The day went by fast, but not fast enough. My last period class was theater with Ms. Laveau. Acting was not something I was looking forward to.

"CHEELDREN sit down so we can fin'lly bagin," She says from the center stage.

I sat next to Violet, who was also in my class. Tate and Kit set to my right.

She began passing some papers to the class, Shakespere stuff. "Now child wit da blond hair ovah there, miss Lowe? and that gentleman ova there, git on over here and recite this. Youse is Juliet and Youse is Romeo."

My face was a tomato. I was so scared but Tate was my partner so I felt okay.

We did our lines, and the class clapped. "Dat was da best thing I eva heard. Youse two have reaal chemistry!"

I beamed at her "Thank you!"

A girl in my class, short frizzy hair and raccoon make up, doesn't clap. She just sits there with her arms crossed. Her name was Sally, but people called her Hypodermic Sally for some reason. Though only behind her back, of course. "I could do better she mumbles."

"I rolled my eyes. Let's see you try" I say.

"Don't waste your time," Tate says casually. "You were great. I probably would have sucked if I was paired up with someone else."

Tate complimenting ME? He never compliments anyone.

Hypodermic Sally looked a little hurt, but she played it off by switching her attention to her nails. "Just watch," she says.

So she volunteers and she reads the script with Kit and it was good, but not as good as me- according to Ms. Laveau anyway.

"Sit down, we've heard ah-nough."

Ms. Laveau ends the class but before we could go, she tells me to see the dean, Ms. Countess.

I wonder what the Dean could have want with me?

I march to the office, which is cold and smells like mints. The dean, who is on a rolley chair facing the window, wheels around to face me. "Oh miss Lowe, you're here!"

I take a seat in front of her. "Yes, you wanted to see me?"

"Oh yes. It's about what happened earlier in class. I-" I know where she was going with this so I cut her off.

"That was just a misunderstanding. My father, he can be a little hard to deal with at times." To this, she simply quirks a brow. "I see… I assumed that you were upset about the death of Mr. Drake."

"Oh I am!" I immediately say. "That and my dad being there to speak with the class. I just needed fresh air."

"Okay. I just thought to offer you counseling in case you found it hard to get over." She smiles.

"No, that won't be necessary. I'm a strong person, I have to be for my father and for myself."

She doesn't say anything, she just smiles kindly at me. "Well, that's it. You can go now."

I leave the room, breathing out a sigh of relief. I did not want to be there again.

Outside Tate, Kit, and Violet were waiting outside for me. Kit was the first to talk.

"I take it that it didn't go so well?"

"No it was fine," I smiled. "She just reminded me that I had a dad, is all."

Tate puckered his lips, "That sucks!" Then he came around and wrapped me a supportive hug. I felt warm inside.

Violet squealed but Kit looked in a different direction. I wonder why?

"Let's take your mind off of it and go get ice cream!" Violet says, smiling really hard.

"Yeah!" we all say in unison.

Meanwhile an ominous figure lurked in the halls, hidden by the shadows of a door frame. "Soon, I'll have what's been taken away from me."