JAY BLINKED, BEFORE NOTICING the way his father glanced at the principal. So he mumbled an answer and though he was sure his father hadn't heard it, the man still smiled widely and nodded.

"That's great to hear," he said.

"Is it?" the principal said, sounding amused.

Jay had to muffle his chuckle with his hand then, shooting the principal a warning look quickly after. His father was many things, but kind to people who disrespected him he was not.

"It is," his father said, expression a bit stiff when he looked at the principal again," if you will allow me a few moments alone with my son?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Clarkson said, shaking his head sympathetically," you see, Jay has gotten -"

"Jae-Soo," his father corrected him, voice sharp.

The principal glanced at Jay then and when he didn't say anything, he continued on, unbothered.

"So Jay has gotten quite weak," he said," I think it's the flu or something. Anyway, I should be here to check up on him, in case he got injured."

"Pray tell, how would he get injured?" his father said, his eyes cold despite his smile.

"You tell me," the principal said.

They kept staring at one another then and Jay quickly stepped in between. Though he was sure Clarkson could take his father out in a fight, there were many different ways his father could strike back later and they would all leave something worse than a bruise.

"Father, it's fine," he said," can you tell me why you visited?"

"Out of concern for you, of course," his father said, though his voice was laced with frost," I wanted to know if my son was being treated right and behaving well."

"He has been," Clarkson said.

"I've heard differently though," his father said as he gave Jay a look which chilled him to the bone.

"You didn't," Jay whispered.

"Didn't what?" Clarkson frowned, confused.

"Nothing," his father said with a low chuckle," Jae-Soo is just prone to exaggerate his responses. Luckily the Dirani girl doesn't mind."

"How do you know that?" Jay asked, though the truth was starting to settle in him like a fatigue he couldn't shake.

His father had hired someone to spy on him again. After all he had gone through, after all the ways his trust had shattered, he had done it again. And even though Jay had left earlier feeling loved, now he wasn't even sure who he could call a friend anymore. Who was it?

"Just heard a few rumors," his father smiled.

Gabriela?

"About a camp filled with teenagers?" Clarkson said," from who?"

Mateo?

"It doesn't matter, does it?" his father said, before adding," besides, it was out of concern for my son anyway. When I hear about the kinds of people he hangs out with nowadays... Surely a camp where deliquents get together isn't the best idea to stimulate them to better themselves."

Sahar?

"Why should they better themselves?" the principal said," all these kids need is to feel accepted and loved, what good would any punishments do here?"

Thinking of the names alone stung in a way Jay hadn't felt before, his father's smooth voice just gasoline now, pouring on the burning wreckage of his heart. The flames rised higher and higher, until they made his eyes red and his throat sore. All of a sudden it felt like everyone was watching him, his own skin an uncomfortable thing now, that damned name of his dragging him down under. He had trusted them all, like a fool.

What if it wasn't them though? But even though he hoped for it, nothing could let that other thought disappear, the one sharper and louder than all of them - what if it was?

"With all due respect, you don't sound like you share the same values I do," his father said with a shake of his head," although I enrolled Jae-Soo so he could learn something here, I don't think he has, so I will take him to another school."

"With all due respect, I don't think you know anything about what Jay learned," Clarkson replied calmly.

"Careful," his father said then, any semblance of charm quickly disappearing into something far colder," Jae-Soo is my son, principal. You are stepping out of place."

"Then treat him like one, instead of whatever the hell you think this is," Clarkson shouted, his anger breaking through the surface as well.

"You have no right to tell me how to treat anyone," his father sneered," you better remember that, if you still want to have a job."

"Wow, you sound like a great father," Clarkson said," I trust Jay completely with you now."

Whatever little had been left of his father's patience ran out then as he grabbed him by the arm, grip tight as he pulled at him. Jay stumbled, mind still a chaotic mess and heart in shambles. When he didn't take another step though, his father raised his hand ever so slightly and Jay almost flinched.

