Joan opened the door to the roof softly, careful not to make any noise and startle Macey. She peered out at the shadowy rooftop, the sun falling beneath the horizon, creating a beautiful sunset. A figure, darkened by the sunset, sat on the edge of the roof, legs swung over the edge.
"Macey?" Joan spoke through the silence of the rooftop, the New York City hustle bustle noise only a quiet hum at the height of the Brownstone.
Macey wiped her tears away quickly, not wanting anyone to see her crying out of sadness.
Joan took a seat by her, carefully positioning her legs over the edge in a way that she felt safe enough that she was sure she wouldn't plummet to her death. "Are you okay?"
Macey nodded, regaining her composure. "Yeah. I'm used to being called a criminal…" Her voice cracked, alerting Joan to more oncoming tears.
Joan placed her hand on Macey's back and waited for her reaction.
Macey leaned into Joan and laid her head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for the way I act…it's just the way I deal with people."
"You keep people at a distance so they don't get hurt…and so you don't either. I know." Joan rubbed her back and gazed out at the sunset.
Macey let out a soft laugh. "You're an expert, aren't you?"
"Well, I've dealt with it for the past year." Joan smiled at the memories and at how far her relationship with Sherlock had gotten.
Macey looked at her. "You have kids?"
Joan laughed. "Oh, no. I was actually referring of my time with Sherlock."
Macey looked disappointed. "Oh."
"You know, if I ever did have kids, I'd want them to be just like you, Macey." Joan changed the subject slightly. She had forgotten about the fight with Sherlock already.
"You mean an ex-criminal with a bad attitude?" Macey half-joked.
"Well, maybe not that…but, I'd like my future daughter to have your ability to know when you've crossed a line, reign in your anger, and try to stay out of trouble…even if you've had a little trouble along the way." Joan wiped a stray tear from Macey's face and gazed into her eyes. "I want my future daughter to have your aspiration to do good and be good. I want you to know that even though you've done some bad things –I don't know what they are, but it doesn't matter- that it is never too late to change."
"All it takes is some hard work." Macey repeated Joan's words from earlier that day.
"Exactly." Joan smiled and hugged Macey.
"Thank you, Miss Watson." Macey spoke into Joan's ear, tears of happiness dripping onto Joan's shirt.
Joan released and they looked into each other's eyes. "Call me Joan."
…
Macey stared at the ceiling, counting the cracks. So far she had counted seventy-five in the time she had been up, waiting for the alarm clock to sound. She hadn't been tired when she had retired to her bedroom, seeing as it was the middle of the day in London, so she had been up the whole night counting cracks. As the night wore on though, she had begun to feel the effects of jet-lag, her eyelids getting heavier and the attempts to keep them open becoming harder and harder. When she finally did close her eyes and drift off, her alarm clock beeped and buzzed meaning one thing. School.
Macey hit the snooze button, hoping Joan would allow her to get a few minutes of sleep before she would have to endeavor the frightening adventure of going to a new school.
Joan stood outside Macey's bedroom door, waiting for any sort of movement. When she didn't hear anything, she assumed Macey had hit the snooze button. Joan allowed it, knowing this gesture would earn her some major brownie points and strengthen the bond they had created due to last night's events.
Joan opened one of the cupboards and began to make three bowls of cereal. She went to the fridge and rummaged around, looking for non-expired milk. When she closed the door, she almost screamed when Sherlock was standing there.
Joan looked behind him at Macey's closed door and sighed. "I think you should make yourself scarce. We don't want a replay of last night." Joan whispered.
Sherlock ducked his head. "I wanted to tell her that I'm sorry…" He whispered back.
Joan nodded. "Okay, but not now. Not before her first day of school." Joan poured him a bowl of cereal and handed it to him.
Sherlock nodded and took his bowl, returning to his room immediately.
Joan felt pity for him. She knew that his temper was still a little uncontrollable; he had proved that last night. She knew he didn't mean it at all, his efforts to apologize showed just that.
Macey's alarm sounded again, this time being turned off instead of hitting snooze again.
Joan placed the two bowls of cereal on the dining table and took her seat, soon hearing rustling behind Macey's door.
The doors opened, Macey appearing between them. She peeked out, tiredly. "No Sherlock?"
"No. He is eating breakfast in bed today." Joan smiled, motioning her towards the cereal.
Macey sat and began to eat.
"So, did you sleep well?" Joan asked, taking a bite of her cereal.
