The Red School

(13) It Wasn't Dirty Until You Pointed It Out

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CHAPTER 13

                The meeting lasts longer than it needed to, but thank goodness it is over after we received our verdicts. No one else argues. There’s no more punching or any other forms of violence on Azrielle’s part. Mom doesn’t take anymore digs at my father. We’re all free to go.

                Claude Irvian leaves off to Flora’s room for whatever reason; he must’ve figured that we don’t want to be bothered with him. Azrielle sneaks off to her dorm before my mother can further lecture her, which means more yelling for me.

                “Would you like to talk about this?” Mom asks me while we’re standing outside of Sachler’s office, her eyes searching my face for something, as if she’s trying to understand why I would do such a thing.

                “Honestly?” I say, biting down on my bottom lip. “No.”

                “Valeria.”

                “Mom, you already yelled at me in the office. I have a month of kitchen duties—whatever that may be—what more do you want?” I ask in an irritated tone, but I don’t quite raise my voice.

                Mom brushes a few stray strands of golden hair behind her ear and shakes her head. “No, not that,” she responds, giving me a low look. “About your father.”

                “Oh,” I murmur, looking down at the ground, giving my attention to the black and white tiles beneath my feet. I start walking slowly through the halls and my mother falls into step next to me, her heels much nosier on the ground than the flats I’m wearing. “Well, no to that too.”

                “Honey, its best not to keep your emotions bottled up.”

                “Oh, really?” I start, in a snappy voice, looking over at her and narrowing my eyes. “Because the one time I don’t keep my emotions bottled I end up with a month of kitchen duties and cause a big scene in the office.”

                It goes quiet between the two of us for a second, both of us just walking; the only thing that can be heard is our footsteps. I exhale a short sigh. “Sorry, mom.”

                “Its fine,” she says reluctantly, though it sounds like she really wants me to vent to her, but what should I say? How much I hate him? I just want to forget about him, and forget about today. “And about earlier, yelling at you, I’m sorry. I don’t know how I could’ve forgotten about that child attending this school. I should’ve warned you or something.”

                “It wouldn’t have made much of a difference…”

                “I know, but still.” We stop at the edge of the hallway where we’re meant to turn a corner. Mom smiles at me tiredly. “So, other than the obvious drama, how’s school?”

                I think about it, leaning back against the red wall, placing the bottom of one of my feet against the flat surface. “School is school,” I reply with a shrug. “How’s home? Lonelier without us two stomping around?”

                “Definitely,” she nods her head, her smile widening. “But not so much as I originally thought it would be. I met—,” My mother’s crimson eyes widen a bit, and she visibly back tracks, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. “Never mind. Yeah, everything’s fine.”