43. Levi

43

LEVI

A s we sit in the waiting area outside the dean's office, the seconds drag by like hours. Each tick of the clock on the wall amplifies our agitation. Archer is pacing the floor, his frustration visible in every step, while Zane sits beside me, his eyes fixed on the door as if sheer willpower could make it open faster.

"We've been here for almost an hour," Zane mutters, glaring at the clock. "How much longer are they going to make us wait?"

"It's a tactic," Archer replies, his tone edged with anger. "They think we'll give up and leave."

"Well, they've got another thing coming," I say, leaning forward. "We're not going anywhere until we get some answers."

Archer looks at each of us, determination mingling with worry in his eyes. "We have to make them listen. They can't just brush us off."

Just then, the administrator returns from where she disappeared, looking frazzled. There's a hardness in her expression. "I'm sorry, but the dean is busy right now. He can't see you."

Archer stands up, his eyes blazing. "We have serious concerns about what's going on with Lyric Shaw. This isn't something that can wait."

The woman shakes her head. "I understand your concerns, but the dean has other priorities. Besides, it's not appropriate for students to get involved in each other's personal matters."

Zane stops pacing and steps closer, his voice low and dangerous. "If you don't let us speak to someone who can actually help, we'll take this higher. We'll take legal action if necessary. Action—whatever it takes to ensure Lyric's safety."

The woman's eyes widen slightly and she glances nervously back at the closed office door. "I'll see what I can do," she mutters finally, her tone grudging. "Please wait here."

She disappears once again, leaving us in the tense silence. I can feel the anger rolling off my brothers. We're not going to let this slide. Not now, not ever.

They can't just brush us off like we're nuisances. They can't just shove us aside and pretend everything is fine.

My heart aches as I think of Lyric being searched and questioned at the campus police station, all alone, wondering what's going to happen to her.

Archer starts muttering to himself, his agitation increasing with each minute that passes. Finally, the administrator returns after five minutes, looking irritable.

"The associate dean will meet with you if you'll just follow me," she says. I jump to my feet and follow Archer and Zane as we beeline toward his office.

Associate Dean Chambers is sitting at his desk when we walk in. "What can I do for you boys?" he asks, his tone entirely too light-hearted for this situation. He looks like he's trying to stay calm, but I see right through him.

"Cut the crap," Archer growls. I reach out and put a hand on his arm, trying to rein him in. We can't afford to piss off the dean's office, no matter how powerful our parents are.

"Excuse us," I tell him. "We just want to know what's going on and why Lyric is being targeted."

"As you know, we take accusations of illegal activities seriously on this campus," Dean Chambers says, sitting up and adjusting his plaid tie. "There were several reports that Ms. Shaw has been trafficking drugs from her dormitory. We are currently investigating the reports."

Archer looks pissed. "That's bullshit," he snaps. "She's being targeted in a campaign of harassment."

"I'm afraid that until things have been proven otherwise, she's still under investigation," Chambers says, an apologetic look in his eyes. "But there's also the issue of her conduct."

"Her conduct?" Zane asks, raising an eyebrow.

Chambers reaches into his desk and pulls out a handbook, placing it in front of us. "Sterling Heights has a code of conduct that all students must abide by," he explains. "Miss Shaw is in violation of several rules. She will need to go before a disciplinary board and have a hearing."

My mouth drops open "What?" I ask, worry flooding me. "Seriously? You guys are going to expel her because she's not living up to your standards?"

"Mr. Cooper, she will have her chance to present her case in front of the board," Chambers states, steepling his fingers together. "The hearing will begin next week, but until then, she's suspended from classes."

Archer and I exchange glances, both thinking the same thing. This isn't good. Lyric is being targeted with this attack.

Archer releases a long breath. "Can we bring in a lawyer to represent her?"

"Mr. Hudson, this isn't a criminal trial. There's no need to bring in the big guns," Chambers says, looking both nervous and amused at the same time. "You're welcome to speak on her behalf, though."

