It wasn''t until two periodster that Percy finally returned. He slumped into his seat, his expression dark and stormy.


    An air of violence radiated off him so strongly that even Stacy didn''t dare get too close.


    Several boys with bruised faces trailed in behind him, and Scarlett recognized them instantly.


    They were Jonah''sckeys. The very ones who had tormented her terribly in her previous life.


    Beside her, Stacy''s cautious voice floated over.


    "Percy, are you hurt anywhere?" she asked, full of concern. "I bought you ibuprofen, some antibiotic ointment, muscle pain relief spray, lidocaine patches, medicated cooling spray, extra-strength painkillers, Band-Aids..."


    Scarlett''s mouth twitched. Was she trying to move an entire pharmacy over here?


    Percy scowled impatiently. "I beat them up, not the other way around! Take all that stuff away!" he snapped.


    Stacy looked a little wounded. "But your hand looks injured. Let me at least put a Band-Aid on it?" she offered, almost pleading.


    Percy nced down at the back of his hand, thenzily held it out, letting her carefully stick a Band-Aid on the injury.


    At that moment, Mike stormed into the ssroom, mming a pile of books onto his desk with a loud thud, clearly fuming.


    "Percy, stand up!" Mike barked.


    Percy, far from obeying, leaned back casually in his chair. One of his arms draped over the backrest, exuding an air of reckless defiance.


    Stacy was swooning beside him. She raised her voice to a squeal. "Oh my God, he''s so cool!"


    Scarlett was struck dumb.


    Raising an eyebrow, Percy drawled, "Why should I stand? If anyone should be standing, it''s the ones who spread those disgusting rumors about me!"


    Then he added sharply, "Mr. Sawyer, if you''re nning to make me write a reflection essay or p a disciplinary action on me, they''d better be getting the same treatment. Otherwise, I''m not epting it."


    "Do you even realize you hit someone first? Whoever throws the first punch is automatically in the wrong!" he said exasperatedly.


    "You injured Jonah!" Mike continued. "He''s the top student in the school, and he''s supposed to represent us at the Elite Math Tournament next month. He was our best chance at winning the championship! And you broke his right hand! Do you even understand the consequences of what you''ve done?"


    Percy smirked, all cocky confidence.


    "Yeah, I get it. The consequence is that ss F''s going to take home the championship instead.


    He even shot Scarlett a cheeky wink. "Good luck, little fighter. ss F''s counting on you!"


    Scarlett remained silent, her expression unreadable, clearly signaling that she wasn''t open to anyments or teasing at the moment.


    Mike looked like he was about to explode.


    "Percy," he ground out, "why couldn''t you just behave like you did yesterday? Why did you have to pick a fight with Jonah? Do you know who his family is? The Quinn family aren''t people you can mess with."


    "Mr. Sawyer," Percy saidzily, "maybe you should get your facts straight. He came looking for trouble, not me."


    "Even if he provoked you, couldn''t you just walk away?" Mike snapped.


    "Why should I?" Percy shot back without hesitation. "If I walked away, would you avenge me?"


    Percy added, "Besides, isn''t he supposed to be some kind of genius? Ambidextrous, right? So`l broke his right hand-he canjust write with his left."


    ???


    For a second, it looked like Mike might pass out from rage. In the pointed furiously at the door.


    end, he


    "GetOut! Stand in the hallway! I''m


    starting ss!"


    "I''m not going," Percy said.


    Mike took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.


    "I want to attend ss, Mr. Sawyer," Percy said smugly. "Are you going to deny


    me my right to an education?"


    Mike held back the urge to scream. After a long pause, he said through gritted teeth, "Fine. But if I catch you not paying attention, you''re out!"


    Then he swept a stern re over the bruised boys sitting nearby.


    "And the rest of you! Same deal! Either sit quietly and listen, or get out!"


    Without a word, the boys stood up and filed out of the ssroom.


    Clearly, they preferred hanging out in the hallway over sitting through ss.