Harley Shaw

Chapter 8

Harley sits in the passenger seat of the grey 2008 Jetta Volkswagen, Mrs Shaw anxiously sitting in the driver's seat, glancing towards her daughter every now and then, concern and worry carved into her features. Harley sits relaxed, laid-back in her seat. Her head leaning back, pointed almost to the ceiling of the used car.

"I'm sorry dad couldn't take you in today." Mrs Shaw starts. "But you know his job. His meetings and conferences are unpredictable." Harley knows she's trying to make conversation, but she doesn't care, if Harley doesn't want to talk then she won't. Harley doesn't react. She just keeps staring up into the car. Mr Shaw usually takes Harley into school. He gave up making conversation a while ago, Mrs Shaw just has to catch up. "He's got a few more after lunch." Mrs Shaw trails on. Harley closes her eyes in annoyance, more comfortable with the thought of her father driving her in silence to her destinations.

"Harley?" Mrs Shaw says, looking to her when they stop at a red light. Harley opens her eyes and turns her head to her right slightly, her mother now in view, indicating that she's listening. "Do you think the Saturday sessions are helping?"

Harley stares her dead in the eyes as she starts the car again, moving at the green light. "Helping?" Harley asks as if it were a joke she hasn't understood.

Mrs Shaw's eyes brighten ever so slightly at the response, ignoring the context with it. "Yes. Do you think they're helping you?" Harley doesn't react, except for closing her eyes and turning her head back to facing the ceiling. "Have you been using that book Doctor Lily gave you? I haven't seen it since the day she gave it to you." She hardly takes a breath before continuing. "She seems to really know what she's doing. I really think you should listen to her seriously."

Harley sighs quietly as she lets her mother calm down from her excitement. "When can I start driving again?" Harley asks in a heavy breath out. Harley can almost see her mother's face drop through her closed eyelids.

"Harley, you know we care about you, and we want what's best for you." Mrs Shaw starts just as Harley's eyes open in frustration, preparing herself for the repeated argument given by her mother whenever the subject is brought up. "Of course we trust you, but you must understand that after what happened to poor Jenna we need to ensure that we know where you are for the benefit of the school." So they don't know she leaves school at in the middle of the day. It doesn't matter in the long run; it's still in the school records on when she leaves and comes back.

The school comes into view, the several students still walking into the building shielding themselves from the mild wind coming in from the north. "I'll get out here." Harley announces, unbuckling her seatbelt and grabbing her things that are pooled around her feet alongside her mothers handbag and an umbrella that hasn't been used in two years.

"Oh, don't be silly, Harley, I'll drive you up to the door." Mrs Shaw dismisses Harleys wishes and pulls into the car park; not seeing the pothole that sits just as cars turn to go inside and jolts the car to the left and back, rocking the two occupants inside the vehicle.

Harley stops with her hand on the handle of the passengers door. "Dad lets me out there."

Mrs Shaw slows to a stop outside the door and turns to Harley. "I'll tell him to be more useful to you and drop you off at the door next time then." Before Harley can say anymore, Mrs Shaw tells Harley to 'have a good day' and unlocks the door for Harley to get out.

Without saying anything in fear of appearing 'unstable' and 'violent', Harley steps out, closing the door harshly and walks away, the Volkswagen tires crunching on the loose concrete and rubbish littered about the car park.

The colourful hallways, painted in fake happiness and joyfulness and packed with students waiting for their friends to catch up pass Harley in a slow blur as she steps past those in her way. Harley steps through the doorway into her form room, the lock sliding shut with it's somewhat unique sound, and sits in her assigned chair.