Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky Read Online Free PDF Page B

that he’d have lasted a lot longer than this but. . .
    A gruff voice bul eted through the haze of fists and feet and Carswell was left blessedly alone, curled
    up on the school’s tiled floor. He tasted blood in his mouth. His entire body was throbbing.
    As his senses began to register his surroundings again, he realized that Vice Principal Chambers had
    broken up the fight, but Carswel was too woozy to make sense of his angry words.
    “Carswell?” said a sweet, soft, horrified voice.
    His left eye was already swelling shut, but he peeled open the right to see that Kate was now
    crouched over him. Her fingers were hovering just off his shoulder, like she was afraid to touch him.
    He tried to smile, but felt it probably looked more like a grimace. “Hey, Kate.”
    Her eyes were filled with sympathy, her face still flushed, but she wasn’t crying anymore, and
    Carswell liked to think he’d put an end to that, at least.
    “Are you alright, can you stand?”
    Flinching , he forced himself to sit up, which was a start. Kate helped a little, although she still seemed hesitant to touch him.
    “Ow,” he muttered. His entire abdomen was throbbing and bruised.
    Aces, how embarrassing. He would be investing in some good martial arts simulators after this. Or
    maybe boxing. Outnubmered or not, he’d never be on the losing side of a fistfight again if he could help
    it. “Are you alright, Mr. Thorne?” asked Mr. Chambers.
    Squinting upward, Carswel saw that they’d been joined by two of the tech professors, who were
    standing with their arms folded over Jules and his friends. Everyone was scowling. Rob even looked a
    tiny bit guilty, or maybe he just hated that they’d been caught.
    “I’m grand,” said Carswell. “Thank you for asking, Mr. Chambers.” Then he cringed and rubbed at
    the spot on his side where the jolt of pain had originated from
    Mr. Chambers sighed. “You know that all fighting is against school policy, Mr. Thorne. I’m afraid this
    calls for a one-week suspension. For all four of you.”
    “Wait – no!” said Kate. Then, to Carswell’s surprise she laced their fingers together. HE blinked at
    their hands, then up at her profile, and doubted she even realized she was doing it. “Carswell was
    defending me. They’d taken my portscreen and wouldn’t give it back. It’s not his fault!”
    The vice principal was shaking his head, and though Carswell could tell he felt bad about the
    decision, he also had an expression that suggested there was nothing he could do about it. “School
    rules, Miss Fallow.”
    “But that isn’t fair. He didn’t do anything wrong!”
    “It’s a no-tolerance policy. I’m sorry, but we can’t make exceptions.” Mr. Cambers glanced back at
    the boys. “Mr. Keller, Mr. Doughty, Mr. Mancuso, you can follow me to my office so we can comm your
    parents. Miss Fallow, why don’t you assist Mr. Carswell to see the med-droid.” He attempted sympathy
    when he met Carswell’s one-eyed gaze again. “We’ll comm your parents later.”
    Chin falling to his chest, Carswell cursed under his breath.
    “Miss Fallow, I’ll ask your teacher to forgive your absence for this period.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Chambers,” she murmured, full of resignation.
    As Jules and his friends were escorted away, Carswell allowed himself to lean against Kate and push
    himself onto his wobbly legs, which was another handful of curses and groans.
    “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as he draped an arm around her shoulders and she began escorting
    him toward the med-droid office.
    “Not your fault,” he said through his teeth. Although, now that he had the strenuous effort of
    walking to focus on, the pain almost seemed to be dul ing. Almost. “You get your portscreen?”
    “Yes. Thank you. And I have your bag.” Then she huffed. “I can’t believe they’re suspending you. It
    isn’t fair.”
    He tried to shrug, but it came out as vague flopping of his free arm. “I was already