Callie POV
February 19th
It was now 2:45 and we were all sitting at our desks just chatting. Our Physics teacher Mr. Fisher was now late for 15 minutes. I was sitting back to wall by my desk, chatting with Mackenzie who was sitting behind me in Physics class.
Right now she was determined to convince me to go to her place and watch a marathon of all the possible Marvel movies that there are out up to this date. Of course, she has already seen them all few times. She wanted to get me ready for the Captain America new movie that is about to come out sometime around March. The date is already circled with red marker in her calendar.
"-I am pretty sure you would like the Black Widow. She Is going to be in the second Captain America movie too. She kicked ass in The Avengers." she said as she was parallel to her speaking just making doodles in her notebook. She looks up to me "She doesn't have any super powers, she was just born awesome…and she knows how to fight with these awesome moves and she jumps and slides and kicks…it is super cool" she was really excited, her eyes showed me just how much she liked these comic book characters coming to life
"Why do you think I will like the Black Widow ? Maybe my favorite will be the big green dude, what was his name again?"
"Hulk" she quickly says back
"Hulk. Maybe I will like him more. Why Black Widow?"
"She is played by Scarlett Johansson…everyone likes Scarlett Johansson" she says back and goes back to doodling in her notepad "Wait…she is the one who was in the 'Lost in Translation' right?" I ask her just when the doors to class open. I don't receive an answer back.
All of us just turn to front to see if the teacher has finally come to class. But no, it was the Vice-Principal. Lena stood in the front of the class. Somehow, it seems like this is going to be not so good news.
"Class" she started and she had all of our attention "Your teacher Mr. Fisher has gotten into a car crash and right now is in hospital" she stated with a sad tone in her voice
I was right – not good news. Even thou we were all happy that class probably won't happen today, it was seen in all of our faces that we were are pretty concerned about our teacher.
"Is he going to be okay?" A girl with black hair who sat in the first row, she was straight A-student, asked her. She looked the most concerned about the news.
"We hope so. Right now, we just know that he is being treated at Mercy Hospital. We aren't sure how serious his injuries are, so as you all can imagine, today the class won't happen. We all just hope that his injuries won't be that serious and he will be able to come back before the school year ends." She looked all around the students "However, we already are looking for a substitute teacher till Mr. Fisher will be back on his feet."
"Any questions?" as the class was silent Lena continued "Then right now, you are all free, class dismiss, but class on Friday probably will happen. I will inform you if anything changes, and let's all wish the best for Mr. Fisher" she says and walks out.
I turn to Mackenzie "That sucks. I liked Mr. Fisher. He gave me a B+ even thou I was in the B zone. He said he liked my effort in class."
"Yeah, he was one of the reasons I liked physics so much. He was always so forthcoming. Always ready to explain things to us till we all understood the theme" she said as we both were gathering our stuff.
The next physics class for us was on Friday. And neither of us had heard any rumor from which school the substitute teacher will be from. I sat at my desk just as the bell rang. The class was all eager to find out who was going to teach us, and also maybe hear some news about Mr. Fisher health and his whole situation.
The substitute teacher barged in the classroom some 2 minutes after the bell. The doors banged loudly behind him, I heard him tossing some bag or briefcase on the desk. When I looked up from my notepad, he has turned to the board, he now grabbing a chalk, he started to write his name on the board as he spoke
"Hello class, I am going to be your substitute teacher for the time being while Mr. Fisher gets back on his feet" I knew the voice, I hadn't looked up when he barged in, so right now I just saw his back as he was finishing writing his name, but i knew him. He underlined his name and turned to us.
I froze for a second. This can't be happening. My heart rate increased significantly, my breathing became rapid "no" I mouth to myself before he says his name to the class. As he overlooks his class, I quickly drop my head, place my hand in front of my face so he wouldn't see me and recognize me"Please no. This can't be happening" I say to myself again but I had no way of stopping it. It was him. I had no doubt in my mind. His belt was the same. His low voice, his beard. It was him.
"I am Mr. Matthew Malloc. I usually teach Physics at the Jameson's high school over at the 45th street! But I was asked to come in as a substitute until your teacher is back. Ground rules, no talking in class while I teach. While I speak, no one else does. You will only speak when I call your name. No texting, no sleeping in my class. I do not explain twice so if you don't listen that is your own fault!" i peaked a look at him to the front. He rubbed his hands together and walked to the desk. Opened his briefcase and takes out the physics book "With that said. Where did your teacher last left off? Anyone?"
The girl in the front seat, with the black hair tells him as I am starting to slowly gather my stuff. Mackenzie whisper from back "What are you doing?" she asked as she saw me packing
My hands are trembling as I put my book and notepad in my bag. I hope he hasn't noticed me. I hope my face has blended with the other students faces. I ignore Mackenzie's questions, grab my bag tightly in both of my hands, stand up and then head down, looking away from him I storm out of the class , not looking back. I knew I will get looks after this from other students, possibly gossips and whispers too. But right now, I only had one thought in my mind – I need to get away from him.
He was calling after me "Where do you think you are going?!" but once I was up to the doors, I had no intention on stopping and looking him in the eyes. I closed the doors behind me, I no longer heard what he was saying. I needed to get out of here. I swung my bag over my shoulder and started to run down the hall.
I don't care how long dentition I can get for this, right now i just wanted to get to safety. That was my priority.
I always thought of school as a safe place. But this, this just shattered that image completely. He is my teacher now, I could run into him in halls, at lunch break. I was no longer safe here. He could just walk up to me. And what then?
