Ink (21 page)

“
What is it with all of you?” Tucker yelled. “How is any of this funny?”

I stared out the window, feeling really uncomfortable. Jesse and Lydia laughed along with everyone else. Tucker groaned, jumping out of his seat. “One more chuckle out of you, Jesse, and it will be your last one!”

Everyone in the class started egging them on. Jesse’s face was full of alarm now. I wondered if he had it in him to keep up the taunts. But as Tucker knocked his chair over and took off after him, I knew he didn’t.

Mr. Rudner quickly dropped his papers, they scattered to the floor in a glorious spiral, pluming out all around his feet. He had Tucker’s shirt in one hand and Jesse’s in the other, doing his best to separate the two of them.

Lydia jumped to her feet. “It’s all her fault. Please, Mr. Rudner, he has practice tonight,” she whined like a little child.

I took another deep breath, trying my hardest to keep the anger deep inside of me. My parents always told me to not direct my anger onto other people. And so far I had listened, but as Lydia gave me another judging glare, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed a hold of my biology book and chucked it right at her head. It spun through the air and slammed into her face with such force it knocked Lydia sideways, and then over her chair.

It didn’t take more than ten seconds before Mr. Rudner had me by the elbow and was pushing me out of his classroom. I could hear
Lydia in the background, crying. Crying like I had just punched her with my fist or something.

He pushed Tucker out next and then slammed the door shut behind him. “Both of you to Principal Harm’s office, now.”

I rolled my eyes. If only they reprimanded everyone for their behavior maybe these things wouldn’t happen.

“
I understand your issues, Ms. Zigler, but there are no exceptions for physical abuse at Ashwilder.” He raised his eyebrow, giving me a stern look.

I nodded, heading down the hallway. Tucker was still being scolded as I rounded the corner. I took my time getting there. I was in no hurry to hear it from yet another person who didn’t care about me.

“
I can’t believe you chucked a book at Lydia.” Tucker laughed, as he caught up with me. I pushed my hair off my shoulders and shrugged.

“
I can’t believe it, either, but a person can only take so much abuse.” I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him. He was part of the reason I was going through hell now at Ashwilder.

I yanked open the office door, looking around. It was no surprise I was the only kid waiting to see the principal along with Tucker. Tucker took a seat, grabbing a newspaper that was abandoned on the chair next to him. He plunged himself deep into the sports page.

I sat across from him, crossing my legs and staring at the clock. I watched every tick, totally throwing myself into that and nothing else.

“
Mr. Harm’s is pretty strict. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get expelled,” Tucker informed me.

“
I don’t care,” I said, crossing my arms tightly across my chest. I put on the most serious expression, throwing caution to the wind. If Mr. Harm wanted to throw me out of school, more power to him. Good riddance.

The secretary shot me an unamused expression and nibbled on her bagel.

“
I thought you were all about dance and going to college?” Tucker asked me. He set the paper back down on the chair.

“
I still do. I am just tired of this place. Maybe I’ll just transfer to the regular school. Maybe they’re a lot nicer. And what’s your problem, why did you come in all defensive?” I stared at him.

“
I was late for class because Chuck and his friends were throwing bricks at my jeep. Not to mention what they did to my locker.” He sighed.

I felt a little bad now. It wasn’t just me who was being treated badly. “Why are they doing that to you?”

Tucker shrugged. “I’m the Mayor’s son. I don’t know.”

That made no sense at all to me. “Tough break.” I grumbled as the office door opened. A tall and very looming black man stared out at me. His eyes were bulbous and nearly popping out of his head. This only made him look that much more intimidating. I hoped for the best as he cracked his knuckles, his dark skin and white eyes alarming me as I approached. He hadn’t even called me, but looking at his expression as he stared at me, that was enough to get me moving.

“
Take a seat, Hope,” he said, his voice booming. I sat down and watched him close the door, caging me in his office.

“
Mr. Rudner phoned and says you threw a book at Lydia Wilder’s head?” he asked, but it seemed like a statement more than a question. So I wasn’t sure how to answer. I could only concentrate on how bad my palms were sweating and how constricted my throat felt.

“
Why would you assault a student here at Ashwilder?” He shot me an angry look.

My brain fired back into life and I opened my mouth finally. “She was. I just got upset with everyone. They’re all laughing about the party when I was attacked on the beach, sir.”

Mr. Harm settled into his chair. He stroked his chin. “So you throw a book at her head.” I nodded. “One attack leads to another attack and this is supposed to make everything better?” Another glare.

I pulled at my tank top. It suddenly felt way too constricting. “I was angry. This whole school seems amused with such a horrible thing. I can’t get over how mean all these people are.”

The clock on the wall ticked, adding to my nerves. I just wanted Mr. Harm to deliver my punishment so I could go home. Or back to class, either one worked for me. I wiped at my forehead, actually sweating.

“
I am going to call your father and inform him that you are expelled. And the one condition that is different than most expulsions is we will be setting you up with a
WAH
program.” He pulled a slip of paper from his desk drawer. “WAH is a work at home system. You will be doing all your work from the comfort of your own home. And as long as you finish and turn in all your work, you will graduate, Ms. Zigler. Is this fair?”

I raised an eyebrow. Did he really think I would say it wasn’t fair? I forced myself to nod.

“
This is the information for your father. The fees and the schedule. Maybe now you won’t have to throw anymore textbooks at anyone’s head anymore. Stop at the desk on your way out for your new textbooks.” He stood, going to the door and opening it for me. Tucker immediately straightened in his seat at the sight of Mr. Harm.

“
Mr. Sinclair, in my office.” Tucker stood up, giving me a weak smile as he passed by.

