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“Whoa,” I said, turning wide eyes to him. “Dude. You’re in enough trouble here.”

“Sorry, sir,” Andy told Tine, nodding. “Rough day.”

“Indeed,” Tine agreed. “I’ll be outside, Monsignor.”

“Mr. Simpson,” O’Shea said as Tine stepped out. “Your attitude, while understandable, is not acceptable. The three of you will comport yourselves as the adults you claim to be. Am I understood?”

We all mumbled our half-hearted agreement.

“I must admit, I’ve never had to deal with a situation quite like this,” O’Shea admitted as he walked back behind his desk and sat down. “I, as I’m sure you all do, prefer that personal matters be handled personally. However, when that results in violence, there is no way that I can avoid intervening.

“Mr. Hix, while I’m sure that your actions were noble, you have to understand that retaliation is not the answer.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, nodding. Honestly, I was shocked to be the one most in control in this situation. I’d never heard Andy speak that way to anyone before. Nor had I ever seen him throw a punch. I was as out of my element as O’Shea claimed to be. “And I do apologize. Truly. Andy asked me to drop it when he wouldn’t tell me who hurt him, but sir…”

“Yes,” O’Shea said, nodding. “It’s hard to do nothing when people we care for are in pain.”

Mark scoffed, drawing O’Shea’s attention to him.

“Mr. Tafta,” O’Shea said coldly. “Your actions are completely unacceptable.”

“I don’t know how you can say that,” Mark said. “Do you condone what he’s done? What he is?”

“What I am?” Andy snapped.

“Cool it,” I muttered, reaching out to take his hand gently.

“You’re fucking disgusting,” Mark spat at me.

“Mr. Tafta!” O’Shea yelled. “That is enough. You are dangerously close to expulsion, so I’d think very carefully before opening your mouth again.”

Mark crossed his arms and slunk down in his chair, glaring at the monsignor.

“I believe all of your parents will be here for family day on Friday,” O’Shea continued. “So we can pause this and resume it with them, or we can handle it now. It’s entirely up to you.”

Andy’s hand squeezed mine so hard I had to buckle my knees to keep from dropping to the floor in pain.

“I think we can agree to a truce now,” I said, my voice hoarse as my eyes watered. “Right guys?”

“I never wanted to be here in the first place,” Andy said, finally slackening his grip on me. “If Mark stays away from me, I’ll forget it ever happened.”

“Like I’d ever touch you again,” Mark said.

“Very well,” O’Shea said, his tone indicating he wasn’t pleased with the outcome. “Mr. Tafta, please excuse us. I’m sure Coach Tine will want to have a word with you as well.”

Mark pushed himself out of his chair and stalked out, slamming the door behind himself.

“Please sit,” O’Shea said softly. “You’re not in trouble. Even though you probably should be.”

Andy and I each took one of the chairs and faced the monsignor.

“I cannot emphasize enough how much I don’t want to have this conversation,” he said. “But is there anything going on between the two of you that should cause me concern?”

“No, sir,” Andy answered immediately.

“Excuse me if I am unable to take your word for it, Mr. Simpson,” O’Shea said. “Mr. Hix?”

“Seriously?” Andy said, rolling his good eye. “Why am I even here, then?”