Maybe...?

CHAPTER 17

The room is spacious, bigger than a single class.

I look around me and see some certificate licenses about academic courses.

I'm sitting on a black and spongy chair.

My legs shake.

I've never been in the principal's office before.

Well, I guess I was a good girl.

It all happened exactly fifteen minutes ago, I was eating my lunch in the canteen with Julie and some friends, when suddenly, a middle-aged woman came and started to talk to me, like If we've met since years ago.

She was wearing a large black skirt, a grey jacket and high, high heels.

Her blonde hair was tied in a bun.

"Hello sweetie, you are Eleanor Fitzpatrick, right?" she smiled.

I was a bit shocked. Just a bit.

"Y-yeah..." I stood up.

"Would you come with me to the principal's office? It's something really urgent."

"What it is?" I mumbled.

"Let's go there and then I'll explain myself." She grabbed my arm swiftly.

I gaze at Julie, who was even more amused than me.

"O-Okay..."

She literally was crazy.

And yeah, I am here, in the principal's office, waiting for that woman to tell me what the hell is happening.

The ice-cream I left in the canteen is melting right now, I'm sure.

"Well Lea, it's hard to explain this to you because you're only fifteen." She sits in front of me.

Only a huge table separate us.

"Almost sixteen," I remark.

"Anyways. My name is Monique Lullaby and I'm asked to look for an adoptive family for you." She seems nervous.

Oh.

Surprise.

"Well... I'm not very interested in that... I'm fine, and my grandmother is too." My hands are sweating.

"Sure about it, but my job is to protect you from outside problems. You know she needs medical treatment and that costs money... a lot of."

"And the social insurance? We have it... I think."

"There would be no money for your education." She is being too harsh.

"I don't care, I can work. Studies these days are not the only way to survive."

I didn't think about that, about working, but If that's not going to take apart us, then I'll do it.

"Sorry. Lea, I know it's hard to accept, I totally understand, but there's no another choice."

I shiver.

"Of course you understand me because you've lost your parents, right? And you've got also a sick grandmother, right?" I explode. "Oh c'mon, YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING¡" I shout.

"Lea, calm yourself..."

"NO, I DON'T WANT TO CALM. FOR THE FIRST TIME I WANT TO SCREAM OUT LOUD WHAT IS EATING FROM INSIDE SINCE FOREVER..." I stand up. "IM TIRED, TIRED OF ALL THIS FAKE, THIS FAKE THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU DO. YOU, PEOPLE LIKE YOU ONLY WANT TO GET MONEY AND THROW AWAY TO THE MESS ANOTHER KID."

"Don't say that." She is being too peaceful.

"IM GOING TO SAY WHATEVER I WANT, OKAY? IT'S DONE, IM DONE. SEND ME TO WHEREVER YOU WANT, LET SOME STRANGERS GIVE ME FOOD AND EDUCATION WHILE THE ONLY PERSON THAT I CARE IS SUFFERING."

I look at her meanly.

She doesn't speak a word.

"What?" "Not good words to say anymore?"

She checks something on the computer.

"There will be a family waiting for you on your house after school, and a car that will take your grandmother to the best hospital."

I turn around, trying to cover my tears.

I don't want to see her face.

"The best, right?" I sound sarcastic.

I breathe deeply, opening the door to come out of this horrible place.

"Eleanor. I'm sorry." She says.

"Yeah, I mutter. "Me too"