The Only Way

The entrance

"No, dad, I really got in. I'm sorry." I rehearsed what I would say to my dad. "No, that's not it." I muttered.

"Dad I didn't want to get in but I did by mistake. Sorry?" Not at all. I had decided to keep my phone call short and simple, crisp and polite.

"Mees Laberne ?" My name was awfully pronounced by our French teacher. "Your phone call is now."

I was the only one who had needed a phone call, since all other children had been accompanied with their parents or family.

I picked up the phone. "Hello da-"

"Honey? I- where are you?"

"At the academy, dad." I answered, puzzled.

"Wha- no. You come back right now." He said uncharacteristically firm.

"Dad, I earned this. Please, let me stay. Dad ?"

"No."

"Dad, please, I'll keep you updated. Let me stay."

"Olivia Liberine, you will come back this instant."

Something snapped inside of me, a chunk of rage that had only been building up since I had entered. He hadn't supported me at all. Not once. "Dad, I'm staying." He paused, probably surprised at my strange coldness. "I earned this."

"No, you can't. YOU WON'T. OR ELSE."

"I will. Goodbye, dad."

I hung up the phone. I felt bad inside. But no time could be wasted. I looked at my schedule.

English. Math. Life. Social studies. Science. Life. Lunch. Free.

7 30 8 30 9 30 10 30 12 30 1 30 2 00 -------

*Dinner is served from 8 40 pm to 10 00 pm.

Easy enough. What was life, though? I shrugged off the thought.

I'd find out soon enough. So my room was on second level. Room 13. Huh. Cool coincidence. As I went in I saw a girl running around. She was a blur. "Um, h-hello?" I asked in my usual shaky voice. She turned head towards me. "Hi! I'm Bea. I'm your roommate. Actually you were gonna get a separate room but mine well was kinda lonely so I just thought, lemme beg for a roomie and that's what I did for some reason they were gonna actually give you a separate room but I asked so they decided to give you to me like not in a weird way but as a roomie. Anyway us 24 are gonna go celebrate at the beach 'coz its like fancy and stuff but I personally think a restaurant would be better. Anyway so come along everyone's invited even you though you're quite awkward anyway I'm from Spain what about you?" She said without sparing a second to take a breath.

"Um, um, I'm OK thanks, though." A roommate ? A roommate? And even worse, a talkative roommate ? Oh no. Oh no no no. How could they? I unpacked as my roommate blabbered about what she was going to wear to the party.

 I put on my ear plugs to shut out her stupid blathering. Music always calmed me down. Music and books. And chocolate too. And pizza. And food in general. Jewelry too, at times. Anyway. We were going to study tomorrow. Finally, my area of expertise. And so I slept that night to screams and laughter of my classmates enjoying without me. 

As I awoke the next morning, I realized I had hardly 40 minutes to get ready. I needed to look perfect. I brushed my blue hair, having the same old thoughts about myself. As I walked into the class I saw that everyone had socialized. Bea was talking to a boy named Toby? I wasn't sure. The boy I had met the day before was flirting with 3 girls.

 The others I couldn't recognize. The survival class was nothing but some survival skills. Making fire, recognizing mushrooms. And to think of it that I had been nervous. The day was very uneventful until the science class. I needed the measuring cups to complete the exercise the teacher had given us. I was about to grab them when they were snatched out of sight. I looked to see who had taken them. It was the boy.

"Yeah, Jay!" Someone shouted.

Jay held up the cups. "Hey, little blue, you want these? These cups that I'm holding just up your height?"

My breath was shaky. "G-gi-give it to m-me."

"O-oh-oh n-no. W-we won't." Someone shouted.

I felt my cheeks redden. Everyone was looking at me now.

I looked down at my feet. "Give it to m-me."

"Well, freak show, tell us why your hair are blue." Jay asked.

Oh no. Oh God no. "Its just like that." I whispered.

"As if." He snorted. 

"You were probably on some drugs." The catcaller shouted. I stiffened. I hated when people asked me something, them assumed something else. If so, then why did you ask me? Everyone was laughing at the jokes made at my expense. I felt like crying. I then quietly moved away. I finished my project which was not accurate, but I got the finished product.

When the teacher came back, she said I had done well.

