Sang's Freedom - The Song Of Ghosts

16:

Chapter 16

Sang Sorenson's POV-

When the final bell rang I waited in the nurse's office a few extra minutes in case the boys intended to fetch me.

No one came.

The school cleared out quickly. Lights in less used parts of the building were shutting off.

As I dipped into the corridor, most of the hallways were already empty. It surprised me how fast so many students departed.

"Song."

I turned begrudgingly to face off with Principal Hendricks...again.

My displeasure showed.

"I called you to my office several times today, Sorenson. Where were you?" His beady eyes drank me in.

It was creepy being alone with him.

The goody-two-shoes within me forced myself to form words. "I was at the nurse's office, Mr. Hendricks. I wasn't feeling well."

"Your father said you might pull something like this. On your first day you got into a fight, and now you're attempting to ditch class in the nurse's office; trying to game on your phone all day, were you?" He looked down at me as if he had me all figured out.

"I don't have a phone."

I think it was safe to assume Mr. Hendricks was lying about my father.

My dad would never say I was a bad kid. What would be the point? Drawing attention to me would only draw attention to Mother.

Plus my father was out of town. Why would he have stopped to talk with my new principal? It just didn't make any sense.

"You're going to be quite the disciplinary problem." Mr. Hendricks snorted and I found myself taking a step back.

"I...really need to get going, Mr. Hendricks. If you need to call my father, go ahead, but I have to get home before my mother starts to worry."

"You'll be in my office before school tomorrow, Song. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir."

He left me in the hallway and I swallowed my fear, turning smacking into a stranger.

The blond caught my wrist. "Easy there," he muttered, quickly releasing me. His dark green eyes followed Mr. Hendricks down the hall.

"S-Sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't be, Ghostie. I've got to go." The stranger patted my shoulder, pressing past me to trail after Mr. Hendricks.

I tried to ignore the weirdness, going for the front doors of the school.

The buses were gone, and my new friends weren't anywhere in sight.

Friends.

Well, hell. If I was going to start using the F-word, I really was going to have to be careful about Marie.

Tomorrow was Friday and I would need the fifty dollars for her silence.

Maybe I should just tell the guys what is going on... Maybe they'd help... The idea died right then and there. I'd never ask for their help.

I was on thin enough ice with them as it was... asking Dr. Green to come to my house. Luke tapping on my window. Mr. Blackbourne protecting me from Principal Hendricks...

I refused to jeopardize the friendship we were building.

"Sang!" I looked up from the sidewalk to see Victor and Gabriel driving alongside me in an expensive silver car. "Why'd you leave the nurse's office? We went back to get you, but you weren't there."

"I thought you left without me," I said as they pulled over.

Gabriel wagged a finger. "Don't you start with me, Trouble. You need to learn we aren't going to leave you."

Victor laughed at my expression, getting out of the driver's seat to open the door for me. I thanked him, slipping into the backseat.

"Your house is across from Kota's, right?" Victor drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as if he were seated in front of a piano instead.

"Uh, yeah, but you probably should drop me off at the end of the block, though. Here's good."

His amber eyes caught mine in the rear-view mirror. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, my parents wouldn't be happy to know that I'm..." making friends?

"It's no problem, Princess. I prefer to drop a girl off at her front door is all. I want to make sure you get in safe. Could you text me or something when you get inside?"

"I would, but I don't have a cell phone." Why do I feel so embarrassed? A lot of people didn't have cell phones. It never mattered before.

The corner of Victor's mouth dipped down as he fished his phone from his pocket, offering it to me. "Take this one. I have another at home and all of our numbers are in there."

"I can't." I bit my lip. "I can't accept something like that. No way. I know Gabriel said you have a lot of money, but you already bought me clothes. A cellphone is too much. I can't accept it." I rambled. "I mean, I can't even imagine what you spent on the clothes. I can't pay you back for them. I've tried to think up ways, but nothing seems good enough--"

"Sang, slow down." Victor turned in his seat, pressing the phone into my hand. "I'm letting you borrow my cellphone. There's nothing wrong with borrowing. I'll see you tomorrow and then you'll be able to return it."

"What if I break it?"

"You aren't going to break it."

"I could on accident and then you'll be mad."

"I won't mind if you break it, Sang. Like I said, I have another at home. Just text the contact: Victor 2 and you'll be able to reach me."

Victor smiled as my fingers closed over the smooth screen.

"Text me, too, Trouble." Gabriel winked, and I found myself blushing as I stepped out of the car.

"We'll pick you up right here tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, Victor...and thank you. Bye Gabriel. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Later Trouble."

"Have a goodnight, Princess."

I walked up the road to my house ignoring Victor and Gabriel as they inconspicuously drove past, just as I tried to ignore the weight of the cellphone in the pocket of my cargo pants as I walked.

With any luck, Mother would still be asleep and I could just go into my room and text Victor that everything was okay.

Unfortunately, I'm not a lucky person.