Past Convictions H.S/M.C. Sequel to "Convict"

Chapter 2

Miley -

I stand in my office doorway, watching as students walk past. Talking, laughing, some cussing about how awful school or their parents are.

Several kids walk by with crazy colored dyed hair, insane piercings, tattoos. I mean, seriously these kids are 16, 17, and 18 years old! What kind of parent would let their kids to this?!

The bell rings and students flood the hallways, cramming into classrooms and leaving the hall finally quiet.

I turn to go back into my office, when I hear whispering. Slowly, walking into the hall, being careful to stay quiet, I make my way towards the whispering. I soon find the whispering coming from the janitor closet. Expecting the worst, I open the door earning two gasps from the two teens inside.

A boy who's half-covered in tattoos and a girl with purple hair and lip piercings. God, some parents need to be whipped for allowing their children to look this this.

"My office, now." I order the two. Thankfully they didn't seem to be engaging in anything sexual.

The two teens follow me to my office and I make the boy wait as I take the girl in. I need to hear both sides before I decide to call the parents.

The girl follows me into the office and the moment I shut the door she's talking.

"We weren't doing anything! I was just telling him to keep away. We broke up and he won't let me go, okay? So don't call my dad." Seriously? This kid thinks she has the right to tell me that?

"I will be calling your dad. And I'll also be calling his dad. Now, if that's all you have to say about it, wait outside the door while I talk to that boy."

"His name is James. And he's not a boy he's a jerk." She snaps and walks out of the office. But the moment she's out, she takes off running down the hall.

"Hey! Come back here!" I run after her, but it's too late. She runs out of the school, taking off across the road and disappearing between buildings.

Great.

*********

Harry -

I grab the wrench and start working in another engine today. The loud sounds of the other guys working on the other cars and trucks is the only sound that's heard. No one ever said working in a garage was quiet.

I feel my phone vibrate in my back jeans pocket and pull it out, hurrying out of the loud noisy building so I can at least hear what's being said on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Is this Chloe's father?" That voice. It sounds so familiar...

"Hello?"

"Uh, yes. This is Chloe's dad." I answer.

"Good. I'm calling from her school. She's run off."

**********

I dial Chloe's number again, while walking through the back streets. She's still not answering, damn.

I know she's around here somewhere nearby. Every time she's ever run away from school, I find her around here.

I hope she at least put on a jacket, it's getting cold out here. I'm mad at her for running away from school, don't get me wrong. But I don't want her to feel miserable while out here.

Her running away from school is something that always reminds me how much she's like me. Raising her is king of like watching a female version of me growing up. Badass attitude, not caring what others think, all that.

I just don't want her to end up like I did. Prison, rape, foster homes, and every unpleasant thing from my life.

And I don't want her to grow up to be like her mother. Having a baby at 17 and giving it up, never caring. I want Chloe to have a perfect life. And while I know that's technically impossible, I can't be blamed for trying. It's more than some people do.

I dial her number again, and wait until it goes to voicemail. I dial again. And again. And again. Voicemail.

I keep walking through the old buildings, checking every dark corner for Chloe. Then my phone rings.

Chloe's name flashes across the screen, and I'm quick to answer.

"Where are you?"

"That old building with the weird stairs. Remember?" The memory of the day Chloe was fourteen and ran out of her school because she'd dyed her hair green and everyone called her grass head plays through my mind. She'd hid in an abandoned building with a steep spiral stair case that kind of looks like something from a horror film. Weird, right?

"I'm in my way. Stay there." I hurry to the building and walk in, my eyes immediately finding Chloe as she sits in the corner of the house. Back against the wall, knees pulled to her chest, her hair covering her face.

I walk over and sit next to her, pushing her hair aside so I can see her face. She's crying.

"You want to talk about it?" I ask.

"The new principal was going to call you." She sniffles.

"She did already. What happened?"

Chloe leans her head back against the wall and takes a couple deep breathes before answering.

"She caught me and James in the janitors closet." She finally says.

"And what were you two doing in the janitors closet?" I try to keep myself calm.

"James pulled me in and-"

"I'll kill him." I stand up and start to walk out of the building only to have Chloe jump up and grab my arm.

"Dad! He didn't do anything to me-"

"He pulled you into a closet, yes?" Confusion flashes across my daughter's face before she nods.

"Okay, that gives me the right to kill him." I turn to keep walking, only for her to now jump in front of me.

"Dad." She crosses her arms over her chest, and I can't help but smile. She's got an attitude like both me and her mom used to. And maybe still do.

Only I've never had purple hair.