"But accuracy is very important. A B- to you, almost no one has done as well." I was angry. Boiling, in fact. I had lost because of Peter and his friend. They had taken away my perfect A. They had just called war.

 My mind flitted back to how the teacher had explained this was toxic and touching it caused severe reactions. How it stayed dangerous for 12 hours on a surface. I formed a plan that would be simple, yet effective.

And that night, no one noticed how a beaker went missing. No one noticed that a little girl was almost sobbing, remembering her embarrassment. No one noticed the swift movement of the blue haired girl as she swept by the corridors. No one noticed a certain flower go missing. No one noticed the bags under her eyes. Goodnight, Jay. Goodnight, Sam.

 Who she had found was the name of the catcaller. In the morning she awoke to a pleasing scream coming from the boys dorm. "AAH, MY FOOT! MY FOOT! IT'S ON FIRE! HELP, PLEASE, HELP!" Along with a lost of profanities I dare not speak. It was Sam.

 I ran, as if the commotion surprised me. I ran alongside Bea. We watched as the teachers tried to assess the situation. I heard Bea mutter," I'm actually grateful to the person who did that. He so deserved it, he was so mean yesterday."

Jay, though, had not been injured. He had looked before he walked and he was smart. No! I wished he would fall. And he would eventually. People muttered rumors about how it was me who did that and it was me who was dangerous. I was approached by a now wheelchaired Sam. "I know it was you. I know. You think I'll let you go? You better watch your back now." And he turned without another word.

I wasn't concerned. He didn't frighten me. And in our science period I carefully watched him as he opened his bag. He touched a book and yelped. He went and washed his hand but couldn't stop staring at me as he saw the measuring cups that lay in his bag. As he walked toward the door, I smiled and waved. Which was a bad idea, as i would later find out.

I was happy now. We were even. Mama had had an indefinite idea on justice. I was happy. So I went to the garden. And as I spoke I pet the flowers as if they were animals. "Mum, today, I took revenge. There were these-these bullies and they hurt me. They made fun of me, mum and I felt so horrible, as if they were right and-and-and I miss you. I wish you could come back. I love you. And Dan-." I heard sharp intakes of breath. I shut up as if to listen more.

"Who are you?" I said, back to my shaky voice.

I only heard breathing.

"I-I can hear you!" My voice quivered.

"OK, ok, it's me." And out walked Jay, his hands up and his crooked grin gone.

"W-were you s-spying on me?"

"No, no, I swear. I come to this garden because I like plants. And you were here and you'd see me if I left, so I stayed and, and heard you."

Oh goodness. This just got messy. I looked at him with uncharacteristically fierceness and spoke the same way.

"You are to tell no one, I repeat, no one about this. Clear?"

He nodded obviously scared. As he should be. I was walking back down, shaking at what could have happened. If I was not so nervous, I would've noticed. I would've seen the person rushing behind me. But I didn't.

My head throbbed as I woke up a few hours later in my own dorm. Was that a dream? Did I not completely embarrass myself in front of Jay? 

What had happened? Was it a dream?

Having a headache, I remembered.

"Let her go. We don't need her yet." Said a distinct female voice.

"I once made the mistake of letting her mother go. It cost me. Why should I let this one get out of my grasp?" A male voice replied.

"This one is not as strong. We'll easily-"

I screamed. Then I was hit on my head and I remembered nothing else. No. This was not important. Leave it. Leave it.

This was just a dream, nothing near important. I had to forget it. And so I lived on. I was left alone now as people were scared of me. I found it funny how easily they were frightened.

In no time, we were let out for summer holidays. Ah, holidays.

When I could read a book until my eyes burned. When I could sing with no judgment. I loved holidays. But dad. He was at home. I'd have to make nice with him. Could I, though?

He had completely disregarded what I had to say about why I deserved to stay at the academy. Maybe I could stay somewhere else.

 Maybe I could stay with Dan and Jen. But my father was probably just worried. He didn't want me to leave. He would have been protective of me anyhow. Alright. I went to see the teacher in charge of our batch. I had spent many family phone calls on Dan. Because he understood. But dad? Our phones had been confiscated as they were not permitted.

