His Toxic Distraction

"Savanna Smith?" My teacher called and I looked up, blushing at the many eyes looking at me. "Y-yes?" I said and silently cursed at my stutter. "Principal Wendal would like to see you." She said and I heard as the kids around me begin their whispers and laughter. I quickly stuffed my books in my bag and quickly made my way out of the staring kids. Another teacher waited for me at the door and she greeted me swiftly before we made our way down the corridors towards the principal's office. I tugged on the sleeves of my polar neck and continued to look down at the grey tiles. My hair was loose and it had fallen over my face, securing me in a bubble. The halls were empty now, the sounds of the teacher's shoes echoed throughout the long passage and hit back even louder. Only ten more minutes before break would start and kids would be pushing through each other to the cafeteria. My voice grew shaky as we neared the principal's office and I looked at the door with a small metal bar across the wood that read "Principal Wendal". The teacher opened the door and stepped aside, motioning me to enter. I thanked her quietly and stepped into the office. She didn't come inside but instead, closed the door behind me. I saw Principal Wendal standing by the window with her back towards me. "Take a seat Miss Smith." She said, not taking her eyes away from the window. I slipped my bag off my shoulders and placed quietly next to the chair while taking a seat. I looked down while playing with my thumbs for the few minutes that we were in silence. She turned to look at me and I looked up to meet her steely gaze. "How are you Savanna?" She said in a polite voice. I was shocked. Nobody really asked me that often. Actually, nobody ever asked me how I was doing. "I'm o-okay, ma'am." I said slowly as she made her way and sat down on the chair on the other side of her big desk. "Savanna, you're probably wondering why you are here and what you've done wrong." She said and clasped her hands together. I nodded and she smiled softly. ""Well, you've done nothing wrong dear. I merely asked you here to find out how things are at home because according to the parent-participation-program chart," she began, placing her thin-framed glasses on the bridge of her nose. "your uncle has not been to any of the parent meetings in over three years." I swallowed and my thumbs were circling each other. "E-everything is f-fine at home." I said and I knew I was lying blindly to the woman in front of me. Truth was, everything was crumbling to ruins at home. Uncle Mike was drunk 24/7 as usual and the brothel was brining him more than enough money to out food on the table. But the thing was, he didn't feed us. He eats before leaving work and doesn't bother to feed me. So when he's drunk and passed out on the couch, I go up to his room and find his wallet. I take enough money to keep me fed and clean at for that week. Sometimes, when the brothel doesn't do well, he'd be grumpy and violent because there was no money to support his addiction. There'd been nights where I'd had to lock myself in my room while he'd bang on the door, demanding I open it. It hadn't always been like this. My parents had died in a terrible explosion at a hotel they were staying in for work, three years ago. At the time, my uncle was still decent and came to all my school functions until a few months after their death, something inside him changed. He'd bought the brothel and gotten himself involved with some dangerous people. I'd tried running away, but he'd always ended up finding me and then beating me until my skin was covered in blue and purple splotches. One time, when I'd tried to get away from him, I'd had a vase thrown at me. I couldn't go to the hospital because then they'd get the police involved and if Uncle Mike found out, I wouldn't want to know what would happen after that. "Are you sure?" Principal Wendal asked and I felt shaky. I stood up tall and grabbed my bag. "If I wasn't sure principal Wendal, I would of told you." I said confidentially. "Very well. Thank you for your time Savanna, you may be dismissed." With those words I walked out of the room in a rush. The small office had began to make me uneasy and claustrophobic. The hall was bustling with kids making their way to the cafeteria. I felt trapped. I tried pushing through but everyone's bodies threw me in all kinds of directions. I felt light headed and my breathing came out in quick, sharp pants. I needed to go somewhere where there wouldn't be this kind of traffic because the last thing I needed was to have a full blown panic attack in the middle of peak hour. I saw the sign for the library and sighed in relief. I made it to the one side of the hall lined with lockers and placed my hand on the cool metal. I walked, letting the lockers guide me to the door of the library and let out a heavy breath once I slipped inside the door. It was quiet in here. Just the way I preferred it. There was kids sitting at long tables finishing homework or lost into the world of fiction. I made my way quietly to a little chair at the back of the library, hidden by the tall shelves of books. I made my way swiftly and sat down on the soft sofa they happily provided. I pulled out the chicken mayo sandwich I'd bought on my way to school this morning and a flask of coffee that was still piping hot. I bit down into the soft bread and blew on the steam rising from the flask. I took a savouring sip and nearly moaned aloud at the relieving warmth that spread throughout my body. I looked out of the colourful windows towards the kids sitting on the benches. I saw a few of the boys throw the basketball to each other and watched how the girls swooned, batting their fake eyelashes. My stomach churned with envy, or maybe it was the chicken in the sandwich that was past its sell by date and I snapped my head away, dusting off the crumbs from my shirt. "And what do I owe this pleasure?" I heard Miss Williams, the head librarian, say as she walked towards me. I gave her a smile and she sat down in the chair opposite me, on the other side of the little table. "Hi Miss Williams." I said and she smiled at me from above the rims of her thick, brown glasses. "Good morning Savanna. How are we doing this morning?" She asked, placing her cup of lovely smelling tea on the table. "I'm okay. Principal Wendal called me in this morning to ask why Uncle Mike hasn't been attending the required meetings." I said in a bored voice and shrugged, picking up the flask. "That damn woman! I told her not to delve into that. I'm so sorry Savanna." She said and her ice blue eyes held waves of sadness. I reched over and placed my hand gently on hers. "Don't worry, I'm okay Miss Williams. There's nothing anyone can do that will affect me anymore." I said and gave her the other half of my uneaten sandwich. I stood up and picked my bag up, making my back towards the busy halls.