"I slept for ten minutes." Macey mumbled through a mouthful of cereal.
Joan blinked. "Ten minutes? Was the mattress too lumpy?"
Macey shook her head. "No…I think it's just the jet-lag."
Joan nodded. "Oh. I'm sorry. At least your first day is an easy one. You'll be dropped off by Captain Gregson and the principal will be escorting you to his office. He'll help you pick out a few classes and introduce you to the teacher that will be accompanying you to your classes. He'll also name a few students that are especially friendly, so you won't be alone. Lunch is at noon, so I'd eat your fill."
Macey nodded, her appetite disappearing. She knew that she shouldn't be nervous, but knowing that she'd be singled out by everyone as the new kid made her stomach twist and churn. She choked down another mouthful and pushed it away.
"I'm going to take a shower…is that alright?" Macey stood.
"Of course. The bathroom is out that door and down the hallway. Last door on your left." Joan pointed.
Macey nodded. "Thanks. I'll be out in ten minutes."
"Take your time. School starts at eight."
Macey noted the time. Six-thirty. "I don't want to leave you with cold water…"
"Don't worry. I don't take a shower until after my morning jog; it'll be warmer by then." Joan suddenly realized Macey's concern. "Are you only allowed ten minutes in London?"
Macey nodded. "Ms. Winston tells us that ten minutes is too much. She tells us it is the max limit, seeing as there are twenty girls in the home."
Joan nodded, knowing she shouldn't push anymore. She wouldn't want to break the bond she had started.
Macey took her leave, ready to enjoy a warm wash before the nerve-racking day.
…
"You'll be fine, sweetheart. I'm sure you'll fit right in." Captain Gregson spoke, turning into the schools parking lot.
Macey nodded, feeling too sick to speak.
"Have a nice day. I'll pick you up at three in this spot. Okay?"
Macey nodded again. She swallowed and jumped out onto the sidewalk, immediately being greeted by a brown-haired man seeming to be in his mid-forties.
Captain Gregson waved and drove off, leaving Macey to fend for herself.
"Hello there, young lady. What is your name?" He spoke in a cheery voice.
Macey bit the inside of her mouth, keeping all the snarky comments inside. "Macey Ann Holmes."
"That is a very pretty name, honey. My name is Principal Mario Polez, but you can call me Mr. Polez or Principal Polez." He grabbed her hand and began to lead her into the building.
Macey immediately felt uncomfortable. She slipped her hand out from his and stepped away. "Sorry…I kinda don't like to be touched…"
He nodded and put his hand on her back, leading her into his office.
Macey rolled her eyes. 'What did I just say?' Macey thought in annoyance.
She took a seat in the chair across from his, his desk separating them.
He folded his hands on the desk and gave a warm smile, looking her over.
Macey shifted uncomfortably, wishing she had worn something less revealing. She was dressed in a black dress, the hem coming just above her knees. The sweetheart neckline accentuating her smaller breasts and the straps making her shoulders narrower.
Macey cleared her throat. "So, what classes are offered here?"
"Oh, yes!" He reached under his desk and produced a large booklet. He scooted it closer to her and let her look it over.
Her eyes scanned over the page until she came across an interesting class. 'Crime investigation 101'.
"What's this?" She asked, pointing at the title.
He leaned over and let out a laugh. "Oh, that's our class that is offered to boys who want to be cops."
"What about girls? Or do you not think girls can be cops?" Macy accused, her glare becoming intense.
Mr. Polez backed up. "Oh, I didn't mean… It can be taken by girls, but you'd be the only girl…"
"I don't see a problem with that. I am very independent." Macey smirked.
Mr. Polez nodded quickly, trying not to anger her again. "Okay…I'll sign you up. Your teacher with be Mr. Matherson in room 0822. You'll need five other classes for yourself to be considered a student at Xavier High."
Macey scowled. She didn't want to be a student at Xavier High; she didn't want to be a student at all.
She picked the booklet up again and scanned it, looking for any more classes relating to crime justice or detective work. After much scanning and contemplation, she picked out 'Debate/Speech', Computer sciences, Chemistry, DNA analysis and genetics, and just for fun, choir.
"Great! Now that we have you in some classes, it's time to introduce you to the teacher that will be accompanying you everywhere." He stood and opened his office door. "She's new here, but has grasped the layout of the school brilliantly! Let me introduce you to Miss Adler."
