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Angry, beady eyes squinted at me through a pair of expensive, smudged glasses.
Approaching the prefect with caution, I put on my best innocent expression and politely asked if he would be so kind as to move his 'roid monkey frame out of the way. There were less than five minutes before class—History, which I didn't mind having first thing in the morning—and after sneaking away last night, I thought it best to play it safe and actually show up to class. For once.
With a sneer, he denied me my request, and I found it hard to maintain my pleasant disposition, and sighed heavily, hoping I could convey my annoyance without actually having to tell him to fuck off. The man reached out and grabbed my collar, wringing the soft fabric between his meaty fingers. I thrashed and yelled, soon realizing my movements and words to be fruitless and instead conceded to being paraded around the halls, a delinquent for everyone to point and laugh at.
And they did, some even going so far as to fling trash at me while we passed, and despite my protest, the prefect did nothing to stop them. At the end of the hall, I had at least three banana peels stuffed into my hood and the remnants of someone's breakfast trailing down my pant leg.
This wasn't a good start to the day.
We arrived at Crabblesnitch's office where he, and Ms. Danvers, stood before the high counter, both looking equally displeased. The prefect released me—it was more of a shove, really—and I stumbled forward, catching myself before I fell into the two in front of me. The prefect turned sharply on his heel and I half expected him to salute before leaving, and I steadied myself, holding my text book close to my chest while I waited for either of them to speak.
Dr. Crabblesnitch did first. "I have a meeting to attend; sit there until I tell you two to come in."
Confused and almost positive he couldn't be referring to Ms. Danvers as the second party, I glanced around the room and found Gary seated in the corner behind me. He scowled, and I frowned, knowing the two of us were in trouble. Deep shit.
I took a seat next to him after shaking the contents of my hood into the trash, and stayed quiet until Crabblesnitch was back inside his office, secretary seated at her desk. She clicked away at the keyboard and I desperately wished I could be listening to anything else other than her tapping and the god awful music playing from her stereo. I rubbed my ankle. It was much less painful than last night, but by no means healed, and felt stiff. Cold, from the newly fallen snow we all had to trudge through to make it inside.
Karma, I supposed, for doing the exact thing I swore to my parents I wouldn't do—cause trouble. Gary and I were lucky we got away before the police caught up, and I'd have to thank him again for deciding not to leave me in the alley, planted on my ass on the ice.
"You smell disgusting," Gary blurted. "Did you forget all that crap we were taught about personal hygiene growing up, or are you and your Preppy friends beyond that now?"
"I haven't forgotten how to bathe, jackass," I grimaced. "I'm covered in...something that looks vaguely like eggs."
"Vaguely being the keyword here. I'd say it looks more like dog vomit," Gary peeked down at my legs, studying the mashed up food like a painting. "Good chance it might be, too."
"What?" I stammered, horrified at the idea of having that soaking into my clothes.
He laughed aloud. I fought the urge to dry heave.
Ms. Danvers whispered harshly from her seat, demanding that the two of us be silent. Gary answered her, using something that was definitely not his inside voice, and I snickered, hiding my face behind my book the second the secretary's menacing gaze darted my way.
"You think they know?" I asked, shifting so that I was facing him.
"What else would they have brought us both in for? To get to know each other?" He snapped.
"Anything's possible."
"Don't be stupid."
"Don't be a prick," I countered.
Gary looked at me for a moment, his eyes narrowed into little slits. "You're getting on my nerves, woman."
"Good. I haven't lost my touch, then," I said, and settled deep into the surprisingly comfortable seat.
The doors to the head's office opened, inch by inch, until four men dressed in designer suits, two of them carrying brief cases, walked out. Crabblesnitch appeared behind them, smiling and trading pleasantries with the men, thanking them for their time and aiding him in his endeavors. Gary and I shot each other a look, wondering who the men were.
The group passed Gary and I, reeking of cologne and after shave. One of them smiled at us.
"You're in for a real treat, kids."
How ominous, I thought, and stared blankly at him until it set in that he wasn't going to receive a response. Crabblesnitch beckoned us into his office then, as the men sauntered out, flanked by prefects and I scowled. Why couldn't I have gotten that protection while I was being dragged through the halls? I silently declared injustice, and marched into his office, refraining from pointing my nose high in the air. An indignant attitude would get me nowhere.
