Angel's Wings

Chapter 5 Back to school

Seraphina's POV

"Mom I feel fine, I'm going back to school." I emerged from my bedroom with my book bag in hand and headed down the hall of our ranch home toward the kitchen where I knew my mother would be, already preparing breakfast for my brother and me.

Mom stood precariously balanced on one leg and one crutch while her good hand stirred what looked like scrambled eggs. Another pan held bacon. "Mama, please sit down, I don't want you to fall and hurt yourself."

"I'm not in such bad shape that I can't take care of my children, Sera!" Mary huffs but relents and hobbles over to the dining room table as I take over breakfast. I pull the bacon off the stove and shift eggs to plates just as my younger brother Michael comes bouncing into the dining nook. "Mike remember you're riding to school with Chris and Ms. Sandy until we get a new car.'

"YEAH because DUM DUM totaled ours on the day she was supposed to get her license!" He snickers dramatically.

"MICHAEL ANDREW SANDERS" Mom yells "That is NOT what happened and you know it, it's not Sera's fault that woman ran a red light, and she very well paid for it didn't she? This is no joking matter! Apologise"

"I'm sorry Seraphina." Properly chastised, my brother looks down at his food.

"Hey, it's alright Bub. We needed a new car anyway. That rickety old sedan was on its last legs. Maybe with the insurance money we can convince Mom to get a truck or an SUV. " I ruffled his hair. Michael was five years younger than me, and still in elementary school. "Anyway I'm off. I have to stop by Mags and get what I've missed since the accident. I'll see both of you later. Mom please let Andrea run the shop today, you hired her for a reason."

I walked out into the Savannah sunshine. The house wasn't far from the school, and most days it was a pleasant walk to both school and my mom's bakery. Ideally located in Historic downtown Savannah, Georgia, for easy foot traffic of both tourist and local populations. Location is key, and after my dad died in 9-11, well, my mom moved back to her Georgia roots. We've been here ever since.

The school office is busy with students and faculty bustling around when I walk in at 6:15 AM. Behind the desk sits a stout little woman with obviously dyed brown hair and a ruddy face. She barely acknowledges anybody as she furiously types something on an ancient typewriter.

"Excuse me, Ma'am", I clear my throat to get her attention.

"If you want to report an absence you'll have to wait I'm terribly busy at the moment." She says without even glancing up.

"Umm...No that's not it." I say. "I..."

"Well come back after morning announcements, I'm afraid we don't have any room in the budget to hire any more interns."

"Yeah no, I just need the work I might have missed..."

"OH it's you! Seraphina, how have you been? Are you alright? " She says finally looking up at me and realizing who I am. " I actually have a stack of stuff for you right here."

I accept the bundle of assignments and papers and proceed to my locker to get ready for class. Halfway down the hallway a gaggle of girls are all crowded around a something and blocking the path. As I get closer I see an unfamiliar face. A boy, he must be a first-year student and new here, a transfer perhaps. He is surrounded by a group of girls and some of the more popular guys. I push through to the front to see what the commotion is about. The boy has clearly been pushed and shoved around, his clothes and hair are disheveled and his book and papers are all disordered. As I watch one of the popular guys reaches forward and cuffs him on the head causing his glasses to skew on his face.

"What is going on here?" I ask, raising my voice. The group turns all eyes on me, Jake Reynolds front and center. "What are you all doing?" I ask again.

"Oh hey, Sera, right? We were just introducing Charlie here to the school. He's new around here and he needs to learn how things are done." One of the Jocks behind Jake speaks up. We haven't actually met but I think his name is Steven... Stephan... something like that.

"Well shouldn't you be getting to class?" I grabbed Charlie's elbow and pulled him toward my locker. The crowd reluctantly dispersed.

"Thanks for that but you might have just painted a target on your back." Charlie says. "I'm Charles Peters by the way, most people call me Chuck or Chip. I hate being called Charlie. I better get going, wouldn't want to be late. See ya around." With that he saunters off down the hall toward class.

I stuff my crap in my locker and look at my watch, my first period is with Mrs. Creech. OH Joy!! I'm sure that will be loads of fun.