Miss Adler stepped into the room and held out a slender, perfectly manicured hand. "Hello, darling. It's very nice to meet you."
Macey glanced down at her hand and shook her head. "As I've already told this bozo here, I don't like to be touched."
The principal gasped. "Name calling is not tolerated!"
Macey groaned. She had tried, she really had, but being 'nice' wasn't easy for her. "Sorry." She muttered.
Miss Adler motioned for Macey to exit before her and they made their way into the hallway. The hallway was eerily empty and the narrow heels of Miss Adler's boots echoed loudly.
"So, who are you?" Macey asked, her voice drowning out the annoying clicking of heels against linoleum.
"Miss Adler, your accompanying teacher. I will be escorting you to each class and attending them as well. I look forward to learning many new things with you." She smiled, earning an annoyed look from Macey.
"Don't force a smile. It's just sad." Macey smirked.
"What do you mean?"
"You are trying way too hard to be nice." Macey explained. "And anyways, I didn't mean who are you during school hours, I meant who you are. Like, who are you out of school? Do you have another job? Tell me about Miss Adler."
Miss Adler seemed surprised. "Oh, you want to know about me. Well, where do I start?" She thought up a story. "My name is Irene…I grew up in New York-"
"Lie."
"What?" Irene stared at her blankly.
"You didn't grow up in New York. I can tell by the way you hide your accent."
"If I'm not from New York, where do you think I'm from then?" Irene glared straight ahead, nerves on edge. How much could this young girl deduce about her?
"I'm guessing somewhere in the UK."
"You'll have to be more specific, love." Irene slipped up, her accent peeking through.
"I'm guessing…somewhere around Thames." Macey smiled as she observed Irene becoming more and more nervous. She didn't know it, but by giving Macey these signals, she was becoming more transparent with everything Macey guessed. When Irene relaxed, Macey had guessed wrong. When Irene tensed, she guessed right. "When you spoke the first time, your consonants were weak. In the Estuary English accent you are trying to conceal, the consonants are not as important. Sometimes people with the accent drop the consonants all together. And the fact that you just called me 'love' backs me up all the more."
Irene grunted. "You're smart."
Macey grinned. "You don't have to tell me that. I'm smarter than everyone I meet."
The pair stopped in front of their first class. A large choir room with about twenty five girls socializing inside.
"Choir… You couldn't have picked something more interesting?" Irene spoke, dropping the American accent cover-up all together.
Macey scoffed. "If you don't like it, leave. I won't run." She winked and entered the room.
Irene followed and stood by the door. "The class is half over. You still have thirty minutes to meet new people and meet the teacher."
Macey nodded and left Miss Adler behind.
All the girls paused and quieted down as Macey stepped into their line of sight. They watched as she took a seat on the risers, leaning back and making herself comfortable.
Macey scanned their faces and scowled. "What are you looking at? Go back to gabbing and gossiping."
They began to whisper and snicker, gossiping and beginning cruel rumors about the new girl.
"Who are you?" A girl, about 5'10, spoke pushing through the large group of girls. She was wearing a pink polo shirt, a black skirt that barely covered her butt, and a pair of tennis-shoe heels. Her blonde hair and blue eyes plus her extremely revealing outfit confirming that she was one of the girls deemed 'popular'. Or in Macey's vocabulary, 'slut'.
"My name is Macey and I'm guessing you're the leader of the class."
"Lucky guess. I'm Raine. Daughter of the principal." She flipped her hair and jutted her hip out, her hand resting there in a pose that was meant to be sassy.
"Ah, I see. And if I don't listen to you and agree to sign my soul over to you, you'll get me in trouble." Macey grimaced.
"That's right."
Macey stood and walked over to her. "I'm guessing this attitude comes from the fact that you are all pain. You're lonely and jealous because your father doesn't want anything to do with you. He's too busy being a pedophile and looking at other little girls."
Raine gasped and backed away. "My dad is not a pedophile!"
Macey shrugged. "You're seeing it differently. You see your dad 'bonding' with your friends you bring home and you feel a fire within. The way you think of it, they're stealing your dad and that your dad likes them more than you. Part of that is true, though. He does like them better."
Raine started bawling and collapsed to the floor.
"Why do you have to be such a bitch?" A girl snapped at Macey, kneeling beside Raine and comforting her.
Macey looked at all the other girls, their eyes all fixed on her in a deathly glare.
Macey laughed nervously. "So…who wants to be my friend?"
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