Hidden Fates (Hidden Heroes #4)

Chapter 11

The next day, Garrett woke a bit later than usual, but still managed to get in a shortened version of his usual workout routine. Then he showered and dressed before making breakfast. He didn’t usually eat in the morning, preferring a protein shake and coffee. But now that Reese was here, he wanted to make sure she got a proper start to the day.

He made waffles, bacon, and fried up some eggs. When Reese didn’t wake up before it was time for him to leave, he put her plate in the warming oven and left her a note on the counter.

He didn’t want to leave her alone, but this was his first day at the school and after making a stink about it with Principal Ryker yesterday, Garrett felt he needed to be there. He waved at the officers sitting in the patrol car at the end of his driveway as he climbed into his truck. At least he’d have peace of mind knowing Reese would be protected while he was away.

He arrived at the school just before seven o’clock, as he’d promised Principal Ryker the day before. It was hard to believe that was only twenty-four hours ago. So much had happened in such a short amount of time, but Reese was safe, and he was here, ready to work.

“Good morning,” Garrett said to the principal, his tone firm, but cordial. “I trust everything is set up for me to take over my class today?”

“Yes,” Principal Ryker said. “I had the janitor unlock the door about fifteen minutes ago and you should find everything you need already in there.”

Garrett walked down the hallway, lined with metal lockers. He spotted a few water fountains along the way, and a men’s’ and women’s’ restroom. When he got to his classroom, the door was unlocked just like Principal Ryker said it would be, and he went right in.

It wasn’t a particularly large room, but there were twenty five student desks and a teacher’s desk at the front of the room. The building was still fairly quiet, but Garrett figured this would be the perfect time to gather his thoughts and get ready for the day ahead. He laid out his lesson plans, and wrote his name on the chalkboard, feeling odd when he printed Mr. Cooper.

A surge of excitement coursed through him when the first bell rang half an hour later and all the students started flooding into the school. He sighed, taking in the final moments before his first class began. He’d taught and oversaw plenty of classes for other Texas Rangers, law enforcement, and even civilian self-defense courses at local gyms, but this was high school English, and starting right now, he was Mr. Cooper.

The students all wore street clothes, but Garrett noticed they were all dressed nice for the most part. Clean shirts, pants or skirts, nice shoes, and most of the girls even wore modest jewelry. What did catch him off guard a bit was the attitude and rather large chip most of the kids seemed to have on their shoulders, both toward each other and toward him, simply just on sight.

He hadn’t even uttered a single word and they were already looking at him as if he was the enemy they’d need to vanquish. He had no idea if they’d given yesterday’s substitute teacher any problems, but he had something going for him that none of them knew about. He was a Texas Ranger. And no matter what they called him, or whether he wore his badge on his belt or in his pocket, he was here for a reason, and he wasn’t about to be railroaded by a bunch of seventeen and eighteen year olds who thought the world owed them just because they existed and showed up on time.

When the second bell rang indicating the beginning of first period, Garrett turned to face the classroom and took in the overwhelming sight of all his students. He had four more classes to teach today, but Madison Grier was in this class. He had studied her photo, but didn’t see her in the sea of faces. It was possible she was late or absent today, but that didn’t matter right now. He had a class to teach.

“Good morning, my name is Mr. Cooper and I’ll be your English teacher until your regular teacher returns from maternity leave. Before we get started, I need to take attendance, so if you’ll be so kind as to raise your hand when I call your name, it’ll help me remember who you are.”

“Oh, wait up, Teach,” one of the boys with a baseball cap on backwards called out. Garrett had a bad feeling about this kid already because baseball caps were not allowed on school property.

“Please take off your hat, and as I just said, my name is Mr. Cooper and I’d like to be addressed as such.”

“But Madi Padi isn’t here yet,” the kid complained in a mock whiny voice that grated on Garrett almost as much as the sound of nails on a chalkboard.

This was not going to be fun. “Who?” He asked, not understanding what the kid was talking about.

Just then, a blond-haired girl with a stylish bag hanging off one shoulder sauntered into the room. Garrett turned to greet her and remind her that she needed to be in her seat when the second bell rang, when out of the corner of his eye something orange flew in her direction. He jerked to grab it but missed and it hit her square in the chest and fell flat on the floor at her feet.

“Madi Padi,” the kid in the back said, as if to explain.

Madison Grier looked at Garrett with a blank expression, then glared at the kid, picked up the still sealed menstrual pad, tossed it in the trash can next to Garrett’s desk, and quickly found her seat.

Garrett had no idea why the kid dared call her that or why he was so intent on humiliating her in front of everyone, but he was going to put a stop to it right now. He walked right up to Madison and kneeled at her desk. Speaking loud enough for all to hear, he asked, “what’s your name?”

She looked up at him and it was only then that he noticed the moisture in her eyes. She fought valiantly to hide it so he didn’t ask her if she was okay. Instead, he repeated his question. “What is your name?”

She cleared her throat. “Madison. Madison Grier.”

Garrett drew in a breath. She’d spoken too softly for anyone but him to hear her. “Louder. Your name please.”

“Madison Grier,” she said using her full voice, but keeping her eyes cast down.

“And what do you prefer to be called? What do your friends and family call you?”

She swallowed, and he wondered if she even had any friends in this school. “Madison,” she answered using her full voice again.

“Good.” He stood to his full height and stared at the entire class, giving the kid who called her Madi Padi and threw a period pad at her, most of his ire. “This is Madison. If anyone in my class or in my presence calls her anything other than Madison, I will report you to the authorities and you will be arrested on charges of harassment.”

Everyone balked at his words, but Garrett didn’t flinch. Instead, he walked over to the empty trash can and picked out the still sealed pad. Then he carried it over to the kid’s desk and placed it in front of him. “I could call them right now and have you arrested for assault.” The kid looked at him as if in disbelief. But Garrett had no intention of backing down. “If you don’t believe me, I’d be happy to call my friend, who’s with the Dallas Police and he can come down and explain to you just how well within my rights and Madison’s I would be to do so.”

The kid stared speechless for a moment then slouched in his chair. “Nah, it’s cool.”

“No. It’s not.” Garrett walked back to the front of the classroom. “I will not tolerate anything but respect in my classroom, and in my presence. Is that clear?”

Everyone nodded or mumbled the word “yes” under their breaths. Garrett was almost satisfied. He turned his attention to the kid one more time. “Apologize. First to Madison and then to your classmates.”

The kid swallowed. Clearly no one had ever made him take responsibility for his actions. Maybe this was the Texas Ranger in Garrett, or perhaps it was just the human being in him, but there was no way he was going to stand for anything like what he just witnessed. “Apologize now, or I make the call. Your choice.”

“I’m sorry,” the kid said, glaring at Garrett.

Garrett didn’t even know his name yet, but he knew it wasn’t a sincere apology. “And to Madison, please. Make me believe it this time.”

The kid sighed like Garrett had just asked him to run a mile after eating a dozen donuts. “I’m sorry, Madison.” He kept it short and to the point. Good enough for now.

“Okay,” Garrett said. “Now, as I was saying, I’m going to take attendance, so kindly respond when I call your name so that I may remember who you are as we will be spending the next several weeks together, hopefully studying English literature and not basic human decency.”

Thankfully, the rest of the day went by without incident, but Garrett was only too happy when the last bell rang and he could finally get out of there.

It was time to go grab a few things for tomorrow’s barbecue, and then head home to Reese.