Weapon Twenty

Chapter VI

My back is firmly pressed against one of the many building's making up the school. I'm clutching the top strap of my once light school bag, now heavy with many unnecessary papers handed to me by all my new teacher's.

I shift my weight; foot to foot facing the edge of the school parking lot. While patiently waiting for the aged forest green station wagon Mr. Peters drove us to this city in.

Pairs of students discreetly observe me as they pass me by, not missing an opportunity to steal a glance at the mysterious new girl.

The station wagon whirls from the corner building into the parking lot, cutting off a few cars in the process. Once he arrives a few feet away I swing my backpack over my shoulder one more time today, and cross over the lawn area.

I hear each blade of grass shift under my black laced up combat boots. After I reach for the door handle climbing in the seat, I meet a begging to be wiped off the face smile.

"How was your first day of school?" He shifts out of park, still with the smile slacked across his face.

"Don't start." I say now with a small smile of my own.

"No, come on wasn't it exciting?"

"It was...different." Was the only word I could describe today's experience.

"Well I suppose that's better than horrible." I hear him sigh and see his grin falter. "I received notice from Mrs. Wayward earlier...he's returned and recognized both our absence."

I push all my weight from the back of the seat and turn my head to directly face him. He clearly administers the sheer panic in my eye's as I look for his expression.

"I asked for you and she said he's fine." He finishes. My panic subsides to a lesser degree and I lean back onto the seat.

"He won't be for long." I swallow my guilt and fight back tears, clawing their way to be free.

He rests a hand on my shoulder keeping the other on the steering wheel. "You know for a fact Wayward won't let anything happen to him, alright."

I block out the rest of what he say's, leaning my head all the way back on to the headrest. I clench my eye's and try my hardest to drown out the noise of the city's traffic and the small jolts I feel from the cracks in the road.

***

Once we reach the light teal painted house, we're both standing outside the door. His reaches his hand into his pocket jingling each key, looking for the correct one to insert into the key hole.

He swings the door open and I rush past him all the way to end of the hall stepping into the room claimed as mine and I throw my bag over to the corner of the desk.

I come around the door to close it, just as I see Mr. Peters appear from the side, placing a hand on the door frame. He twitches a lip to speak but I counter him before he could get a word in.

"Please," I utter, looking directly at the floor. "I need to be alone for a while."

He takes his hand off the doorframe​ and takes a few hesitant steps back. Giving him a reassuring smile, I slowly close the door all the way until I hear it click shut.

My abundant intake of breath knocks me back slightly, pushing me to fall on my bed. My legs drift to my chest before my arms become a jacket for them, finding warmth and comfort in my own embrace.

I was successful from flooding the unwanted memories I tried my hardest to push aside, up until this moment.

***