"You better quit whatever the hell this is right now, Jae-Soo," his father said lowly," you know better than to disobey me."

Normally that would have been enough for him to comply. The only times he tried to break free were when his father wasn't there, but every time he faced him that bravery seemed to disappear. Now however, as he looked at the man, all he could see was a tornado blowing and he was done getting in it's path.

"No," he said.

His father's punch hit him so quick he couldn't react, his cheek splitting open as he slammed against the ground. Tears sprung in his eyes, but he blinked them away, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. Though he had hit him, his father's usual collected expression had returned as he shook out his wrist, shaking his head slowly.

"Jae-Soo," he said disapprovingly," they really have been teaching you the wrong things here, haven't they?"

He got grabbed by his collar then, the principal lifting him up easily as he looked him in the eye, and even though Jay found his father terrifying, in that moment he almost pitied him. The principal had always been kind to him, a man made of booming laughter and clumsy hands, but now he looked livid, his hand gripping his father's collar so hard that the dark skin was whitening.

"Let me down right now," his father said calmly, though Jay knew from his expression that there would be a price to pay either way.

Jay was trying to get up and stop him before his father truly would do something horrible back, but his head was spinning too much for him to be able to concentrate. Though the rest of the clearing was mostly grass and earth, the part around the house was concrete and he was feeling that very sharply right now, the need to pass out overwhelming him.

He tried to focus then and parted his lips, a warning already halfway passing them, when the principal started speaking.

"You shitty, horrible excuse for a father," he snarled," don't you ever dare to lay a hand on Jay again. Better yet, don't look at him, don't come near him; you don't deserve to have him in your life and you won't."

"Oh?" his father said, sounding faintly amused now," and what are you going to do about it?"

"Adopt him," Clarkson said simply.

He blinked, seeming to be lost for words for once in his life, but before he could reply Clarkson straight up punched him in the face, the sound of bone breaking sharp in the air as he slammed against the ground. Somewhere Jay knew he should feel satisfaction, but he was too busy with processing Clarkson's words to do so.

"Adopt me?" he said then, his voice small.

"Yes," Clarkson said as he walked towards him, crouching down to check his injuries.

"But I'm difficult," Jay said quietly.

The principal's calloused hands were gentle against his skin as he inspected his head for a wound, all fury from before warmth now.

"So am I," he said.

Jay didn't know what else to say, so he stared at the ground and blinked his tears away, cursing himself for wanting to cry but unable to stop himself. The sound of footsteps stopping got him to look up then as someone helped his father get up, the figure hauntingly familiar.

"Are you okay, ambassador Ryder?" Amir said.

He knew he should have been angry, but all he could feel was a sharp relief, followed by guilt. How could he have thought any of them would have been spying for his father? The fury quickly surfaced though as he pushed that to the back of his head, all the moments Amir had asked an innocent question flashing in front of his eyes, all the times he had just silently listened.

"Before you say you want to expel me," Amir said as he looked at Clarkson," please know I'm taking my leave now. I was only paid to be here temporarily." He caught Jay's eye then, lowering his gaze shamefully. "And to you, Jay, I do hope you know I didn't mean it with any harmful intent."

"Thank you," Jay said," that immediately repairs all my trust issues magically."

"If it helps, I was never interested in Sahar," Amir shrugged awkwardly," though she's a lovely girl, I'm in a two year relationship already with a guy, so there's no need to feel jealous. Besides, all she talks about is you anyway."

His heart skipped a beat at that, but he didn't allow himself to show it. Amir threw his father's arm around his shoulder then, the man completely dazed as he stumbled on his feet, and they walked towards the black Tesla parked a couple hundred feet away. Jay watched them leave, a long breath finally leaving his lips when he saw the car door slam shut.

"Come on now," the principal said gently as he helped him up," let's check your injuries, alright son?"

The word held a different meaning now, one softer than he had ever known, and a small smile broke through.

"Alright."