What Keeps Our Hearts Beating

Chapter 5

Lacey hardly got any sleep that night, the cot so uncomfortable and the springs digging into her back. Every little sound caused her eye to pop open, the nurse's words coming back to haunt her. At least she got some satisfaction that Sandra was tossing and turning as well. Zoey slept like a baby on the master antique bed and if anything, Lacey was glad her anger had actually produced some good this time, unlike what had transpired at her other school that she didn't dare talk about. She could tell after her explosion that Ming knew something of her past, but how much was actually disclosed on the internet was anyone's guess. She was sure her father had paid off some reporters to keep most of the real story out of the papers. Her medicine was crammed in the front pocket of her school bag but she didn't want to take it in front of the other kids so would have to wait until after breakfast.

At breakfast, she sat by herself in the dining room since it appeared Sandra was scaring the other kids into ignoring her. Raiph was studying some math homework, Ming was already typing furiously on his laptop and Sandra was speaking obnoxiously loud about how much her back was hurting her that morning from the cot and that she would get her death of cold due to "someone" who had to stick her nose in business that didn't belong to her. Lacey focused on the runny eggs that were part of the "strict" diet that her father had instructed the school to give to her. How she wished she could have some of the pancakes that the other kids were eating. Her hope for meeting new friends had already started off very badly but being isolated was nothing new for her.

Zoey went to get Sandra another helping of food and dropped something off at the table. It was a folded up note. It read in small scrawled handwriting. "I left you some of my pancake on my tray by the door if you want it."

Lacey folded up the sheet of paper, looking to find Zoey who had her head held down and hurrying over to Sandra who was timing her and saying she was too slow. Lacey, put the paper in her pocket and Zoey glanced up and they exchanged a quick smile. Maybe Lacey was making a friend after all. She threw her knapsack over her shoulder and walked over to the door where a pancake was sitting on the tray still. It was in the shape of a heart. She took it when she knew the others weren't looking and munched on the doughy syrupy delicacy, savoring each morsel of the small breakfast surprise. Right when she swallowed she nearly choked as she saw two guards now watching the spiraled staircase leading up to the North Spire. They said, "Keep moving" as she stood gaping at them. She regained her senses and walked briskly away toward where her math class was being held. A part of her realized it was her fault the extra security had been placed there.

She hastened her step down the golden hallway toward the conservatory where the math class would be held. At least it would be a pretty place to enjoy a subject she was miserable at. When she walked in, she thought she had missed a turn or something. The conservatory, once a beautiful room of windows was boarded up with nails and old wood planks covering up the outside gardens where the lake with the golden statue of Cupid was situated. A blinding fluorescent light glowed from the ceiling and all the natural light was blocked out completely. It was like a classroom from some horror movie. Mr. Shaw smiled at her when she walked in and balked at her expression. "Not what you expected, I see, Lacey. But precautions had to be made since this was a room made of glass."

Brasen, Lacey thought bitterly. This boy's presence in her mother's house was making her madder and madder that the best things from her memory were destroyed or altered because of him.

"You're in for a treat, Mr. Shaw," Raiph's voice echoed as he marched in. "Lacey loves math and actually brought her own textbook with her to the manor house."

Lacey wanted to hide under one of those sad looking desks as all eyes were on her. Why did she choose Math 101 to put on the binding of Wuthering Heights?