Chapter 44

An Hour Later

The air is warmer than it was the other day when it was raining. It could be just me, though, as I'm not drenched today. I'm also dressed a lot warmer. Sitting out in the school garden is a lot more refreshing than sitting inside in the classes with the teachers who watch your every move.

It is even more refreshing with my trusty little bottle. I haven't finished it. I am not planning on getting drunk before school ends.

I groan and lift my back off the wall I'm leaning against. I'm in a more secluded area of the school garden, where hardly anyone goes. My bum has gone numb from just sitting on the cold floor, and my back aches. The only parts of my body that don’t hurt are my legs and possibly my arms.

"Megan," I hear someone say. I look to see it is Julie. I give her a small smile and then look down at my lap. I notice her walking over to me and sitting down next to me. "Are you okay?" she asks.

"I'm fine," I lied.

"Well, someone's got to tell the truth here," she says and looks up at the grey sky "I'm not" I gave her a funny look "My friend won't tell me what's wrong with her," she paused, "and I'm really worried I am a bit of a worrier," she states.

"I had a meeting with the school guidance counsellor," I informed "With my dad there," I added.

"Why?" she asks

"Because I self-harm,"

"Oh," she paused. "Why aren't you in lessons?" she asks

"I don't want to go. Why aren't you?" I ask

"I have a study period, and I have nothing to study for just yet," she says with a small smile "So I am skipping" she says and holds out her hand. I look at her hand, confusion clear on my face "Give me the bottle."

"What bottle?" I ask, playing dumb. She laughs and moves her hand forward. I sigh and hand it to her "It isn't like I'm getting drunk," I mutter. She laughs and puts the bottle at the side of her.

"So what's going on with you and Mr Peters?" she asks.

"What do you mean?" I ask

"Well, yesterday is the second time I've seen you leave his apartment with him, so there must be something," she states

"There's nothing I got kicked out the other night, and he let me stay at his and the last time I don't even remember" I state.

"Well, I thought it was nothing last time. I thought you were probably visiting a friend or something, but then the second time I saw you get in his car, so..." she trails off and smiles slightly to herself.

"As I say, he's too nosy for his own good," I say. She laughs and runs a hand through her dark brown hair. I look at her, searching her face, observing her slightly. "What are you doing this weekend?" I ask.

"Nothing that I know of," she states.

"Fancy coming out with me and Melanie?" I ask.

"When you say out?" she asks. I nod, knowing what she is asking. "Ok. I guess I could," she says with a small smile.

"Can I have my bottle back now?" I ask. She shook her head and smiled "You're mean," I huffed.

"C'mon I'll take you to your lesson" she says grabbing my hand and pulling me up with her.

"Do you know what I just remembered?" I say as I stand. "My best friend has died her hair black, and I didn't even say anything to her about it," I state and run my hand through my hair "She must be thinking 'What a bitch' I should say something," I explained. Julie chuckles and links an arm with mine

"I'm sure she won't mind," she says, pulling me "What lesson do you have?" she asks

"Art," I huff. I used to like art until we got a new teacher who sticks his nose where it's not wanted," I growl. She laughs and pulls me into the school, trying her best to make sure no teachers see us.

"Wait here," she says once we’re just outside the art room. She put my bottle of vodka in her bag, opened the classroom door, and walked in.

A few seconds pass, and she walks out with Mr Peters. He looks at me then sighs and looks at Julie. She shrugs her shoulders slightly and looks at me "Why are you both acting like I'm drunk?" I ask, pushing myself off the wall I'm leaning against.

"Because you are," Mr Peters says.

"I'm not. I'm just the tiniest of tipsy," I say, standing straight. "I have just lost a bit of co-ordination. You would know if I'm drunk. Just ask Melanie," I state

"Come inside," he says, opening the door for me. I walk in, and so does Julie. "Go to my office," he orders, and Julie and I both walk to the door of his office. Julie opens the door, and I walk in. She shut the door behind her and sat down in one of the chairs. I sit next to her and rest my elbow on the armrest and my head on my hand.

"I really don't like him," I say. She giggles and rolls her eyes at me. "I don't even get what all the girls find attractive about him," I state and turn my head to look at her. "Do you?" she asks.

"I think it's his accent and his eyes and his height and his body...yeah his body has got to be one of the things" she says with a smile "Plus he's like one of the coolest teachers in this school," she states.

"No, he's not. He is the one who reported me to the school guidance counsellor," I informed him. "And I know for a fact it is him because he's nosy," I said. She laughed and shook her head.

The sound of the door opening and then shutting broke through the now-silent room. I close my eyes. I feel tired.

"Megan," I hear his English accent echo. I open my eyes and look at him. "What has happened?" he asks.

"Why does something have to happen for me to have a drink?" I ask, frowning at him. He sighs and looks at Julie for an answer.

"Apparently, she had a meeting with the school counsellor because of her self-harm, and well, when it's because of that, they tend to phone in a parent," Julie informed. I see his eyes widen slightly, and he looks at me. "So now her dad knows she self-harms, so I'm guessing that has sort of upset her,” she states.

I smiled and let out a small chuckle. "I'm not upset by that; I'm not even fussed that he knows. I'm not fussed about who knows because give it a few months, and I won't even be here," I say. "Hopefully," I add. Mr Peters looks at me with sympathy and then at Julie.

"You go to class; thank you for bringing her here," he says. She smiles and looks at me.

"I'll text you," she says and leaves.

Mr Peters leans against his desk and folds his arms across his chest. I move my gaze up to him and then quickly look away once I make eye contact.

"You're dad is there?" he asks. I nod and keep my eyes on my lap "What did he say?" he asks

"He asked why?" I answered. I watch him unfold his arms and place his hands on the desk. He clutches the desk as if holding onto something. I moved my gaze up to his face to see him frowning.

"Isn't it obvious why?" he growled "It's because of him," he snaps.

"No it's..."

"Stop lying!" he yelled. I gulp and look down at my lap. He takes a deep breath "Just stop lying for him,” He softly tells me. “ I know what he's doing to you, and you have to tell someone," he says calmly.

"I have,"

"And you have to let that person tell someone because you will end up dead if you don't," he says.

"I don't need to tell anyone and as I said before, you won't tell anyone, or I'll make you look like the abuser," I say now glaring up at him. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

"OK," he says, "you can stay in here until lunch." He walks out of the office. I let out the deep breath I'm holding, look down at my lap, and shake my head. I'm disappointed with myself. That look he pulled just makes me want to crawl into a hole and never come out.