The Meanings of Lost

Chapter 10

Diana:

I guess I'm getting somewhere. She said that since I'm so insistent, she'll permit me to come and pick her up on Saturday mornings. I'd get her to all her classes and rehearsals on time and she wouldn't object to staying overnight at my place. Not entirely what I was hoping for, but compromise is better than nothing.

As I walk through the first hallway, it is easy to notice that there are not many kids around. Mayhap there are different rules on the weekend, for most of the doors are closed. I walk up and up the wide spiral staircase until I reach the archway that leads to the fourth floor. Again, it seems deserted. 

I traverse the hallways until I find room 457. The door is closed. I knock. There is no reply. 

Where is everyone? Definitely not in this building.

I go back down the steps that seem innumerable and endless the more I walk them. With my hand on the rail, I move down the quickly. It's early, barely nine. I was hoping we could have breakfast and a laid-back morning. I guess I should have told her that.

Once outside, I scan the buildings. With little success, I close my eyes and listen for noise. Somewhere behind me, there's running and a whistle. I track the sound back to a rather small building, appearing to be not much larger than two stories, but with a lot of floor space. Gym on the weekend? I roll my eyes. I swear this is the oddest school for the oddest children. I'll have to get used to it though. Ambrosine seems to love it.

I walk over to the building. The doors, this time, are reasonable in size. I open them, instantly met with the quiet sounds of squeaking shoes. I walk up the stairs to the second level, where large windows allowed me to look into the gymnasium. Students in brightly coloured exercise wear were doing exercises in small groups as teachers with teachers in blue and white uniforms with clipboards walked around, observing them. I study them and find Ambrosine in the group running laps on one-half of the floor. Her long black hair is braided down her back, but strands have fallen loose and fly around her face.

"Miss, are you looking for a student?" a voice from behind me asks. I turn and am met with a well-to-do man dressed in the school vest attire with the word PRINCIPAL sewn across the top of the pocket.

"Aa-Ambrosine," I stammer, her name a stranger on my lips. "Rosefsky," I add, just in case.

"I'm assuming you're Miss Diana Prince," he says cheerily and extends a hand. "I make it my business to know the guardians and parents of all my students." I smile and take his hand. "To answer your questions, for many who do not know our system have them, this morning we are holding one of the many rounds of physical evaluations that qualify students to be on our sports teams." I nod, unsure of what else to do. "It will end shortly and I will have a teacher send her your way."

"Thank you," I reply so automatically it might have sounded a tad robotic.

"Great. Now that that's cleared up, are there any things you would like cleared up? I am here, after all, to answer any and all questions students and their parents may have about the goings-on at this vicinity."

"Well, umm." How do I phrase it? "I guess I am wondering if there's a way Ambrosine might be able to work from my place. She's very worried about moving out of the dorm rooms because she does not want to be late, but I don't think it's the best option for her."

"Your concern is admirable, but I do not see an outcome where Ambrosine's academic future would benefit from the online program as of her current situation. If anything, we, as a collective school, feel that she's better off with an escape from the court mandates. You're fairly new to this, so I don't blame you for any misjudgements, but you must rest assured that Stonewall cares for all of their long-term students and is working to help them achieve a successful future of their own design. Ambrosine will benefit well from the extracurriculars that are not offered to online students, so unless you can find a better alternative, I see no reason to change her position from an attending student. You may, if you can, convince her it would be alright to stay with you, provided she is never late as tardies merit immediate expulsion." He smiles at me, charmingly I must add. Like a true Jack of all trades. "Now, the trial should be over now, have a great day." He walks down the stairs and tells something to the coach at the steel door. The coach nods and the principal leaves.

A long whistle is blown and students drop what they are doing, then run to the centre of the room, where a different coach gives them instructions. They thanked them, many shaking his hand, then filed out of the room in pairs of twos. Ambrosine was stopped at the doorway and directed towards me. She was wearing a purple exercise bra and an orange, white, yellow, and black splatter patterned pair of leggings.

"Hi," she says, full of energy. "You're early."

"I was thinking we could go for breakfast, but-"

"That'd be great! We already ate, but I don't think I'll hold out for lunch right now." A friend hands her her bag. They smile and part without words. She pulls out a dress and slid it on over herself. "I've got all the stuff I need for today in here," she says as she unbraids her hair. The dress was a smart choice, it melds well with her exercise outfit. 

She continues to tame her hair as we walk out of the building, then off the campus in silence. I wonder if the gods hate me; if they want me to fail, and that's why they are thwarting me at every turn. I get into my car and use the mirror to look at Ambrosine, who is sitting quietly in the back, looking out the window. Maybe it's not the gods. Maybe we're just too different, or too opposed for anything to work outright.

~~~~~

Hi guys, so there was some writer's block, not gonna lie, but don't forget to comment and vote and share this work. Even though we are nearing 200 reads, there are more readers out there who will love this book and we need to help them find it. As always, I'm so happy for my cheerleaders and unbelievable support I'm getting from you all both in the comments and via PM. It's so much easier to write knowing people want the next chapter. So again vote and share and get this into the hands of others. <3 Love all of you! <3
-Beneath_the_Willows