Voiceless

Chapter Thirteen

I drag my feet on the ground. I don't even want to leave the house.

I'd tried earlier to pretend I was having more neck pain and was clearly not fit to be going to school. Grandmother just sighed wearily and walked away. She's been... strange... ever since the last hospital trip. The white hairs have multiplied, and for the first time ever she looks more than just old; Grandmother looks elderly.

I run my hand through my hair. So many things are happening all at once. But as I start to let my arm fall back down to my side, I see it.

A little white scar nestled the crook of my elbow.

Suddenly, everything comes back to me- the darkness, the pain, and the memories. One memory in particular dominates my mind: the one from the accident. I want to scream; I'd been looking so hard for that memory, and it came to me when I couldn't fully absorb what I was seeing.

I look at the clock and see that if I wait much longer, I'll be late. So I trudge to school, wondering what's going to happen. Oddly enough, I don't care much anymore.

Until I get to school. I see a bunch of people huddled in groups along the hallway, pointing and whispering as they see me. Nausea crawls around my stomach; what has Lydia done?

I break into a run. Some guy calls out, "Slow down, save a life," and snickers, but other than that nobody stops me. I breathe heavily; my legs know exactly where I'm going.

The bright yellow CAUTION tape appears, and I swing open the creaky door. Grunting, I shut it as tightly as I can, feeling safe only when I know it won't budge. Haven is the only place that can bring me comfort right now. 

I thought I'd feel better, but as I slide to the floor with my back against the wall I only feel worse. You can't run away from your problems, Vera.

I put my face in my hands. Hiding here won't help me at all. But I know what will.

Before I know it, I'm up and sprinting again. And this time I know I'm heading to the right place. When I stop, my body continues skidding for several feet. Then I turn.

She's exactly where I thought she'd be: in front of her locker, surrounded by her groupies. Her fake smile slips off her face, replaced by a menacing one. I see the fire in her black eyes and I know this battle is going to be epic.

"Well, well, well, look who's decided to show up." She slams her locker shut in one fluid movement. I see her eyes glitter, and I wonder what she's so smug about.

"So, I was wondering... do you ever miss your mommy and daddy?" She spits.

"Well? Aren't you going to say anything?" The blood has long since drained from my face. "Oh, that's right, you can't!"

The world slows down. Everyone starts laughing in slow motion, and a vague grin appears on Lydia's face. White-hot fury pulses through my body, starting at my chest and spreading to all my extremities. I don't care anymore, I think to myself.

Everything speeds up again as I throw a vicious right hook at her jaw. She goes down and doesn't look like she'll be getting up again, but that doesn't make the rage go away. I straddle her limp body and hit her again and again, not stopping until two guys drag me away. The last thing I see before a crowd envelopes Lydia is her unconscious body, blood dripping from her crooked nose.

I struggle for a while, but the anger has left me unexpectedly and I don't have the strength to keep going. So I keep my head down and don't resist when they dump me in a chair in front of the office. I know that by now they've called Grandmother.

My body perks up, however, when I hear a familiar jangling of earrings and turn to see Haley striding down the hallway, shoes tapping. She sees me when I wave her over, but she looks almost... guilty? I can't fathom why she'd feel guilt and continue. I figure I'm probably gonna get expelled, so I might as well tell her the truth.

I find a tablet of paper on the chair next to me and hope the owner won't mind my borrowing it. Using a blunt, shorn-down pencil I keep in my pocket, I write down everything I want to say.

Haley, I'm a mute. It happened two years ago when a car accident killed my parents and brother. I've been living with my grandmother, and I didn't want you to know.

She is silent for a moment after she reads it. Then she shuffles her feet uncomfortably. "I know."

I'm confused for a moment, then I have a revelation and jot more down.

Oh, Lydia told you already?

She frowns and looks away. At first, I take it to mean I was correct in my assumption, but then she speaks. "No, Vera, it's not that. It's just..." Haley sighs. "Your doctor is my grandpa."

The words don't sink in immediately. Then, slowly, I begin to comprehend what she's saying. Dr. Davis is Haley's grandfather. My doctor, the man who's saved my life repeatedly, is also the man she lovingly refers to as "Grandpa".

This explains so much: why Haley never pushed too far in terms of speech. Why she knew exactly how long I'd been at Varence Middle School. She was probably spying on me all that time.

I glance into her eyes and flinch as Dr. Davis's intelligent green ones stare back at me. Looking away quickly, I wonder how I could be so foolish. The answers were right in front of me the whole time. Heat rushes into my face, and I avoid Haley's gaze. "Don't do that," she pleads. "This is why I knew I couldn't tell you."

My nose flares, and I can feel the anger returning. She can't say that! She was the one who didn't even trust me enough to tell the truth in the beginning. I clench my hands, balling them into fists. 

"Veronica Williamson? The principal will see you now." An office lady calls from the opening of a door. I follow her, glad to get away. Haley tries to grab my hand as I stalk past her, but I yank it away. Don't touch me! I feel like yelling at her.

Her face crumples, and she bows her head. I don't look back at her.

***

The school office reeks of old ladies' perfume and has a mixed atmosphere: on one hand, you've got the gossipy women talking about random people and their scandals while typing into outdated computers. On the other hand, you've got the kids like me who've gotten themselves into trouble; some of the newer ones have their heads bowed in humiliation, while the more experienced veterans are reclining in chairs while talking to the familiar faces, including the women working at their desks. There are also kids who act extremely nervous, shuffling their feet and bending the ears of anyone willing to listen. A few kids are sullen with enraged eyes, and don't talk to anyone. The whole place has dim lighting and brown, muddy-looking walls.

In the principal's office, I can hear Grandmother's shouts. "I don't believe that! Vera hasn't had a single issue in her entire life, and these things don't just pop up!" 

The principal tries to calm her down. "Ma'am, I understand her situation-"

"Situation? SITUATION? I'll give you a situation!" Alarmed, I rush into the room and gently place my hands on Grandmother's shoulders.  She's riled up, and I know from experience that my grandmother has issues with anger management. Normally she would go cook something, but obviously she can't.

Her face softens as she sees me. Visibly relaxing, Grandmother addresses the principal again. "Now, just look at her. Does she look like she could knock over another girl so easily?"

 I turn my sleeve so he doesn't see the bloody stain I earned from punching Lydia. My principal gives me a once-over and shakes his head.

"Unfortunately, there's enough evidence to prove your granddaughter's involvement. Since this is her first time breaking a school rule, I'll only suspend her." Grandmother beams.

"But if Vera ever does anything, if she even so much as runs in the hallway, you can bet that she will be expelled swiftly. Regardless of her situation." He gives me a stern look before dismissing us both.