Free Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

that reveals a raw and ruthless spirit.
    “Well, well. I guess the rumors are true,” she tells me. “Luis Fuentes has definitely grown up.”
    Marco laughs. “I think you’ve got yourself a fan club, Luis.”
    “You should come out with all of us on Saturday night,” Mariana says.
    “I’ve got to work,” I tell her.
    “That sucks. What if we—”
    A blaring voice over the loudspeakers scattered throughout the courtyard cuts her off. “Luis Fuentes, please report to Principal Aguirre’s office immediately . Luis Fuentes, report to Principal Aguirre’s office immediately, ” the voice bellows again just in case for some miraculous reason I hadn’t heard the first time.
    Marco lets out a low whistle. “In trouble with Aguirre on the first day of school, Fuentes?” he asks, amused. “He’s probably been alerted that we were friends back in grade school. Got in our share of trouble, didn’t we?”
    “Sure did.” Marco and I had been in the same homeroom and sat next to each other for practically every class. I always earned good grades, but Marco could always convince me to be his partner in crime.
    “Did you get called in, too?” I ask him.
    “First thing this mornin’. Aguirre’s a hard-ass and will try to scare you into playin’ by his rules. He’ll try to get you to talk, but keep your mouth shut. It’ll totally piss him off. It’s hilarious watchin’ his face get all red.”
    “I bet it has to do with that fight with Dougan in the locker room,” Pedro chimes in.
    “Good luck,” Mariana says.
    “Thanks,” I say, hoping that I don’t need it.
    I find the front office a few minutes later. An old woman behind the front desk looks frazzled as students stand around impatiently requesting class schedule changes or signing up for appointments with the guidance counselor.
    I figure I’ll wait in line instead of announcing my arrival. I’m not looking forward to facing Aguirre. Marco isn’t the only one who declared him a hard-ass. My brothers warned me that their old principal didn’t take any prisoners.
    The door opens to Aguirre’s office and a tall guy wearing a suit and tie appears. “Fuentes!” he yells above the noise. He scans the room until his eyes lock on mine. He doesn’t look thrilled to see me. “In my office,” he orders.
    I weave my way through the crowd.
    Aguirre is holding a manila folder with my name typed on it as he sits on the edge of his desk. “Come in, Luis. Sit down.”
    I sit in one of his guest chairs and look around the room. Fairfield High School memorabilia is scattered on the walls, as well as pictures of Aguirre with old alumni. A tennis player, an NFL quarterback, and a news anchor are a few of the alumni pictures posted. Impressive.
    I wonder if in ten years I’ll be in a picture with Aguirre that’s permanently displayed in his office.
    Not right now, though. Right now Aguirre is looking at me with a mixture of annoyance and anger.
    “The last time I had a Fuentes called into my office, it was your brother Alex. He was a magnet for trouble.” He slaps my file on the table. “I assumed you’d be different, Luis. You were a straight-A student at Flatiron High. That school is ranked as the second-best high school in Colorado for academics. You were in the honor society, active in student council, played soccer, and were cocaptain of the swim team.”
    I nod. “Yes, sir.”
    He leans forward. “So why the hell are you getting in fights in the locker room?”
    I shrug. “I don’t know.”
    Aguirre lets out a deep breath. “If I had a dollar every time I heard a student say I don’t know , I’d be a millionaire. No, a billionaire. I have a zero tolerance policy. Whatever altercation happened between you and Justin Dougan in the locker room has become my problem. You want to know what I do with my problems?”
    I don’t answer.
    He leans forward again and speaks in a quiet, slow voice meant to capture my undivided attention. “My problems