Chapter 15 Paperwork and Bloodlines
Cindy looked worried as I looked over to Mr. Griffen. I was at school, so nothing bad could happen while I was here. Right? I nod to Cindy to leave without me. I walk over to Mr. Griffin. I know I shouldn’t be nervous, but something about him sets me on edge. He was watching everyone leave the room intently. I took a moment to look him over. A thought entered my mind as I was looking at his very familiar features. Not only did he look like me, but he could be Sarah’s older brother. If I say anything, he will wonder how I know about her, and then I’ll have to explain how I found her picture in a random book, some crazy book witch lady told me to find. Yeah, I am not doing that.
“So, Miss Hawks, you are emancipated, correct?” Mr. Griffen asked as soon as the last student left the room. Looking at me so intensely, I wonder if he could see my green eyes through my brown colored contacts.
“Yeah? It was in my paperwork when I started.” I answered, confused why he was asking.
“I read your paperwork. I just wanted to double-check.”
“Okay?” I answered, still confused about what was going on.
“There is no phone number listed for you, or them. I want to get in contact with them,” Mr. Griffin asked, looking dead in my eyes. I did my best not show how tense I became.
“I haven’t had a chance to get myself a phone yet. I went yesterday because it was my day off, and it was closed.” I answered. Not a lie.
“Okay, how can I get in contact with your parents?” He asked.
You can’t.” I tried to keep the panic from my voice.
“Why? Did something happen? Are they still living?”
“Yeah... But I am dead to them... I have to go to class now.” I answered him.
Something flashed across his face, but I didn’t stick around to analyze it. I quickly grab my things and run out the door. I just made it into class before the final bell that began the first period.
I did my best to pay attention in my classes. However, my thoughts wandered back to interactions with Mr. Griffin and the possible connection to this Sarah person. Maybe I’ll skip lunch and go look at old yearbooks to see if she went here. Maybe I’ll be able to figure something out. I just couldn’t shake the thought of the three of us being connected, but how?
I decided to quickly eat my lunch with Cindy and see if she knows whether the library has old school yearbooks. I am sitting at the same table as yesterday. As I’m sitting waiting for Cindy to come back from getting her lunch, I don’t even notice a tall figure approaching me. By the time I do, I’m getting punched right in the face. Even though I’m distracted, they got the first hit on me. I quickly recovered, and before they land another hit on me, I have them pinned to the ground.
I have one eye shut, but my good eye can easily tell it was Kayla who hit me. Her goon squad tries to get me off her, but I moved out of the way fast enough to trip one of them, and they landed right on top of Kayla.
“You are lucky I was distracted that you got that hit on me.” I spat at them. “But I will remember that, and don’t think I’ll allow that to happen again.”
“What the hell is going on here!” Mr. Griffen pushed through the crowd of kids, which I didn’t realize circled us. Man, I was off my game.
“Kayla punched Elizabeth. Then her friends tried to take her down after Elizabeth restrained Kayla for sneaking in a punch. After that punch, Elizabeth wasn’t distracted; So, she didn’t let the rest of them lay a hand on her.” Ezra explained as if he watched the whole thing go down.
“Excuse me!” Mr. Griffen boomed. “Unacceptable. Kayla, you and your friends all have detention for the next month.”
“What?” Kayla exclaimed, “She started it, she’s always starting things. You know this Mr. Griffen.”
“Not this time, also go pack your things, Kayla, you will start your month's dentition after a week's suspension for punching a student unexpectedly.” Mr. Griffen stated.
“WHAT!” Kayla yelled.
“Go before I expel you.” Mr. Griffen said. Kayla and her friends all left after that. Mr. Griffin then walked up to me.
“Are you okay?” He asked almost softly.
“I will be. This is nothing I haven’t experienced before. I’ll just need ice to help the swelling. I held my hand over my eye, protecting it.
“Okay, head to the nurse. You can sit out the test today.” Mr. Griffen said.
“I will go to the nurse, but I’m not sitting out over a black eye.” I stood up straighter at that.
“We will see about that later. Ezra, escort her to the nurse,” Mr. Griffin directed Ezra over to me.
“No, I will go myself,” I argued.
“No, you will go with someone. You got punched in the face, I can't have you falling down and getting hurt even more than you already are.” Mr. Griffin argued back. Ezra cleared his throat and gave Mr. Griffin a look.
“Because you are on school grounds.” Mr. Griffin finished.
“I will go with her.” Cindy chimed in, making her way through the crowd. I was so thankful for her.
“Fine, but Ezra is still going with you.” Mr. Griffin let up.
“WHAT? I tried to argue, but Ezra grabbed my hand that wasn’t covering my punched eye and proceeded to pull me along out of the cafeteria towards the nurse's office.
“He wants me to be there in case Kayla or her goons try something again,” Ezra explained.
“Why? Clearly, when I am not distracted, I can handle myself.” I asked. But Ezra didn't say anything right away. Not until Cindy almost reached us.
“Because you remind him of someone he lost.”