I watched as Mr. Harm shut the door, the secretary busily loaded a tower of books in front of me. School was over for me and I wasn’t sure how to feel about this.

F
inally, I made it home. My arms ached from lugging a ton of books across the sand to get there. I tossed them in a pile on the table and snagged a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. I wondered how Dad took the news. He hadn’t phoned the house yet, so it was yet to be determined.

No more school. To me it was the easiest way to stay out of everyone’s way. They didn’t like me and now they would never see me again. It was perfect.

But a small part of me was going to miss the social connection. Being able to be amongst peers and learn was something I deeply enjoyed back home. Back where everyone actually liked me.

I shrugged it off for now. There was no point worrying about something I couldn’t change. I squeezed my water bottle open, wandering outside. I had several hours to kill before anybody was home. Now was a great time to do a little sightseeing.

I crossed through the sand, going between the beach houses that hid the boardwalk. The boardwalk was the long strip of stores in Cherry. Everything from clothing stores to auto parts. Just about anything anyone needed was there. I had only been to one of the clothing stores with Nona since I moved here. So I was eager to venture further down and check out the rest of the place.

I passed by three trendy clothing windows. Not even venturing inside. The sign on one store in particular spoke to me. It swayed in the breeze, letting out a low screech with each movement it made as I approached.

Pauwau
, I mouthed silently, reading the sign.

A soft melodic breeze sailed across my skin, enveloping my hair as the sun disappeared behind large gray clouds. As my hand touched the door a zap of electricity pricked my fingertips and my hair suddenly felt full of static. I brushed it off. Maybe I had dragged my feet across the sand too much or something.

A tiny little bell rang overhead as I pushed inside. The smell of burning incense filled my nose with a deep earthy scent. I stared at the rows of bookshelves that went from floor to ceiling in the back. It was like one of those old flea markets back home, I thought. I sneezed, inhaling a little too much dust.

There wasn’t another single human anywhere in sight. I wondered if maybe it was closed and I had accidentally come in at the wrong time. But it was noon nearly, so I didn’t see that being the case.

I walked into the first aisle of bookcases, taking in the extensive book collection. The books all black and old, gold lettering on most. These weren’t your normal reads.
Ancient
was more like it. They were old and cryptic, some not even branded with English lettering on the spines, and it was a bit odd.

I ran a finger along one, blowing away some dust to get a better view of the title. But before I could make it out, a loud creaking behind me gave me a startle. I spun around in a hurry.

“
Welcome,” a really elderly woman said. Her skin looked like brown leather, her mouth sunken in and her smile revealed why—she had no teeth.

“
Thanks.” I smiled politely, moving a little further down the aisle. She simply turned to watch me.

“
What made you come here?” she asked, pushing one long, knobby finger into a book on the shelf. She was shorter than me. Her fuzzy white hair flowed around her head like an aura, and when she moved she was slow and slightly impish.

“
I just moved here. Thought I would check out the stores around here. Sorry if I’m bothering you.”

She lifted her arm to my shoulder. An arm full of bracelets chiming and crashing together as she clasped my shoulder. “You’re not bothering me. I’m Circe.” She swept her arm above her head like an elegant woman at a pageant, a gummy smile spanning her face. She had gentle eyes, I thought to myself.

“
I’m Hope. It’s nice to meet you.” I gave another smile as she guided her hand over my shoulders, studying me.

“
That’s a beautiful name,” she told me, leading me toward the back of the store to a small counter where there sat burning incense, an old fashioned cash register, a bell and a couple jars with something strange looking inside.

“
What are you looking for, Hope?” she asked, extending her palm toward me, the creases in her hand so prominent and wrinkled.

I studied her eyes as she nodded for me to take her hand. As I did, she spit on the top of my hand. I tried pulling away, disgusted, but her grasp was strong for such an old woman. She lifted a candle, tipping it over and letting the hot wax drip on my skin. I winced. This woman was nuts. And then after blowing a puff of dust at my hand, she wiped at my skin, revealing a charred mark. And then she grew silent as she took it in.

“
You are unhappy and do not belong here. Your heart is heavy with sadness, but your eyes wide open.” She jerked my hand up a little higher. “You can be happy, you just don’t try. But I see a dark shadow. It is hungry and evil, very evil. You came close to it once already, no?” She eyed me suspiciously, her eyes turning into tiny slits as she stared, waiting for my response.

“
On the beach. A couple nights ago. Yes.” I nodded.

“
You must be careful,” she hissed, growing angry.

The bell chimed again at the front of the store. Several quick footsteps echoed, and then Lucy appeared. Her face filled with light at the sight of me. “Hope. How are you?” she asked, rushing to my side. She hurriedly wiped at my hand, removing any traces of the ash.

“
Circe, no. Hope is new here, she isn’t interested in readings,” she said, scolding Circe. I watched closely as Lucy straightened up the countertop. She secured the matches, slid some papers underneath the counter and situated everything in sight.

“
Circe is my great, great aunt. She is one hundred and five believe it or not,” she told me as she punched some buttons on the register.

“
Wow, that’s amazing,” I said with a smile. It was nice to talk to someone who enjoyed being around me. Well, at least Lucy acted like she did.

“
Why are you not at that lovely school this afternoon?” she asked, her eyes growing concerned.

“
I was expelled. It’s a long story,” I said, waving my hand to dismiss the explanation.

But Lucy gave a nod, taking me by the elbow out of PauWau. We made it back into the sun and warmth of the beach.

“
How about we get some pizza and we can talk about it?” she asked, happily leading me toward a small pizzeria on the corner.

“
Well, I really don’t want to bother you,” I said. But I was lying. I wanted to hang out with her badly. Ever since she showed up I felt this overwhelming need to be near someone my mother’s age that was sweet and warm. I missed that.