Royal Pain

Chapter 11: Wyatt the Wise

"Harper!" Principal Roberts shouts at me as I continue sprinting down the hall at full speed. People part quickly for me as they watch my sprinting figure fling itself into a random room. I quickly recognize it as a freshman science class taught by no one other than Mr. Zee.
"Harper, is there any reason why you're interrupting my class today?" Mr. Zee quirks an unamused eyebrow at me as the little freshman watch me.
"Nope I just really like learning about," I glance at the image drawn on the board, "Human anatomy?"
"Cells Harper, cells," Mr. Zee slaps the board with his ruler at the odd illustration.

"Harper!" a very familiar voice scolds from the door and I whip around to see Principal Roberts.
"If this is your hiding skills I'm very concerned for your well being if a robber broke into your house."

"Oh no I just really like to learn about cells!" I exclaim with a smile.
"Isn't that human anatomy?" Principal Roberts questions with furrowed eyebrows while he stares at the board.
"That's what I was saying!" I exclaim earning a few laughs from the freshman.

"Harper," Principal Roberts sighs, "My office." Defeat inflates in my chest as I slowly drag myself out of the classroom with Roberts closing the door behind me. In the past minute, the halls have turned almost completely deserted mostly because the fourth hour started, the hour that I'm supposed to have a study hall but instead am being dragged into the principal's office for 'counseling'.
"What have I told you about skipping out on our monthly sessions?" Principal Roberts turns to me.
"I wasn't skipping I was just..." I start.
"Stalling?" he questions.
"Listen, Principal Roberts, you and I both know I have barely gotten into trouble this whole year!" I defend myself as we make our way for his office.

"Harper we've only gotten through the first month and you've already been to my office twice," Roberts sighs as we enter his office and we both sit in our designated seats.
"Ok, the second time wasn't me!" I claim and Roberts nods.
"I know, I know, and that's even more concerning to me," he gives me that look that only adults do when they think they know what's best for you.
"I've been hearing a lot of odd reports about things outside of school, someone's car had been covered in glitter and eggs. Joshua barging into the girl's bathroom proclaiming that 'you were dying', and on top of that you've actually become friends with Wyatt Burns and Prince Alvarez," Roberts states skeptically.

"What's wrong with being friends with Gabriel?" I snap at him and he seems taken back for a moment.
"I didn't mean it was bad, I just meant you, Celia, and Blake always kept to yourselves, what's going on with you Harper?" Roberts questions and I only glare down at the table. Nothing's going on with me, I don't understand why adults always think that if you do one thing out of the ordinary, for example, making friends, then suddenly you're doing something wrong.

"Harper," Roberts murmurs and I glance up, "I want you to know you can come to me if something's going on." I stare at Roberts for a long time, I know I can trust him. Ever since my father disappeared he was one of the only ones there for me and for that I owe him a lot more than I'm giving him. But at the same time, he's my principal and one of the adults who always act like they know everything in the world and believes we're all illegible children. I know I don't know everything, but I do know some stuff, and they always act like what we know isn't worth anything. Funny thing is, what we know is what they taught us.

"Thanks Roberts, but I do have a math test to study for right now," I give him a dry smile and Roberts only nods grimly and dismisses me to leave. Gliding down the empty halls I twiddle with the hall pass that he gave me before suddenly stopping dead in my tracks next to a trash can. Crumpling up the pass I toss it in the trash and make my way through the great hall and down a few hallways before I see one of the not-so-famous exits.

I glance back at the halls to make sure no one sees me before slipping out into the warm air and through the woods that border the school. I know that no one will find me out here and I'm thankful for this small piece of solitude, even if Principal Roberts will have my head for it later. Dropping my backpack by a tree, maybe ten feet from the school I begin to wander. I start walking and I don't stop, I pass large rocks, thick trees, and even a stream I didn't even know existed.