Page 58 of Dahlias, Sapphires, and Cool Autumn Dusk
I didn’t see Murial at school, and I couldn’t complain about her absence. I spotted Davis a few times, and his hungry eyes seemed to practically swallow me whole every time he saw me. Most of the time, I tried to avoid eye contact. I also managed to put out another episode of thePoor Relation.
Phoenix saw the view count then texted his fathers. He needed my birth certificate so that we could open a bank account in my name to monetize thePoor Relation.
They still hadn’t answered. At practice, Sarah made us swim laps for an hour—a painful experience, but hard to get mad ather when she did it alongside us. Well, except the fact that she seemed to love it. I absolutely did not.
Still, the conditioning probably would help me not to drown during a water polo game, so I didn’t complain.
We didn’t have any big plans for the weekend, despite it being a Friday. Bethany chatted with me before Collins’ class started, Tiffany drew, and Phoenix listened to his headphones while staring at the whiteboard.
As with every other day, before she lectured us for being losers, Collins headed to the front of the class to wait for announcements.
“Hello, Pullman community!” the voice over the speaker said, and I practically rolled my eyes. I’d never met our principal, but she sounded too chipper every day. I wondered if she faked it. “It is a beautiful day here in New York City, and a day for great learning here inside our walls.” Some days, she read off inspirational quotes. She skipped them today, instead going right into birthdays. “We have some birthdays today—Jana Monroe from the lower school, Keith Handover, and Alatheia Winder. Happy Birthday to each of you and I hope you make it a wonderful day.”
I blinked, startled at the sound of my own name. I had completely forgotten my own birthday, which should be weird, except that no one remembered my birthday. No one even actually said Happy Birthday in the past six years. Maybe I forgot on purpose, back when I was thirteen, as a way to rebel from being ignored.It is easier to forget it than to mourn it.
Phoenix grabbed my arm, and I glanced at his concerned expression in surprise.
“Alatheia,” he said, abruptly deadly serious. “It is your birthday?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I forgot”
Tiffany smiled, turning in her seat to say, “Happy Birthday. I’ll buy coffee on Saturday.”
I nodded, a little thrill sparking in my system at the idea of meeting with a friend to do something. I still adjusted to the idea of friends, finding even the simple bits exciting.
Bethany swung around and smiled at me, too. “Happy Birthday.”
I blinked at her, not even saying thanks because it was morehappy birthdaysthan I could remember hearing for a very long time.
Phoenix squeezed my arm, grabbing my attention. “Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?”
“Because I forgot.” I repeated then shrugged. “I don’t really do birthdays, so it’s fine.”
“It. Is. Not.Fine.” He released my arm abruptly then started texting on his phone.
I said, “Phoenix, really, we don’t have to…”
I didn’t get to finish, since Collins started class. In my defense, I tried to pay attention. Her class had to offer value, otherwise why keep such a monster on the payroll?
I noticed she used the wordintentionalabout thirty times in two sentences, when she abruptly stopped and turned to me.
“It’s your birthday,” she said, but it didn’t sound like a question.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Well, happy birthday. I hope you have a better year this year than last year. Avoid trouble this time, and it should be much easier. For instance, try not to seduce your uncle.”
My mouth fell open in shock, her words hitting me with the force of a physical slap. My ears rang, my pulse a clanging noise in my head. I thought I had left the past behind me, and it wouldn’t follow me here, somehow. Marco stopped Bethany from saying it, and since then, no one had dared bring itup. The guilt, after all, seemed proved because Ted was under indictment, not to mention he wasn’t actually my uncle.
“Hey,” Phoenix practically shouted. “What did you just say?”
I shook my head, reaching for him. “Don’t get in trouble.”
I didn’t want him to get sent away, and he seemed to understand my fears. He breathed heavily, but he gave me a quick nod.
Aloud, I said, “I didn’t try to seduce my uncle. I nearly got assaulted by a serial rapist who is currently being charged with the same crime with another underage girl.” My voice sounded strong, despite my tears. I could control my words, but not their flow down my cheeks or the heat they practically sizzled across as my face flamed. “It was hell, or as close as I’ve ever experienced. Then again, back then I didn’t know about this classroom since it is actually hell, and you are the devil. Phoenix,don’t.”
I grabbed my bag and moved to leave, hoping he wouldn’t follow me. Fueled by temper, I stormed out of the room, the repercussions hitting me with each footfall. Did I really just yell at a teacher?And I stormed out of my classroom…Panic made my hands shake, and I wondered what got into me. I didn’t do things like talk back, normally. I usually took the abuse and moved on.
