Slayers (Jake Hawkins Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

told him, he wouldn ’ t care. He would be safe there.
    He had almost made it to the door before a voice cut through the crowd.
    “ Jake Hawkins! ”
    Surrounding students fell silent. Those nearest stared with unsuppressed interest, eyes boring into him. Jake despised the attention. A shiver crept up his spine. He looked over his shoulder to see the vice principal standing right behind him. Mrs Bensley was a craggy old lady, one of the strictest teachers in the school. Her face was displaying a death stare like nothing he had ever seen before.
    “ You need to come with me, right now, ” she said. Her voice was quiet, but filled with rage. “ Your parents have already been contacted and the two boys you assaulted have told us everything, so don ’ t you even think about giving me excuses. ”
    He grimaced. So now his dad knew about this, too. He had been hoping family contact would be left out. Now, the chance of repairing things had gone from slim to nonexistent.
    The worst possible scenario had occurred.
    “ Don ’ t ignore me, young man, ” Mrs Bensley said. “ Follow me, now. ”
    Jake hesitated. This was it. The decision he made would have far-reaching consequences, no matter what he did.
    He didn ’ t move.
    “ Bye, miss, ” he said, realizing his future was now devoid of all hope.
    He sprinted off down the hallway, forcing himself into the crowd of students. Some refused to budge.
    “ What the –” a kid muttered as Jake bumped him. “ Idiot. ”
    Mrs Bensley ’ s cries of protest followed him all the way to the exit, but they were drowned out as he threw open the door and ran out into the storm.
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    The thunderstorm was relentless. It was one of the worst Jake had experienced. Rain fell in sheets so thick he was drenched in seconds. Buffeted by strong winds, the drops blew horizontally and whipped against his body, chilling him to the core. There was no other way to get to training besides taking the bus, so he drew the hood of his jumper up over his head and powered along the pavement.
    It was a five-minute walk to the bus stop. Usually, in a scenario like this he would struggle to suppress the fear that his phone might receive water damage. Now, disabled electronics were the least of his concerns. He welcomed the weather; it reflected his mood. As he strode through the storm, he exhaled, trying to release all the worry built up inside.
    It was bitingly cold. His clothes were already soaked through. The damp material pressed uncomfortably against his skin. Goosebumps sprouted along his arms and neck, giving him an involuntary shiver. The dark sky lit up all of a sudden as a bolt of lightning streaked across the horizon.
    A hand pressed down on his shoulder.
    “ Where you going, bud? ” Liam said.
    “ Kickboxing, ” Jake shouted above the rain.
    Liam was just as soaked. His hair was plastered across his forehead. He had been walking from the opposite direction and Jake hadn ’ t seen him.
    “ Sorted things out with your dad? ”
    “ No way, man, ” Jake said. “ You know it ’ s not going to be easy. ”
    “ Yeah. Thought there might have been a chance. Where have you been all day? ”
    “ Do you know Adrian? ” Jake asked. “ Year 12 guy. Beats up kids for their lunch money? ”
    “ I hate that prick. ”
    “ He tried to rob me at recess. I knocked him out and I think I broke his nose. ”
    Liam was speechless. “ Jake, you know how strict this place is on fighting. What if you get expelled, man? ”
    “ I think I already am. I just, uh, ran away from the vice principal. ”
    “ Are you crazy? What are you doing ? ”
    “ I don ’ t know, man. I don ’ t know what my life will be like ten minutes from now. This might be the last time I see you for a while. ”
    They stood there, staring at each other, oblivious to the rain. Eventually, Liam clapped him on the back and gave him a reassuring smile.
    “ Take care, bud. This will sort itself out. You know it