Hunting A New Life - Erin's Story

Chapter Part 2 - A Detour Through Ferelden

"Ah, Declan!" Mr. Townsend smiles, looking genuinely happy to see the boy in the door. Perhaps I am making him nervous too; I tend to make people uncomfortable. "Right on time. I just mentioned you to Miss Young here, and there you are."

Oh! It's the head boy who is excellent at sorting out issues between students!

I'll be so disappointed if he tells me he'll help me if I give him a hand. Yes, I'll be very, very disappointed! There is something very princely about him, and it's not just his glowing hair and lovely smile. I watch in horror as he winks at me, and his crown slips from his beautiful head and clatters at his feet.

Blooming flirt! So disappointing!

"Aye, I'm like the Sluagh. I'm a host of the unforgiven dead that gets summoned when ye say me name," he says, crossing the floor to stand beside my chair. "She's a miss now, is she? We've become right formal since I've spoken to ye earlier, Doc. Does that make me a mister now? Or are we having the teachers wear uniforms too? That will be fierce confusing, I tell ye... uhm... Sir."

Self-redemption is a real thing.

I can see his crown rising from his feet, flying through the air and landing on his head again. Someone with an accent like that can flirt with me as much as they want to, especially if they're going to do it in such a pleasing voice. I won't reciprocate - I'll probably hide under my chair - but they can still do it. My hormone producers are giggling happily right now.

It's the only part of me that is having a good time at the moment.

"Erin, meet our head boy, Declan McKenna," Mr. Townsend smiles. "He has a mouth on him, but mostly in a good way. He will help you find your destination."

"To be sure, to be sure," Declan agrees, nodding his head and chuckling. I'm not sure what he agrees with. Having a mouth on him or that he'll help me find my way. "I'll be happy to help the lass find her destination, Sir. Did ye have a specific destination in mind, or should I just pick one?"

To my surprise, the principal doesn't get mad at the cheeky boy; he throws his head back, laughing, and then his expression changes to mock exasperation.

"Dex, would you be so kind as to show Erin to Miss Thatcher's homeroom?"

"Ah, lass, that is a grand choice!" Declan exclaims as if I had any say in the matter. "Miss Thatcher is pure craic."

Did he just tell me that the teacher uses cocaine?

I am not entirely sure I enjoy hearing that. A teacher on crack, and it's common knowledge?! I thought Briar Cove was a safe community with little crime. While Declan's charming lilt and sweet smile rocked me into a state of well-being, I forgot who I was and where I was. I'm now harshly reminded, and dread coils its spikey body in my stomach. I press my hands to my belly to stop the pain.

I think the ulcer is acting up again.

Sometimes, it feels like I ate barbed wire. The food burns its rough, chafing way from my gullet to the pit of my stomach, and I end up feeling as if I've been kicked in the solar plexus. It becomes hard to know when I'm hungry and when my intestines are just melting in acid.

I rise on shaky legs, pick up my schoolbag, and pull it onto my back, jumping a little when Mr. Townsend rises and reaches a hand towards me over the desk's surface. Does he want to shake my hand or confiscate my school bag? Does he want to check to see if I have some drugs for his staff?

"There you go, Erin, " he smiles, and only half-convinced that he wants to shake my hand, I step closer and take his outstretched hand. I'm relieved when his smile widens, and he gives my hand a quick, firm, no-strangeness squeeze before he lets it go again.