Lena POV
I was coming back from giving a tour to some possible future student and his parents, when I heard running in the hall. It was class hour, so no one should have been out in the hall. Before I know it, from the hall up front, Callie barges out, bumping into me hard,, we collide with our shoulders, I drop all of the papers that were in my hands.
I stumbled back few steps as she stumbled on her feet. The short second I saw her face, I saw nothing but utter and complete fear and panic in her eyes. We looked at each other for the second, she said nothing, just quickly got her stand back and then just took off. She pushed the doors to backyard open with her hands, they swung to the side of the wall. And the next second she was out of my sight.
I stand up straight, gather back up my posture "What was that…" I mutter to myself. I watch out where she run off, then I crouch down and pick up my papers, before I go back to my office and look up her scheduled.
She was having Physics with the substitute teacher. I wait till the class is over and then head over to the classroom. He was sitting at the desk making some notes to himself.
I knock and head in the classroom as she smiled warmly at me, seeing me at the doorway.
"Mr. Malloc, how was the first class?" I ask politely coming inside, going up to his desk. The board was full of different formulas and graphics.
"Ah, Mrs. Adams Foster" he puts his pen down and stands up "The class was great. Your students are all so educated and smart. Pleasure to work with such kids."
"So everything went great?"
"Yes, well…" he looks down "Did something happened?" I ask back as I saw his hesitation
"One student run out of class just minute after I walked in. I tried to stop her but she just run off, like a lighting bolt. I had class to teach so I didn't run after her. Maybe I should have…" he trails off, looks to his book on the table
"I guess that was Miss. Callie Scott" I say and he looks back up to me
"I didn't have a good look but she did seem familiar to me. Did she go to Jameson high by any chance?"
"No, I don't think she has. But she has changed schools pretty often. I bumped with her in the hall, I was coming to ask what happened, but it seems as thou you have no clue either"
"Not the slightest. Well, now at least I can check in the sheet who was missing from class. Miss Scott you said?" he said reaching for the sheet "Yes" I confirm it "I will have a talk with her, try to understand what happened. I will make sure nothing like this happens again" i say as he makes a check next to the name who was absent from class
"That would be highly appreciated" he smiles warmly back at me "Again, thank you for agreeing to step in. We appreciate it" I thank him one more time for stepping up
"That's no problem, Mrs. Adams Foster." With that I leave him to prepare for his next class as I head back to the office to make a call or two, to try and find out where Callie run off to.
The first number I try is calling Callie herself. After few beeps she declines the phone call. I of course try again but the same result was achieved at my second try. I needed a new plan.
Amy POV
We were patrolling the streets when my phone started to buzz. As I was in passenger seat, Stef was driving, I reached for my phone and looked at the caller ID "Lena?" I say and look to Stef "Is your phone on?" I ask as the first thought in my head was that Lena had tried to reach Stef but couldn't, so now she calls me.
She quickly with one hand takes her phone out, unlocks the screen "Hasn't called me. Must be something about school" she says placing it back and concentrating back on the road
I slide it to answer it –Yes?
-Amy? It's Lena
-Yeah, I know. Caller ID
-Right, sorry. I am calling you about Callie
-What about her? Is everything okay?
-She run out of school some 40 minutes ago. Out of her physics class, bumped in me and then just stormed off. Do you maybe have any clue as to why she did that? Has she called you? Did she maybe run to the precinct to see you?
-Sorry no, I have no idea. I don't know why she would run off just like that. There had to be some reason as to why she did that. I am on patrol now, I am not at precinct, but I will call the front desk and ask if maybe she is there and I will call you-
My phone beeped indicating I was receiving another call, I quickly looked who was calling – Callie
-Callie is calling me on other line. Lena, I will call you back
I end the call with Lena and pick up Callie's call
-Mom, where are you?
She asks me the moment I pick up. Her voice was pretty frantic, she sounded scared and desperate to talk to me or see me. Or both. Something big must have happened. Callie is not the kid who would just skip school. Let alone with no reason at all. She always have said that in previous foster homes, school was her safe haven. Approximately 8 hours where her foster parents won't hurt her, a reason not to be at those houses.
-I'm on patrol honey. What's wrong? Lena called and said you run out of class and school. Where are you?
-I'm at your precinct. I need to see you…mom I need to talk you! It is IMPORTANT!
-Okay, okay, I will get back as soon as I can. Just stay put, go sit in the lounge room or at my desk. Grab a cup of coffee, okay? I am on my way
-Please, hurry! I need you, MOM!
She says and hangs up. I turn to Stef "I need to-"
"Turning back. Got it" Stef said stopping me and made the next turn to head back to precinct.
Now I was getting worried too. It has been a long time since Callie has freaked out or had a full blown out panic at like that. Actually the last time she sounded this desperate was when she saw Liam at the court. And that was almost 2 years ago. She just wanted to get farther away from, she couldn't stand being in one room with him.
She has had few small freaks out, but nothing like the Liam panic attack. Right now, I have this bad gut feeling that this could be one of the big panic attacks. The way she sounded, how desperate and scared she sounded. This was not good.
But I had not a single clue nor an idea , what this could be about. She was in school. What could have possibly freaked her out like that in school. School is a safe place. Callie hasn't said anything to me nor she has acted out or just weird that was indicating that school no longer was a safe place.
"What happened?" Stef asks me with worried look on her face
"I am not sure. Apparently Callie just run out of her class and out of school. She is at the precinct, she didn't sound good" I tap the phone lightly in my palm as I gaze out of the side window, looking somewhere far in the distance "I don't like this"
AN: once again i would just like to thank you for the support, reviews, follows and favorites. I am working on the suggestions you guys wanted to see in the story. I will try and do my best. I hope you guys still like this. Thank you again.