"Sit."
The leather groaned under my weight, loud, echoing off the book lined walls. Behind us, a fire crackled, the smell of smoke wafting through the room. I breathed it in, and found myself missing home. A fire was always lit during the cold winter months, warming the first floor of the house. I would always sit before the fire place and watch the flames while they grew and flickered, casting an orange glow on the walls. As much as I wanted to do that now, my attention was on the old man in front of us, and the school nurse that stood at his side.
She set a metal tray on his desk, four small paper cups—two were filled with water, the others with small white pills.
"The two of you were missing yesterday. You caused quite a stir with the staff," Crabblesnitch said, folding his hands on the desk. "Might I ask where you disappeared to?"
"I was in the library," I answered quickly.
"And you, Mr. Smith?"
"I was in my room, keeping my nose clean just like you told me to. Sir," He added.
"That's funny, because neither of you were there when I sent the prefects to fetch you both. That concerns me, having two students like you just happen to disappear," The head stared at us both, and then continued speaking. "I won't have either of you causing trouble where there need not be any. I have worked tirelessly to restore order to this fine school after the mayhem you caused, boy, and I refuse to have either of you destroy the progress I've made."
The nurse cleared her throat. "The point of us having you here, is that you missed your therapy sessions. And your medication. We want the two of you to stay on track with your treatments to avoid any upsets."
"But I'm not on any medication. I don't even take Advil," I said to the nurse. "Or go to therapy."
"It's in my file, dear. We have you on Ziprasidone, and you have sessions every week with the school psychiatrist."
I shook my head. "I don't know where you're getting that from. I've never been to a therapist, or taken any meds. You're wrong." I refused to listen. I was off my meds for three years and functioned just fine. I wasn't going to allow myself to become a zombie again.
"It's on your chart," She said, frowning and speaking in a sympathetic tone. "40 milligrams a day. Regardless, you'll begin your medication today, and every morning you'll report to my office. Both of you," The nurse glowered at Gary. "No skipping your pills this time."
The nurse pushed the tray toward us and gestured toward the cups, Gary and I reached out cautiously under their watchful eyes and choked the medication down. Crabblesnitch seemed pleased, a small smile resting on his lips. The expression looked odd on him, as I've only ever seen him looking annoyed.
"After your vanishing act yesterday, I believe a little work will do the both of you good, and keep you from menacing the other students," Crabblesnitch rose from his seat and rounded the desk, pausing between Gary and I to rest his hands on the backs of our chairs. "Erin, you'll be helping Ms. Danvers with whatever she asks of you. Mr. Smith... I'll find a suitable punishment for you."
"Oh, I can't wait," Gary said.
He dismissed us both with the strict instruction to head to class, and without another word, we left, rushing past Ms. Danvers on the way out.
The day just kept getting worse, along with my mood, and all I wanted to do was hit something. Or someone. I felt like my head was going to explode, and the more I focused on the image of the head's smiling face, the worse it became, and I shook his ugly mug from my thoughts and searched for something else to occupy myself with.
I thought about those men and wondered who they were, why they were here, and what 'treat' they had in store for us. Maybe working under Ms. Danvers wouldn't be such a bad thing; if I played my cards right, I could coax information out of her, and figure out what potentially shady business was going on.
"And here I thought you were one of the normal kids. You had me fooled," Gary said, nodding as we slowed to a halt in front of my locker. "Ziprasidone...they gave that to the crazies at Happy Volts. Just how nuts are you?"
"I'm not nuts," I hissed, fiddling with the lock. It wouldn't open, no matter how many times I twisted it, and I slammed my fist against the hard metal, instantly regretting my decision.
"Maybe not, but you are stupid," He pointed down at my hand. "Your knuckles are bleeding. Nice job, idiot."
I wiped the blood off on my sweatshirt and tried again—for the last time I promised myself—to open my locker.
"I need to change," I mumbled, looking down at the crusty mess on my leg. "Wanna come with me?"
I turned to face him after waiting for him to answer, and was met with empty air. How he managed to slip away that quietly, and quickly, was beyond me. I settled on returning to my dorm alone, thankful for some quiet time before the second half of classes began.