NEVERLAND by Melissa Jane

Author:Melissa Jane [Jane, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-01T16:00:00+00:00

~~~

Mr. Daniels placed the test paper on my desk and slid it slowly toward me with two rigid fingers. I didn’t need to look in his eyes to see the hurtful mix of disappointment and pity. I also didn’t need to read the red C- to know I was lucky to scrape through with a pass.

“This is unlike you, Lucy,” he said, concerned. No doubt Mr. Daniels, my English teacher, had heard the rumors. Word spread around this town and my family was always the topic of gossip around dinner tables.

“I’m sorry,” was all I could offer.

“Lucy, you don’t need to apologize. See me after class so we can chat about you attending tutorials. Your scholarship depends on it.”

“Don’t bother,” Cameron Clayton commented from my left. “Can’t you see she’s been cutting?” His ignorant comment caused a ripple of giggles throughout the class.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet flew past my face, smacking Cameron across the cheek. “Shut the—”

“Mr. Sanchez,” Daniels barked, his finger raised in warning. “Some people find themselves in trouble, some people are trouble. Don’t find yourself as the latter.”

Aware of all the stares after Cameron’s comment, I moved my hands to my lap to hide the numerous red cuts marring my pale skin. I was covered in the jagged pattern like I’d taken on a barb-wired fence at night, and I had my father to thank for it.

“You’re just upset we’re studying Hamlet and not Romeo and Juliet, isn’t that right… Romeo?” Cameron provoked.

Unperturbed, Romeo fired back. “You’re just upset because your dumbass doesn’t know the difference between Hamlet and Romeo, Culo.”

“That’s enough,” Mr. Daniels bellowed, effectively hushing the class. “Romeo is right. I wouldn’t be so smug, Cameron.” A test paper slid in front of my obnoxious neighbor. “You earned yourself a big fat F, so it looks like tutorials are compulsory for you.”

Once again, the students giggled and Mr. Daniels didn’t stop them. For that I was grateful. It took the heat off me for a moment in time, heat I’d been feeling ever since I walked through the school hall covered in cuts, bruises and a black eye. It wasn’t like the other students weren’t used to it. But this time, I was broken-spirited and that was something they’d never seen before.

Principal Rosser’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker, startling us all. “Lucy Sommers, to my office. Lucy Sommers to my office.”

Romeo seemed to share my unease. “Wait for me at our usual spot, Lucy,” he insisted.

“Best you take your bag,” Mr. Daniels said, suggesting he knew what this was about.

With my head down, I made my way to the door, ignoring the pitying stares. It seemed I was making a habit of walking these halls alone, and it seemed the whole school was starting to know my name courtesy of the amount of times it was broadcasted over loudspeaker. I greeted Mrs. Seymore at the front desk with a small smile, who returned one of sympathy. I didn’t want anyone’s sympathy. I wanted to be invisible to everyone except Romeo Sanchez.

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