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I have a million questions. Why was she unwell today? Why was she the only one not eating? What are the reasons she wants to leave this school so badly?
She was ready to film me touching her. Who goes to these extents just to get someone fired? What if it was for another reason?
Haley walks around like everyone owes her everything, like no rules apply to her, and I loathe that. Maybe because it reminds me of me and all the shitty decisions I made in my life. But hearing the staff talk about her sparked something in me. Turns out, I think I loathe them. None of the girls want to be here, and yeah, she might be a handful but she’s not dangerous.
I run my hands through my hair, asking myself what the hell I expect out of this.
I just want to check if she’s okay, I promise myself.
I only retreat when I hear the door to the chapel open. From around the corner, hidden in the dark, I watch all the girls file out in their long nightgowns that practically touch the floor. The ruffled Victorian collars go high up their necks and the long sleeves must be unbearable in summer. I look at every single one of the girls, but Haley is not there. Maybe she was too unwell to come again. After a few minutes, there are no more girls coming out, only Ms. Moore leaving and closing the door behind her.
I move closer once she’s gone. It’s time for me to go home, but as I walk past, I recognize Haley’s voice in the chapel. She’s arguing.
“I’m feeling sick from not having eaten in so long. Let me go back to the dorms!”
I discreetly open the door and peek inside. Haley is by a pew, facing Sister Ivy who’s blocking her way.
“You were late to prayer, Miss Stewart. You had the whole day to rest. You will stay here and pray some more like I just told you to.” She points at the pads attached to the bench, where people can kneel to pray.
“I was late because you had me washing everyone’s dishes! You can’t blame that on me.”
Sister Ivy smirks. “I guess you should have washed faster then. You usually do.”
“I would have,” she insists through gritted teeth, “but I’m feeling sick. Are you deaf?”
“Get on your knees and pray, Miss Stewart. Lord knows you need it.”
I watch Haley’s shoulders rise and fall as she takes a deep breath. Her hands fist but she listens and shuffles until she’s facing the altar and kneels.
“Bitch,” she mutters under her breath.
Ivy’s eyes light up and in a swift movement Haley didn’t expect, she fists her hair, pulling her back up. “What did you just say?” she hisses.
Haley shrieks, almost falling to her side as Ivy drags her away from the pew and into the main aisle.
“Stop!” she screams in pain. She flails her arms blindly and grabs the first thing that she can reach, pulling hard on the sister’s veil. It falls off her, revealing the white bonnet she wears underneath.
Ivy lets go of Haley’s hair, and I watch as she pulls her arm back, ready to slap her.
I push the door open loudly, and jog inside the room. At the noise, Ivy quickly drops her arm and grabs her veil.
She does her best to put it back on her head and watches me with wide eyes before plastering a perfect imitation of despair on her face.
“Mr. Hayes!” she cries out. “Thank Lord, you’re here.”
Haley takes multiple steps back, putting up a strong face as she combs her hair with her fingers.
“I heard screaming, is everything okay?” I’m forced to pretend I wasn’t watching the whole thing like a stalker.
When her veil is finally in place, Sister Ivy looks at me with wide doe-eyes. She folds her hands in front of her, the picture of innocence. “She attacked me,” she says in a small voice.
“I didn’t!” Haley jumps in.
“Miss Stewart,” I snap. “Sit down and be quiet.”
I watch her jaw work from side to side as she clenches her teeth, and I don’t miss the flush going to her cheeks. Of course I would have that effect on her now. Frustration mixed with embarrassment. She listens, though, sitting down and looking away.
Before I even ask her, Ivy feels the need to justify herself like a guilty criminal. “I asked Miss Stewart to pray some more because she was late and she needs it, but she got angry and…and she attacked me. She grabbed me and pulled my veil off.”
