Chapter four
Therewasnothinggoodabout this backwater, podunk town.
High school here was a special type of nightmare. Honestly, Sapphire wasn't sure what she was expecting. Between being abandoned, selling her things, leaving the city she grew up in, and arranging for a place to stay, Sapphire really tried not to give her life at the new school much thought.
Maybe it was because she was technically a year older than all the other seniors in her class, thanks to her mom not enrolling her into school until she was damn near eight. Or maybe it was the simple fact that she was arriving in the middle of the semester. Regardless, she felt like a zoo animal amongst the students. It felt as if the whole school of five hundred students and staff turned to stare at her the moment she walked onto campus.
Riding the school bus was a mistake she only had to make once. The brief ride had been akin to the Spanish inquisition. Questions were volleyed at her from every direction. Where are you from? Why are you coming into the semester so late? Where do you live? What's it like in the big city? How do you like our little town?
Being someone who only had three real friends in Houston and usually let them do the talking when they hung out, the storm of chatter was like a specially made gate of hell just for her. Though she tried to stop it, Sapphire couldn't stop the cold look of contempt that grew on her face with every childish inquiry. It was a nervous habit, a defense mechanism she had done ever since she was twelve. A habit that always did what it was designed to do and gave her the much-needed distance her solitary soul needed, but without fail also served to make her a social pariah.
By day three, the cold, contemptuous expression on what people deemed a beautiful face successfully alienated her from the majority of the students—well, the girls it did. The boys, on the other hand, were predictable as usual. Their eyes went right past her glacial, haughty countenance and lecherously scanned her form with plain intent. Sapphire's spine stiffened as she felt their eyes rake past her long cinnamon brown hair. She knew the gold highlights mixed in with the russet curls complimented her tawny brown skin. Sapphire held her head higher and walked quicker as she felt the boys standing in groups by their lockers drift their gazes over her full breasts and down her curving body, curves that should belong to a woman and not a high school girl. She more than felt their stares and desires, but she ignored them just as she ignored the jealous stares and harsh whispers of the girls in her class. Strengthening her resolve, Sapphire walked past them all, not sparing them even a glance.
She just had to make it through the end of the semester, she told herself for the millionth time.
The bell was still ringing when she walked out of her last class for the day. Somehow, she made it to the end of her first week. Ignoring the other students spilling out from the classroom doors down the hall, Sapphire walked purposefully toward the bright double glass doors at the end of the hall. Freedom was within reach. A smile nearly broke out over her lips at the prospect of making it back to her rundown motel room and flopping onto the overly stiff bed. For the next two days, she had every intention of lying there and not moving an inch unless absolutely forced to.
"Miss Waters," a male voice called out from her left.
For a split-second, Sapphire considered ignoring the call.
"Miss Waters," the man's voice called out again, closer this time. "Could I see you before you go?"
Sapphire could feel the students in her vicinity turn and stare at her. Looking at the man, she gave him an impatient look.
He gave her an apologetic smile. "I promise it will be only a moment, Miss Waters."
With an unreadable gaze, she stared at Craig Hodgson, the school's principal. With thinning red hair, the amiable man was the first to greet her when she stepped off the godforsaken school bus on her first day. For nearly two weeks, she had talked to him on and off via email, filling out papers and sorting out her remaining classes. She had expected his friendly, fatherly attitude to disappear when she met him in person, undoubtedly replaced by salacious designs or puritanical aversion, but the principal surprised her. Beyond the flicker of shock that passed over his face when she introduced herself, the man had maintained his friendly personality toward her.
Following him past the main reception desk where a middle-aged woman with gold wire glasses stared at her in open curiosity bordering on shock, they stopped in his office. Glancing back through the open door, Sapphire caught sight of the woman leaning precariously in her chair, trying to look back at them. Worry and disapproval lined the woman's frown.
"Please take a seat, Miss Waters." Mr. Hodgson gestured to the leather club chair in front of his large wooden desk.
Taking a seat, she couldn't help but glance again at the open door of his office, appreciating the gesture. There had been one too many times in her life where she had to either request that the door stay open or simply open it herself.
Sitting behind his desk, Mr. Hodgson gave her a big smile. "So, how was your first week?"
As horrible as one could expect out here in no man's landwas what she was itching to say. But there was something so genuine and kind about the man in front of her that Sapphire couldn't bring herself to unleash her normal snark.
Returning the man's kind smile, she gave him a shrug. "It's okay, I guess."
His compassionate eyes flicked down to the desk, and he gave her an understanding nod. "I think I understand," he paused and looked back up at her, his expression a little sorrowful. "To be frank, Miss Waters, I don't think we were expecting anyone quite as…."
She held her breath as he struggled to find the appropriate word. They both knew what he wanted to say, and they both knew it would not come across well, so she decided to help the man out.
"Old," she supplied helpfully.
Mr. Hodgson's eyes shot up in surprise, and he looked at her, sensing the help she was providing, before giving off a soft laugh. "Well…yes, I suppose that's it. You are a bit older than the students here, and maybe that's what is causing the stir amongst the student body." Shaking his head, he gave her another apologetic look. "I'm truly sorry. I've heard from some of your teachers about what you've been having to deal with, with some of the boys and girls, and I'm truly sorry. Not to make excuses, but I can only say that they're not as mature as you are, Sapphire, so having someone as…pretty a-and…" he began to flounder, and his face reddened as he realized he misspoke. "I mean older," he rushed to add. "Having someone so adult-like is just new for them," he finished in a breathless rush.
Sapphire didn’t say anything. Her breath felt as if it were getting caught in the center of her chest as she watched and listened. What was he trying to say? Was he kicking her out?
Seeing that she wasn't going to say anything, Mr. Hodgson continued.
"Well, what I am proposing is that we try what you suggested earlier in your emails."
"You mean, testing out of some of my classes?" she asked and waited for him to nod before giving him a cool, if not critical, smile. "When I asked about that, you told me it wasn't possible, that I would need to attend each class to get the credit hours." There was a hint of taunting accusation in her tone that she couldn't keep out.
She wanted to fold her arms and lean back in her chair as she delivered the "I told you so" verdict, but again she called on restraint and resisted the petty urge.
