Page 43 of Neverland

“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.

“Lucy,” Principal Rosser’s voice greeted me. “Come on in.” He stood aside to let me pass before following me in and sitting behind his desk. Rosser studied me for quite some time, eyes assessing the latest damage to my face and body, and then rested on my fidgeting fingers.

“How’s home?” he finally asked, and I almost laughed. Unless he saw me as a street brawler, it seemed like a ridiculous question.

“I think it’s obvious.”

He gave a slow nod, his long brown forefinger tapping his knee in contemplation. “I’m not gonna beat around the bush, Lucy. Your recent injuries have sparked great concern amongst your teachers and peers. Code of conduct states that the condition of your welfare must be reported if it’s deemed to be putting you in harm’s way. I, as well as everyone else, can clearly see that’s the case.”

I nodded. I couldn’t change what happened or how people saw me. “So, what now?”

He looked remorseful because whatever he was about to say was going to have a tidal wave of repercussions. “Child services have been notified as well as the police, and they’ll be conducting an investigation into the abuse that appears to be taking place within your household.”

I nodded again because what else could I do? My father deserved everything he got and if that meant he did some time, then so be it. It’s not like he ever provided for the family in any way.

He leaned forward onto the desk and interlaced his fingers. “You seem very calm about it, Lucy.”

“What will they do?’

Rosser heaved a sigh. “Well… someone from child services will come and see you. I recommended the meeting take place at school. He or she will ask you some questions about an average night in the Sommers’ household. They may take photos of your injuries and get you seen to by a doctor. They will ask about your father’s behavior and his treatment toward you and your mother. That sort of thing.”

“Will they tell my parents that they’ve talked to me?”

“Possibly. I can’t promise you they won’t. I will insist that they don’t, but I’m no expert in the matter.”

I looked down at my white knuckles as I knitted my fingers tightly together.

“Lucy, do you have someplace safe you can stay?”

“I’m staying with Romeo and his family.”

Rosser nodded, pulling his thoughts together. “I think that’s the best option for now, Lucy. That boy would do just about anything for you.”

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