistresses," Lev groaned.

                "No promises," Amelia said. "Unless Kai and Jin teach me how to talk to people I want to kiss."

                "Leave me out of this," Jin said.

                "I suggest sharing your tragic past and kissing in a moment of emotional vulnerability," I said.

                Amelia frowned. "But I don't have a tragic past. I'm just bad at talking to people."

                "Your mom died," Jin said. "Isn't that supposed to be tragic?"

                "It was tragic! But I didn't become a cripple or an alcoholic," Amelia said.

                "Okay, I'm trying to be better about this, but..." Lev put a hand over Amelia's mouth. "Enough out of you."

                Isaac laughed. "You guys are funny. I'm glad I get to keep being friends with you."

                "Yea, joy," I grumbled.

                "Aw, Kai, but you're funny too!" Isaac said. "I like being friends with you, too."

                "Wow, I'm so honored a nine year old likes being my friend," I said.

                "I have a lot of money and I can buy you coffee whenever you want," Isaac said sweetly.

                "Wow, I'm so honored a nine year old likes being my friend!" I said.

                "That's better," he said in satisfaction.

                "This is good, though. I think now you guys can all focus on fixing yourselves," Lev said. "I know you don't like facing your issues, but I think you've all improved. Now you can keep improving."

                I whacked Jin's leg with my cane. "Hear that, asshole? Start eating from now on."

                "Hit me again and I'll knock you down," Jin said.

                "If I fall, I'm dragging you with me," I said, reaching out and taking his hand.

                Lev was right, though. With the campus situation improving, we could improve ourselves as well. I looked at my hand linked together with Jin's and tried to hide my smile.

                Jin leaned close to me. "I saw that."

                "Shut up. No you didn't," I said.

                "I don't care," he said.

                "I hate when you say that." I kissed him, a quick kiss. We'd have plenty of time for more later.

                Jin looked from us to the campus as we walked the path towards the academic building. "This Academy sure is full of surprises."

                "That's for sure," I said, squeezing his hand and not bothering to hide my smile anymore. "Maybe there will be a few more. We still have time before the schoolyear is over."

                "Let's make it count," Jin said, turning so that only I could see his smile.

                We had changed Constance Academy and made the difference we wanted to make. We were traveling down paths towards healing. We were all still together, and we had a chance to fix the things that hurt our lives.

                Jin's smile was genuine, and so was my happiness. The Academy we had seen as a prison had now become a possibility, and none of us were going to waste the chances we'd been given.

                For once, I didn't limp my way down the path. I walked down it, hand-in-hand with my boyfriend, our friends beside us, our heads held as high as our spirits.

------------------------------

A.N.- The dreaded announcement that the next chapter will be the last one, sorry fam.

I intended this to be the last book in the Conversion Academy series, but I see you guys in the comments asking for more. The only problem is, I don't want to beat a dead horse. I've thought of a few ways I could change it up a little, but I'm afraid the longer this goes on, the more repetitive it'll become.

If you guys really want another story in this series, I do have a scratch at the back of my mind for an idea. It might take a few weeks to write enough before I post, maybe even a month or two. I'm also not making promises; I might start a new story and decide I'm good with just the three original books. But if you guys really want another story in this setting, please let me know and I'll play around with ideas and see what happens!