The Music In Me (boyxboy)

8

Pic of Alyssa

/For future reference, the name Dyani in this book is pronounced 'Dee-ah-nee'

Akinli is 'uh-kin-lee'/

//Check comments for translations//

I bounced my leg nervously, sitting next to my Papa in the principal's office later that day with Ms. Daisy and Mrs. Linn. On the other side of the room sat Mrs. Nickson, her hand resting on her son's.

Nathan's presence made me uneasy, and I didn't dare make eye contact with him.

Principal Manny McCoy sighed behind his desk, shaking his head. "This is a bold accusation, Angelina."

"Ms. Daisy," my music teacher corrected. "And Nathan's actions are twice as bold." Her lips tightened. "Sir," she added as an afterthought.

Mrs. Nickson glanced at her son apprehensively, and I made the mistake of meeting Nathan's gaze. I couldn't make out what he could've been thinking; his face was blank. If anything, he appeared bored. "My son's been on his best behavior. It was only a few days ago that he invited Riley to our house, and I even sent him home with some gifts and a job offer for his mother." She absentmindedly touched her pearl necklace then looked pointedly at Papa, who sat up taller in his chair.

Job offer? That must've been in the envelope she'd put in the basket that she gave me.

"You did, and we thank you for it. But if my child is being hurt, it needs to stop this very instant. And I will do everything to make it so." Papa's accent was thick, and I saw the principal squint his eyes at the sound of his raspy voice. I just about cringed but was calmed by the hand Papa placed on my shoulder.

Mr. McCoy seemed slightly peeved. "This semester has just started. I highly doubt a boy as refined as Nathan could do something like this."

Ms. Daisy leaned forward, narrowing. "And by refined, what exactly are you implying?" Her tone challenged him to be specific, indicating that she knew precisely what he meant.

"That he was raised to be respectful of himself and others, of course," Nathan's mother answered. Her son nodded in agreement, wanting to save his own skin.

"I didn't do anything wrong," he defended.

Ms. Daisy scoffed in disbelief. "Why are we debating this? Mr. Vazquez informed me that Nathan has been caught bullying Riley in the past. Two years ago, I believe. I'm willing to bet nothing has changed."

"He received his punishment," Mrs. Nickson assured. "And learned his lesson. Right, Nathan?" I noticed the uncertainty in her eyes as she turned to her son. If I hadn't gone to their house and understood the way they lived, I would have been fooled by this woman's defensiveness.

It might be a stretch, but a large part of me believed this had everything to do with his father. When Nate's dad returned home while I was there, Nate dragged me into the closet to hide. He was scared of his dad, and honestly the man did seem terrifying. I knew pain when I saw it. And it was all over him. It was all over his mother. Was Mrs. Nickson trying to protect her son from trouble at school or trouble at home?

I tensed up. "This is a waste of time," I mumbled with my tiny voice. "Papa, can we just forget about this?"

"Riley, no," Papa disapproved.

"I agree with the boy," Mr. McCoy said, nodding at me. "This is a completely new school for these kids and a new semester. Nobody witnessed Nathan lifting a finger at him, and quite frankly... there's always going to be drama between the students. It's middle school; it happens."