A Bad Idea (Spideychelle)

Ch. 16: Tell Me Something

MJ POV

Peter walked back into class looking a little less like himself. His nose was pink, and he had his hands shoved deep in his pocket.

Before I could ask him what had happened, the phone rang again.

I had this sinking feeling in my stomach, and I was already standing when the teacher said, "Miss Jones? Mrs. Packard wants to speak with you."

I glanced at Peter, but he wouldn't look at me. I left the classroom.

When I was halfway to the office, my phone buzzed.

Peter: I'm sorry

That didn't ease my anxiety at all.

I got to the office, and went up to Mrs. Long.

"Hey, I was called down by Mrs. Packard?"

"Down that way, third door on the left," she told me kindly.

I went down that way, and knocked on the open door.

"Miss Jones, come on in. Close the door, take a seat."

I closed the door behind myself, and took the seat across the desk from Mrs. Packard.

"Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. Mr. Parker's aunt noticed a few things that she wanted to be sure we knew about so we could support you," she said.

No, no no no no no no no no-

"I spoke to Mr. Parker, and he said he'd picked up on a couple things as well, but I suspect he didn't tell me everything that he knew."

"He doesn't- I haven't told him much."

"Can you tell me what you've told him?" she asked gently.

I hesitated. The last thing I needed was a CPS investigation and to be shoved into the foster care system. Things weren't bad the way they were, right? I had a nice car, and a nice apartment that was pretty much my own, and a healthy allowance.

"I can't," I told her.

"Miss Jones, anything you say in this room in confidential unless I believe you're a harm to others or yourself. If you're being hurt, but you don't want me to interfere in your situation, I can't do anything. I need your consent to press charges."

"What do you know?" I asked.

She took a breath. "Well, I know that Mrs. Parker saw a bruise on your arm yesterday, and she knew you'd visited your uncle, so she was concerned that he'd hurt you. Mr. Parker also spoke to her about some of his concerns."

I pressed my lips together. How did I explain that away?

"I also asked a few of your teachers if they'd noticed anything concerning, and Miss Jenkins mentioned that you haven't turned in any artwork in a while."

Right. I'd stopped handing in artwork when I stopped making any.

"It's nothing to be concerned about."

Mrs. Packard held out her hand. "May I see your arm, please?"

Oh, shit. Should've covered the bruise with makeup today.

I held out my arm, pulling up my sleeve a little.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

Glancing down and pulling my arm back, I said, "Everyone gets hit by their parents sometimes. That's just how it works."

"No, it isn't."

"But my dad always says it's because he wants me to do well. Black women aren't allowed mistakes in life, so I have to be perfect now so I'm prepared for that." The words sounded stupid coming out of my mouth, and I felt so small.