Chapter 2
"Hello class. My name is Mr Schmurman. I will be taking your lessons from now on." The man who stood in front of the blackboard surveyed the class from behind his thick spectacles as he spoke, his nasal voice echoing slowly through the room as he plodded his way through each word.
"Where's Dr Oliver?" asked Ethan, confusion etched on his features. In fairness, every other face in the room echoed this confusion, barring Mr Schmurman's.
"That is none of your concern…" the teacher replied in the same dull, sluggish tone.
"What about Kira? Where is she?" This time it was Trent who had spoken up, having noticed that, despite it being obvious that his classmate (who normally sat near the front) was absent, the teacher had not commented on it as Dr Oliver would have done.
"I think that is enough questions, class. Open your text books to page 57…"
"No. Mr Schmurman, I appreciate that you probably have nothing to do with all this, but I'm going to see Principal Randall," said Conner, standing up. "You may not be able to give me some answers, but she might." Ethan and Trent followed him out of the room. Mr Schmurman half-heartedly threatened them with detention, but he'd heard enough about the principal to know that if they were actually willing to skip class to confront her then they could go right ahead. They'd probably end up with detention until they hit thirty if the abounding rumours were true.
Knock, knock.
"Come in…" The boys burst into the principal's office without waiting for her to finish.
"Principal Randall, what's happened? Why aren't they here?" demanded Conner, flanked by Trent on his left and Ethan on his right. The woman caught on quickly.
"I…I don't really think that's any of your business, is it?" she countered.
"But…" objected Ethan.
"I can't tell you, Mr James. Get that into your head!" She sighed. "Look, I want to tell you, but I can't." Trent pushed his way in front of the other two and knelt down slightly so that he could speak with her at eye level (she was sitting at her desk and not likely to move any time soon).
"Please, Elsa. Look, I know there are rules, but we're really worried about them. Mesagog's gone, and I know that should mean that we're less concerned, but we're more panicked now than ever. Please, you have to tell us if they're in trouble. I'm begging you." He'd hit a soft spot. Elsa felt guilty for Trent having been evil, and for putting the teens through such turmoil, for forcing them to grow up so fast.
"Okay - Trent, you can't tell anyone that I told you. None of you can. I could go to prison for this, but… Yes, they're in trouble, but not that kind of trouble. Tommy's been suspended from teaching because…he's been arrested. Kira's mother is having him held for sexual abuse against her daughter. The hearing is next week."
Didn't think I'd be updating quite so soon, but I got reviews! Thank you! I know this isn't amazingly long, but a) there will be chapters which are longer, and b) this means updates will be more frequent :) Okay?
Please review as I go along with this - I don't need chapter-by-chapter comments like I need oxygen, but I do shrivel and die inside if I feel unloved!
