They were alone a second later. Cora hummed to herself while watching Ryan. His arms were folded over his chest, and his bottom lip stuck out. She couldn’t help but laugh, then tried to cover it.
“What ya laughing at?” he asked.
“Nothing at all.”
Cora ignored him, staring down at her files. Some of the boys today really thought they were so tough. They’d never had it so easy. Mobile phones, video games, cars, the internet, all the crap wasn’t really available to her growing up. She was of the old school of using that historical finding, pencil and paper, the shock. Cora missed those days. She’d seen some of the bad shit that happened with all the modern techs with some of the girls in school.
“You know, they have a whole school network for that shit. Paper is so outdated,” Ryan said, pointing at what she was doing.
Raising her brow, she turned her stare toward Ryan. “You think paper is so outdated?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool, I’ll let the principal know.”
“Please, she wouldn’t change it.”
“I don’t know, I think spending the day of wiping your ass on a tablet will make you all realize that paper has its uses.”
Sharon was aware of her annoyance when it came to boys like Ryan, or the preppy boys from rich families. Cora didn’t mind putting on a smile, being nice and kind, but she wouldn’t take shit from teenagers. That was the problem these days. They expected everyone to bow down, and tread carefully. Cora wasn’t going to take that kind of shit. She’d been in high school many years ago, and she wasn’t going to allow herself to be controlled by that life again. School had long finished for her.
Did the grownups even remember what it was like to be a teenager?
“You can’t talk to me like that,” he said.
“I just did.”
Getting up from her seat, she rounded her desk, and leaned back against it. “Do you really think you’re all that threatening?” Cora asked.
Ryan stood up, showing off his six foot frame. James would tower over this boy.
“Sit down, boy,” she said, folding her arms, and standing up. Even in heels she didn’t match his size.
“I think you’re afraid.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” James said, jerking Ryan back by the scruff of his neck. Even Cora was surprised to see James in the high school.
“Dude, get the fuck off me.”
James put him in his seat and stood in front of him. “You think it’s tough standing over a woman who is shorter than you?” James asked.
Cora was about to interfere when James took the seat next to Ryan. He wasn’t threatening in his manner, and she was curious about his presence.
“Let me make one thing clear. That woman would eat you for breakfast and spit you back out. Don’t ever think you’re better than a woman, tough guy.”
“She couldn’t have taken me,” Ryan said, folding his arms across his chest.
“No? From where you were standing, she could have taken out your balls. When you were gripping those jewels, she’d have grabbed her stapler, and whacked you around the face. That’s just to start off with. Never underestimate a woman, Ryan. You’ll hate it,” James said. “Besides, it’s women you need to respect, and if you think you’re going to get a fuck out of a woman you’ve threatened, you’ve got another think coming.”
“Do you two know each other?” Cora asked.
She’d not seen James at the school.
“I’m a friend of the family. His father was a patched in member, but he took off without a word, leaving his wife with three kids, this guy being one of them,” James said. “What do you have to say to Cora?”
“I’m sorry, Cora.”
“Apology accepted, and James is wrong. I’d have kept kicking you in the nuts,” she said, chuckling. She watched as Ryan went a little pale. He’d learned his lesson.
Ryan actually looked like he was going to break into a smile. He didn’t look upset anymore or alone. The way he kept looking at James told her that he respected him at least.
“Good, I’ve got to talk to your principal, and then your ass is coming back to the club.”
“Where’s Mom?” Ryan asked.
“She’s working at the bank. She called and asked me to come and pick up.”
“Let me guess, she asked you to have a talk with me?” Ryan asked, spitting each word out.
Cora went back to work but couldn’t help listening in.
“Yeah, we’re going to have a talk. You think ‘cause your old man has skipped out, we’ve passed you over? You’re wrong about that. We don’t take boys like you in, Ryan. You’ve got to earn your place, and starting crap in school isn’t going to do it.”