Keep Holding On (Harry Styles Fanfic)

Chapter 18

Monday, June 6

(9 days left)

Valerie POV

The only thing I could think about all weekend was kissing Harry. The second i wake up, I think about kissing Harry. Getting ready for school, I think about kissing Harry. I even catch myself smiling as I'm driving to school, feeling Harry's arm around me, remembering how it felt when his lips were finally on mine.

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Ms. Scofield asks me to stay after class. I can tell by her face that something's up.

"Mrs. Henley wants your mum to come in for  conference," she tells me.

"Why?"

"Remember when she was here for grief counseling? She was concerned that you were keeping too much anger in." She said. "And right before that counseling session, Mrs. Henley heard about your bruises from the nurse."

"My mother doesn't hit me or anything. Those were from paint-balls."

"The nurse said she asked you who shot the paint-balls, but you wouldn't tell her."

"It gets worse if you tell"

Ms. Scofield sighs. "I know exactly what you mean. But no one should get away with doing that to you"

"So why does she want my mother to come in?"

"We're all....we're concerned about you. We just need to talk to her."

"How do you know all this?"

"Because I care about you, Valerie." My throat gets tight. It's really hard not to cry.

When I get to Mrs. Henley's office, mother is waiting on the bench outside. Now that I have to deal with her being here, crying seems like a definite possibility.

"Do you know why they called me?" mother asks.

"Not really"

"It's highly disturbing to get a call at work asking me to come to your school, you know?"

"Not really." She shifts her gaze closer to my face. "What?"

"I don't really know what that's like, no"

"Why are you-"

"Ms. Harris?" Mrs. Henley comes out of her office, smiling and extending her hand to mother. "I'm Ana Henley. Hi, Valerie:

"Hi," I say. Mother is not smiling back. She says, "I'm sorry, you're....the social worker?"

"Yes"

"I didn't know they had one of those"

"They do. Shall we?" Mrs. Henley waves us in. Mother sits down in one of the two chairs across from Mrs. Henley's desk.

"I'll just take my jacket off. Not that I'm warming up to you" mother says. I turn away, wishing that when I look back mother will be gone. Where's the Normal Mum Act? How can she think being rude will help?

I try to tell Mrs. Henley how sorry I am with my eyes. She gives me a reassuring look. Then she says, "Actually, Valerie, would you mind waiting outside? I'll call you back in soon."

Out on the bench, I put my feet up and pull my legs in close, resting my chin on my knees. Then I hear mother yelling, "How dare you accuse me of neglecting my daughter!"

My stomach lurches. I'm sure mother thinks this is all my fault. Mrs. Henley comes out to get me, the last thing I want to do is go back in.

"We're concerned about you, Valerie" Mrs. Henley says. "We won't tolerate bullying. We need to know who hit you with those paint-balls so we can help you."