Chapter Twenty-Five

I stood outside the classroom door while Miss Yankee dealt with the situation at hand. I could hear Olivia screaming in anger because of how I had messed up her hair and make-up. Ha! There was a lot more I could have done, but lucky for her I didn't go to that extent.

Miss Yankee raises her voice over Olivia's hysterical screaming, "Now, Olivia! Calm down! Calm!"

"Where is she! Let me at her! She's going to get a right slap for this!" Olivia screams so loud, but it only makes my smirk widen.

"Hello Alice." I hear a familiar. Miss Burnette. I put on a fake smile and hold my chin up proudly. "Hello Miss."

"What are you doing out in the corridor?"

"No idea. Olivia started on me and I'm the one who gets sent out." I shrug, slumping against the wall. Miss Burnette huffs, "Alice, I told you. Don't let your classmates provoke you."

"Ha! She ain't no mate of mine."

"Well, maybe you should try being mates. It might do you both good." She sys, raising an eyebrow suggestively. "You're joking, if you think I'm going to be friends with that little-"

"Miss!" Miss Yankee suddenly screeches from behind me. Miss Burnette raises her eyes from mine and they make contact with Miss Yankee. "Hello, Miss. What's going on?" Miss Burnette addresses politely even though I've already explained. Miss Yankee's hands tremble at her sides and her lips are slightly parted as she struggles with words. Miss Yankee was the sort of teacher who really couldn't cope with uncontrollable behaviour from students. It always made me wonder why she was qualified to be a teacher if she wasn't any good at it. If you as me, that makes no sense.

"That girl is out of control!" Miss Yankee hisses, her finger pointed straight towards me. I look at her in utter shock, disbelief even! "What the-"

"Alice, my office." Miss Burnette raises her hand to halt me. She's calm but I can tell you balling up a bag of anger inside.

Miss Burnette leads me away from the classroom, Olivia is screaming behind me as I walk away but she's the least of my worries. I really cannot be asked. It's only down the other end of the corridor towards Miss Burnette's office.

When we reach the door, she takes her key out in a swift movement and unlocks it quickly. I met her eyes, and she extends her arm, gesturing me to go in first. I can tell she silently ushering me in. For some reason I get a freaky feeling another teacher probably won't be happy I've got into, yet another load of trouble. Miss Burnette was obviously dealing with me today as the other Deputy Head teachers were not about. They were already busy dealing with other students.

"Take a seat?" Miss Burnette says from behind me as I walk towards her desk. The walls are a light baby blue, photo's covering the walls of successful students who have made such a success of their stupid lives. Really and truly, I believe them to be total and utter dick heads. They’re not really that smart if you think about it, because they may be intelligent, but it doesn't mean they haven't got much of a logical side and being logical is very important. I turn and take a seat as Miss tells me to do. She makes her way around me and sits behind her desk, "Alice. I have no way of saying this to you, to be fairly honest." She begins in a careful and quiet tone.

She was usually the very strict teacher who would tell students straight, but with me...it seemed as if she had lost strength. I press my eyebrows together, "What do you mean?" Miss Burnette sighs and clasps her hands together in a vice grip as her eyes meet the wooden surface of the desk. She seems so deep in thought as if she's really, really trying to work something out. "You're year eleven now, Alice. Throughout your entire time in this school, you've done nothing but misbehaved and shown the exact opposite of what your teachers and candidates ask of you. If I'm correct, you've also lost many friendships because of it."

I don't answer, instead I just sink down in my chair. I understand what she's saying, and I knew this would come up sooner or later. To be fairly honest, I really couldn't care less. In fact, a part of me begs for her to kick me out of the school but another part of me knows that's the last thing I need. I need the support because there is no other support out there for me. Miss Burnette has always been on my side when things have got rough, despite my lack of behaviour. She's always kept her patience with me. She breaths calmly and slowly through her nose, "Is there anything you want to talk about, Alice? Anything at all?"

"Why?"

"Your behaviour, as you already know is absolutely unacceptable. I cannot afford to keep having these chats with you." She states in a fair tone and I shrug with a smug look.

"Yes, I understand that. It's not my fault though, Olivia-"

"This isn't about what just happened. I accept your little episode with Olivia, we all have fights now and then, but...I mean, in general."

"In general?" I repeat in question. I don't quite get what she's getting at. She huffs and smooths the side of her black hair. "You've got behavioural issues and I'm sorry, but I can't keep doing this, I can't keep defending you." I take in what she's saying, my breathing beginning to speed up. "You're in your last year, and it’s going to come to a point when I won't be able to defend for you because it will be up to you then."

I shrug and try to pretend I'm not bothered but her words are literally burning holes in my back. What if this is it? All my issues winning over in me, and no qualifications on my side. I've got nothing.

"Alice, you do realize how important your education is, don't you?" She leans forward with a concerned face. I nod and sigh, "Yes."

"Well then..." she begins.

"I do have a solution, it’s a way for you to step further and try to move on. Its temporary but we can see how it goes." She explains thoroughly but I'm totally lost in what she's talking about. I arch an eyebrow and look up at her as she stands up from her desk. She rubs the side other face, almost a signal of utter exhaustion and don't blame her. I can be quite difficult to handle. "What are you talking about?"

She gives me a light smile and smooths the back other hair once again. She's nervous but at the same time it seems she can’t take anymore of me, of my behaviour. She's angry but can tell she is trying her very best to control it, because she knows shouting at me will get us nowhere.

She sucks a sharp intake of breath and her eyes slowly meet mine. Breath....

Eye contact keep eye contact...

She looks at me, just keeps staring, our eye boring into one another.

"Pathways."

I stare at her with a blank look. I have to blink a few times. Pathways. Even the sound of the word made my stomach go over. I begin to shake my head, but she only slowly nods in response.

"A Pathways School."

"No." I say quietly, and she almost doesn't hear me. Now here comes the compromising. Bribery, intimidation, convincing. "Listen, Alice. It will do you good. It’s an amazing school, like a BIP referral unit but a community. I promise, the teachers there can help you."

"I said NO!" I exclaim, shooting up from my chair. Miss Burnette looks at me in disbelief. "Alice. It would only be temporary. You could at least give it a chance." I shake my head and cover my ears, "I don't want to, I can't, I won't!"

"Why not? It’s actually quite a good thing."

"What the fuck!? How is it good? It’s a fucking pathways school!"

Miss Burnette opens her mouth to speak, "Alice-"

"Pathways! Pathways! Everyone knows that word when they hear it. It’s for fucking nutty kids!!"

"That's not true!"

I scoff, "Of course it is! That's the whole fucking point of it! If it wasn't the place wouldn't in exist. Why are you even calling it a school or a community? It’s a motherfucking referral unit!"

"It’s helpful!"

"It’s prison!"

Miss Burnette takes in a deep breath and closes her eyes in a brief moment. "It’s up to you. At least I know I have tried. I'll give you two days to think about it. Maybe you'll change your mind."

I smirk, turning around to open the door. "Oh, don't worry. I won't."