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A huge wave of disappointment hit me in the gut like a freight train. I was disgusted with myself. All my training had taught me that not all students were the same. I couldn’t just rule with an iron fist and not observe. I needed to listen and be aware that some behavioral issues were due to outside factors, and here I was failing to observe this with Corrine. In Oakland, I prided myself on being able to work with troubled youth. But here at Black Mountain Academy, I just forgot all that. Why? Because they were rich?
I’d fucked up.
Corrine was calling for help, and my answer was simply giving her detention. Jesus, I’d really fucked up.
“I think you’re afraid,” I said softly. “Which is to be expected. Someone’s messing with you, and whether it’s dangerous or not, we don’t know. But I don’t blame you one bit for doing what you do. But we’re going to put a stop to it.” She released the breath she seemed to be holding. “Did you have these issues in L.A.? Is that why you were held back a year?”
“Yes, and no. I always felt like I was being watched, and in many ways I was. Being the daughter of Candy Parker wasn’t easy. Photographers camped outside our house, so I just assumed my uneasy feeling was that. I didn’t really feel it was a single person watching me until I made the move. I was pretty sure my move wasn’t worthy of paparazzi following me here. Plus, there were staff in the L.A. house so I never truly felt like I wasn’t under some sort of watchful eye. It took being alone to feel that someone was really watching.”
“And being held back a year in school?”
“Long story,” she said softly. “Not one I really want to discuss. But I was held back in fourth grade. Not high school. Not because of this stalker guy.”
Fair enough. She had already opened up enough, far more than I’d expected, and I didn’t want to disrupt her safe space talking with me by being too pushy.
She yawned which was a good sign. She then repositioned herself on her pillow and asked, “So about that detention?”
I chuckled. “Consider it rescinded.” I stifled a yawn myself, not wanting her to feel like I was being put out as she said. “But you aren’t going home tomorrow until we reach your mom or figure something out. So, come to my office after school if you haven’t heard from me all day. Deal?”
She nodded. “Deal.” She pointed to the hallway. “Go to bed, Mr. D.” She gave a reassuring smile. “I know you’re as tired as I am.”
“Did you get your uniform dry?” For some reason, I wasn’t ready to leave her.
“Yes.”
“Feel free to use whatever I have in the shower tomorrow. There are clean towels under the sink.”
“Ooh, so I get to smell like Mr. D all day tomorrow. Gotta love it.”
Her joking around with me did bring up something that I needed to address again. “Corrine, about all this—”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell a single soul. I know how it looks. I know how much trouble this could get you in, and frankly any drama right now goes far beyond my mental ability to cope.”
“I’m going to take you to school, but maybe I should drop you off a block away. For both our sakes. I’m sure it won’t look cool to your peers to be arriving with me.”
“I couldn’t care less what any of them think about me, but yes, I agree.”
“And I promise you, it will get better. You aren’t alone anymore.”
I didn’t make promises lightly, and I rarely tried to raise false expectations, but this was one promise I would make. No, Corrine was not a troubled youth in Oakland involved with gangs, or poverty, but she was someone in need. It was my job to help her, and I planned to take it seriously.
I got out of my chair and stared down at her. I didn’t want to leave her but knew we both needed sleep. “Goodnight, Corrine.”
“Goodnight, Mr. D. Thank you.”
“If you need anything…”
“I know where to find you.”
8
Corrine
At least I was on time for school today.
No doors to close. No need to run to a car.
It was the first day in a long time that I actually felt somewhat human and rested as I got ready to enter history class. I even had my homework done thanks to Mr. D playfully nagging me to do it.
This was what normal felt like, and I liked it.
“Corrine!” Kevin called from the west-wing hallway. I stopped and waited for him to get close. “I’ve been looking for you all day. Where have you been?”
“Just trying to get to classes on time and catching up with work. I’m on thin ice.”
