State of Grace (Complete)

Salvaging School

Ch 33

The next morning I am up and clean, ready for school, or at least as ready as I can be. It's been a week and a half since I last went, and I am more behind than ever. True to their word, Chris and Ian come to the door at eight. Ian carries my back pack and Chris opens the door for me. I slump into the backseat. When we get to school, Ian and I wait in the car until after the warning bell, and Kyle comes to meet us.

"Hey Angel," Kyle says in a soft voice. "I'm here to offer any help I can."

I nod in response.

"Okay, Gracie. Ready?" Ian asks, but it's more of a direction.

I walk flanked on either side by Kyle and Ian into the school. We stop by my locker quick to pick up some books, and the word "Cocktease" has been scratched onto the metal.

"Grace," Kyle's voice is steady and he tries to reason with me. "It's just a word, and it's a lie, don't give it any power over you."

"Chris is supposed to be getting that fixed," Ian sounds exasperated, then his voice softens, "time for guidance." And the three of us move down the deserted halls for guidance and Mr. Karst's office.

"Grace, I am so sorry for everything that has happened since you were last here, and really in the past year. It's so hard to know that a student is in distress until it's too late." he reaches to shake my hand and I back away.

"Please don't touch her. She doesn't want to be touched right now." Ian explains.

"Of course, I'm sorry, umm...Chris?"

"No, it's Ian."

"Okay...why are you here Ian?"

"For Grace. We need to figure out how to salvage her year. She knows she's failing, and it's totally unlike her, but with all the issues she's facing this year, it only seems fair that something could be worked out."

"Is this right Grace?"

I nod, thankful that Ian is here.

After thirty minutes of discussion, mostly between Ian and Mr. Karst, a plan of action has been devised. I am removed from my first and last period classes, and instead I am to work on catching up in the two courses I have left, English and French. I will have to take either night school or summer school to make up for the other two classes. For the two spare periods, I am to report to the study hall in the back of the library. I can come in slightly after the bell to avoid being jostled in the hall in the mornings and we check to make sure that none of Chad's classes are near my own. Mr. Karst writes me a pass to leave class for guidance if I need to leave to take a break.

"Could you write one for Ian, too?" I mumble, "I don't want to walk by myself."

"Oh, Grace, I wish I could, but he hasn't had the best track record with attendance."

"You can check for this year, Mr. Karst, today, right now is the first class I've missed. I realized I was messing up..." Ian looks at me, a soft smile on his face, "and I found what I needed." I am confused, this is all overwhelming.

Mr. Karst checks his computer while Ian is talking, "Hmm, graphic arts, marketing..." his voice trails off as he reads to himself. "Mr. Reed, this is impressive. Probably your best semester since you've been here. That's fantastic. What happened?"

"I just realized I had to...deserve everything I've always been given. Taken advantage of. Others have situations that are far worse and have persevered. I've just been a selfish idiot."