Archer nods. "We'll be there," he says, standing up. "Let's go," he mutters. We head out, immediately bee-lining for the campus police station.

Once we arrive, Lyric is sitting in the lobby looking shaken up. "Levi!" she calls my name as she throws herself at me. I envelop her in a tight hug, whispering soothing words to her.

"Did you find out anything?" she asks, looking up at Zane and Archer.

"You're being investigated," Archer says, mouth set in a grim line. "They're accusing you of dealing drugs and shit."

Lyric sighs. "I know. They told me as much when they brought me here."

"It gets worse," I add, stroking her hair out of her eyes. "They're saying you've violated the student code of conduct. You have to go in front of a disciplinary board next week."

A shudder passes through her, her eyes welling up with tears. "I can't believe this is happening."

"It has to be Madison and Cameron and the Sigma's behind this," Zane mutters, anger in his tone. "They worked together to get revenge on you."

"I'm scared," Lyric admits. "I'm terrified that I'm going to be expelled."

Archer rests a hand on her shoulder. "We aren't going to let that happen, Songbird. We're going to be with you every step of the way."

We gather her things up from the guy behind the desk and head out to go get Eli. He's safe at the daycare for now, but I know all of us would rather be able to keep an eye on him ourselves.

As we walk, Lyric clings to us tightly, as though afraid to let go. This entire situation is so ridiculous, so infuriating.

She doesn't deserve this kind of attack. Even at our worst, we never stooped so low as to get her in trouble with the university or have her threatened with expulsion.

It puts our behavior into a new light, though, making me realize just how fucked up some of the shit we pulled on her must have been. We also isolated her from any kind of support, so I can't even imagine how she dealt with it before now.

She sniffles, tears leaking out of her eyes and guilt seizes my heart.

"I'm sorry," I blurt out, looking down at her. "We put you through hell and you didn't deserve it. I guess I'm just now realizing how bad it was for you before."

"As bad as it was," Lyric begins, looking back up at me, "it was never as bad as this. I never worried that you would report me for illegal activities that I wasn't doing or that you'd get me expelled. You threatened my scholarship, but even without that, I could have made it work. This is something I can't come back from."

"You won't have to worry about anything," Archer vows. We reach the daycare and I head inside to pick up Eli. Lyric has been crying and we don't want our son to pick up on it. Lyric has added us to the list of people allowed to pick him up, so when I go inside, they recognize me right away and hand him over.

"Hey, little man!" I say, bouncing him in my arms and trying to pretend everything is fine. "How was school?"

"Hi, Dada Lee!" Eli says, a grin on his face. He's got trouble pronouncing Levi so he calls me Dada Lee, which I find adorable. I bury my face against his little neck, inhaling his baby scent as I carry him back outside.

"Hi, baby," Lyric says, reaching for him as soon as we emerge. Eli reaches for her and she takes him into her arms. "Did you have a good day?"

He nods, pulling himself to her shoulder for a hug. Lyric carries him as we head for her dorm, our place of refuge amid all this turmoil.

When we arrive, Zane busies himself getting Eli settled into his room to play quietly so the four of us can talk.

"What are we going to do?" Lyric asks, twisting her fingers together. Her face is lined with worry, anxiety nearly palpable radiating off her.

"We're going to deal with it," Archer promises, his voice firm. "We're going to go up and hear whatever bullshit they have to say about your conduct and point out all the ways they're wrong and we'll fight to clear your name."

"We're going to do whatever it takes to protect you, baby,' I tell her, taking her hands in mine. "We're going to throw everything we've got at this to fix it. You don't need to worry about a thing, okay?"

Lyric leans into me, a sigh escaping her. "I trust you guys. This is just stressful."

"I know," I murmur, kissing her forehead. "But we're going to make it go away. We'll do whatever it takes."

I hope I've calmed her with my words. I'm not sure she'll be able to relax until this is resolved, but for now, all we can do is try to weather this storm, together.