"Hannah. Hannah, wake up!" Felicity's voice flooded my dreams. "Hannah!" She called again. "You are going to be late for school!" I slightly opened my eyes and started talking half awake.
"It's Saturday, Felicity." I croaked.
"No, it is Friday and you are going to be late for school!" She yanked off my covers. I rolled on my back and opened my eyes all the way. I blinked until I could see felicity clearly.
"I'm too pretty for school." I mumbled.
"Wake up!" I sat up and rubbed my eyes. My side hurt and was bandaged tightly.
"Ok, I hear you. I'm awake."
"Good." She said "Now hurry before we're both late!" She walked out the door. I rolled out of bed and dragged myself to the kitchen.
"How's your side?" Felicity asked putting a bowl of cereal in front of me.
"It's great." I lied. My side still really hurt, but I wasn't about to tell that to anyone. I finished my bowl of cereal and started poking around in the laundry room.
"What are you looking for?" Felicity's voice startled me.
"Um, just my signature outfit." Felicity rolled her eyes. She thought it was childish to have a "Signature outfit" and childish things are not what I need to improve my "Bad grades".
"Hannah the school decided to use school uniforms." She explained.
"Well whose "brilliant" idea was that?" I asked disbelievingly. Instead of answering my question she told me that my clothes would be on my bed.
I went to my room to see what crazy thing the school had cooked up now. There was a collard white shirt with a black that had the school crest on it. There was also a green plaid skirt that came with long, black socks and black shoes. I groaned and put the outfit on careful not to ruin the bandage on my waist. I went back to the kitchen where felicity was waiting for me with my backpack. I grabbed it, hugged Felicity, and ran to the school bus. It hurt to run, but Felicity was watching me so I just ignored the pain.
The bus let me off at the school parking lot and Miss Blanchard was waiting for the students at the entrance to the school. Everyone was wearing the same thing, except the boys wore black pants. It made me sick.
I walked reluctantly into the school. Mary Margaret shut the door and led the students to their classroom. I dropped to the back of the group. The halls seemed longer than ever. I could just leave. No one's paying attention to me. I pushed the thought aside. I tried to run away once, and it didn't work very well. I don't have to run away. Just pretend to stay home because of my side.
I looked around for any way of escape. The tenth graders were heading to their class just across from the room where I normally go. I hopped into their group right as the last of my class went into the room. Then as the tenth graders went into their room, I went down the hall to the water fountain. I took a drink and headed for the door.
"Hey!" A voice sounded from behind me. I froze and braced myself to be chewed out. "Miss Blanchard's class is that way." I turned around to see the school janitor wiping his hands off and walking to me. I searched my brain for an excuse.
"Um, the nurse is sending me home to rest because of my side." I lied.
"Your side, eh?" I had to hold back a laugh at his southern accent. "I don't believe a lick of it." He said. "I've had many students pretend injuries on me." I bit my lip knowing that I was busted. Then I remembered that my side really was hurt. Before I could tell him he asked to see my side. I lifted up my shirt just enough for him to see the bandage. He scratched his bald head embarrassed. "Eh, you wouldn't believe how many of you childs try to lie to me. Go on then." And with that I walked out the door to avoid any further questioning.
I walked to the sheriff's station to see if I could talk to graham. When I walked in I couldn't see Graham at first until I heard him shuffling around under his desk.
"Graham can I talk to you?" I asked. He tried to stand up but hit his head on the desk. He stood up right this time and rubbed where he had hit it.
"Not now, Hannah." He said as he picked up his coffee. He looked more tired than usual. His curly, brown hair was matted and his movements were sloppy. He took a sip of his drink and dropped the cup onto a pile of papers. "No, no, no!" He shouted. The papers ripped as he tried to pick them up. He sat down in his chair and stared at the wall. "All that work ruined." He looked at me. "What?" He practically whispered.
"I… I just wanted to know something…" I felt bad about causing him all that trouble then forgetting what I wanted to ask.
"What?" He said more harshly. I ditched my old question and came up with a new one.
"Are you okay?" He stared at me a little longer.
"No." He answered honestly. He leaned forward in his chair. "Hannah right now I really need your help."
"What is it?" I asked more interested.
"Regina Mills is missing."