"Mrs. Lark ?" She looked at me as I was a cockroach. She liked me, more than my roommate at least. Speaking of which, who followed me like a puppy. She didn't like leaving me alone at all. So she was still behind me. "Could I have a phone call, Mrs. Lark?" She stayed quiet for a while, pondering over my request. "Alright. But make it quick."

The phone rang. I could almost imagine my father rushing over to get the phone. It took him longer than expected but I decided to forgive him for it.

"Hello, dad."

"Olivia? Olivia, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But are you ok? Has anyone tried to steal you?" Steal me? That's strange. Dad is usually great with words.

"Um, yes, dad I'm ok. I- are you fine? You sound weird."

"Of course, of course, I'm OK, completely great. When-when are you coming back?"

"I'll be coming for summer vacations, dad. Tomorrow."

"Honey, I obviously can't stop you from leaving. But I want you to carry pepper spray. And- and stay inconspicuous. Are we clear?"

"Yes, dad."

And he hung up the phone. That was insulting, but at least we had made up. I was walking out of the phone room when I heard voices.

"Leave her alone." I heard Bea say.

"Aw, how cute. Her precious bodyguard. Now move aside before we have to do something to you."

I heard some resisting and then a thwack and he sound of someone falling. I quickly ran out to see Bea crumpled on the floor.

Around her were Sam, Jay and another boy. No, no, no!

"Told you to watch your back. Now we'll send you home with a broken bone. At least." He flashed an evil smile.

Jay looked at me with sympathy in his eyes. He then said, "It won't be fair if its three versus one. I'll fight her."

"No." Sam said with a deadly calm. "I'll do it."

He charged toward me. My eyes widened in panic. I moved aside and accidentally tripped him. Angrily, he grunted and punched my stomach. I groaned in pain. But this had given me a white hot rage. I looked him in his eyes and grabbed his throat.

 I kicked his shin and he yelled in pain. He bent down and tried to get up immediately. But that was a bad idea as it gave me a window to kick his knee. He fell, defeated, calling his friends to help. I now saw Bea looking at me with wide eyes.

"Thanks for trying to fight for me, I'm sorry, I-"

"That. Was. Awesome. You were like pow pow nuh uh you ain't messing with me, and then you went sha pow and then you-

Wow." While it was nice to be appreciated, I still hated her blabbering.

"Thanks. I've got to go and pack. I'm sorry and it was lovely to fight for you, thanks."

What had I done? I had just fought someone. And I believe I broke his bone. Oh my God. I didn't know whether I should have been happy or sad.

 I went to my room to think, with Bea at my heels. She had fought for me. Maybe, just maybe, we could be..

Friends. The word gave me a warm huggy feeling. Yes. As long as she didn't interrupt my reading, music or studies, she could be my friend.

"And I've been allergic to pollen ever since." She finished.

"Lovely." I replied, having heard nothing. The next morning I left for London. Ah, London. Home. Where my favorite bookshop lay. Where my dad lay. I was nervous, but I convinced myself that he meant no harm.

 I carried a pepper spray just in case but being attacked really didn't seem likely. But I did have that dream.... Never mind. Once I reached my home, I rang the bell.

No one came. I pushed the door. Oh. It was open. "Daddy, I'm home!"

No reply.

"Hello?"

Still only quiet.

I went upstairs to his bedroom. I looked around. No one. I went to my bedroom. All empty. Where was dad?

I looked in the study. There, on the floor was my dad sprawled as if he was dead. Dead? No. Unconscious.

"Dad?" He didn't get up. I checked his pulse. Present, but weak.

Oh no. I called 999. "Hello?" The operator asked.

"Hi, I-" I hiccuped. I was sobbing now.

"M-m-my d-dad.. he's-knocked-knocked o-out, p-please s-s-send someone."

"OK ma'am, we're on our way."

I sobbed. What had happened? I hugged him and got a wet clothe to place on his forehead.

"You're going to be ok. You better be ok." I murmered. I tried moving him but he was too heavy. My short height only contributed to the failure. About 10 minutes later I heard my doorbell ringing. "Come in quick. QUICK!"

3 people came in running with a stretcher. They quickly hoisted him up. And in 5 minutes we were leaving for the hospital in the ambulance. I sobbed throughout, not even embarrassed that the people were staring at me.

Why, oh, why could nothing ever be normal for me?