Ch.4

"This is my daughter I-"

"It's Just Marley." Ellen throws a look my way before directing her attention back to the ancient old principals assistant.

"Yes Marley Mason. It's her first day and she will need her schedule." Ellen quickly composed herself back into the chirpy soccer mom facade and the assistant ate it up. Smiling brightly before slowly typing some keys before the printer spat out a few sheets of paper. She quickly looked them over before handed them to me.

"Quite a smart girl. Good luck on your first day." I give her a soft smile before following Ellen out into the now empty halls. Besides for a tall man dressed in a navy suit with an American flag pinned to it.

"Ahh Ellen! It's so wonderful to see you!" I don't miss how long they hold onto each other when he pulls her into a tight embrace. I raise a brow at her pink dusted cheeks.

She avoids my gaze before clearing her throat and smoothing down her work blouse. "Yes well, Marley this is Principle Greg." I note his blonde hair and blue eyes, clean cut and neat.

"Welcome to Red Sicily. I'm sure you will find we are a great community of people and your peers are not only here to experience the mile stone of high school with you but to help you as well. Don't be afraid to reach out, we are a family here." Maybe I shouldn't have smoked again before school but I couldn't help but snort at his cheesy speech. I put a hand over my mouth as his proud face crumples into irritation.

Ellen quickly interjects, although I wish she hadn't, I could punch her in the face right about now.

"My ex-husband, her brother and herself were in an car accident a few months ago. Unfortunately Marley is the only one that made it." My throat instantly closes up and all sense of amusement I have is clipped.

Greg and Ellen fade into the background, Greg is saying something to Ellen and I turn stoic as she wipes at her dry eyes. She places a hand on my shoulder in a false endearment and I snatch back like her touch burned.

"You do not get to talk about them. Ever." I snap. Ellen recoils back in shock as does Greg but I don't feel bad, I physically can't. She didn't deserve to mourn them, they don't need it from her.

Greg is the first to break the pregnant silence.

"How about I escort you to your first class Marley. You're not too late and It will give me the opportunity to get my steps in." I appreciate the attempt to save me but Ellen but the last person I needed saving from.

If anything someone should save Ellen from me.

I follow behind Greg without saying anything more to Ellen, she sulks out the front school entrance.

"I believe I remember approving you're schedule. You were quite involved at your last school. I hope you're are able to get the same experience here."

It was true, if I wasn't with my Brother and dad I was doing some outrageous project the school put together. I used to love helping set up for the pep rally's, I'd get to sing. The art galleries were my favorite too. Being able to display not only my own art work but my friends and a pang of guilt slams me momentarily at the thought of me not responding to them for so long.

"This is Mrs. Harris. She teaches Ap senior English." I nod.

"Thanks." "If you need anything Marley, you can always come to my office. Okay?" I bite back rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah sure." I respond half minding him before yanking the classroom door open.

The teacher is at the board writing out a poem I don't recognize but stops mid way as I enter with Greg behind me.

"Sorry for the interruption, I won't be long." He smiles gently at the slightly older woman and she blushes crimson. What was it about this guy?

"Don't be silly, it's never a problem." She giggles before capping the marker. I glance to the class that has been silent this entire time.

Feeling all them staring, a sea of various faces I didn't feel the need to sort out. I could give a flying fuck what these people thought of me. I was involved at my old school, that doesn't me outside my friend group was I a sociable person. I'd much rather be alone. The people I'd rather be around are no longer here.

"Marley was it?" I flinch back to reality as Harris's hand reaches out to touch my arm and I step back. Adjusting my book bag to seem less cold but I could tell she felt the message.

Don't fucking touch me.

"Well welcome. We are glad you could join us. Where did you move from?" She ask harmlessly.

"Ponder city." I mutter looking at her forehead instead of her eyes.

"Hmm, you will have to tell me about it some time I never been myself. But if you would like to take a seat we were just discussing the metaphors in one of your peers speeches." I quickly shuffle to an open chair in the back, ignoring the eyes tracking my every move. I slip a note book and pen out of my bag before dropping more into my seat.

It was going to be a long day.