“Duty calls,” I said, standing up and following him into the office. I glanced back, seeing a look that I couldn’t explain come over the man’s face.
“Have a seat, Miss Adams,” the principle said. I took a seat, shaking away the weird encounter.
“You have never been in trouble before, so I’ll make this easy for both of us. Where did you get the drugs?” He folded his clasped hands on the desk, waiting for me to answer.
I shrugged. “Some guy slipped the empty baggie in there at lunch.” I mostly told the truth. “He wanted me to try one of his samples, but I turned down his polite offer.”
“Could you point him out?”
“No,” I said through my nose. “I stay out of everyone’s business. I told him no and walked away.”
“Okay,” Mr. Coke sighed. “Now, how about we talk about you skipping so many classes.”
“What’s the point?” I huffed. Feeling brave, and probably stupid, I picked up my bag. “You know my grades. I have no future planned out, nor will I ever. So if that’s all, I’d like to get back to class now.” Without giving him time to say anything else, I walked out of the door. My heart was in my throat as I made my way out of the office with my head down. I prayed as I took one step after the next that Mr. Coke wouldn’t call my father. If he found out, I could only imagine what he’d do to me.
“Hey, Scarlett. Wait up,” the man from before said, blocking my path. Lost in thought, the hand he placed on my arm caused me to jerk back and my eyes widen in fear.
“I’m late,” I said, quickly making my way further into the school and getting lost in the crowd as students exited classrooms. Instead of going to my next class, which would have been the smart thing to do, I went out the side door and leaned against the wall. But I wasn’t alone. Of course I wasn’t.
“We keep running into one another today,” the druggie laughed.
He sat on the ground, legs spread out and a pleased smile on his lips.
“Ugh.” Couldn’t I ever get a break?
“Want another?” He wiggled his brows.
“You already got me in trouble. Do you have any idea how much shit I’ll be in when I get home?”
“Give me a name, and I’ll give you one more. The next one will cost you more than that.”
“Scarlett Adams,” I sighed, then held out my hand for one last white pill. I’d take whatever break I could find, and I’d need one tonight after my father was through with me.
“See, that wasn’t so hard,” he laughed, handing it over way too easily. “I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“Don’t count on it.”
His amused laughter followed me as I left the school, going around the side to not be seen.
By the time I got home, my father’s car was in the driveway, and I was at least twenty minutes late. For one brief moment, the fear of what was to come wasn’t there at the top. I could think around it. Holding my head high, I walked into the house. My steps were light, almost hopeful, that he wouldn’t notice.
No such luck. Right as I shut the door, he was in front of me. He pinned my body against it as I fought to breathe. Panic consumed me as he placed one hand over my throat and I waited for him to squeeze the last breath out of me.
“The school called,” he said. His words chilled me from the inside out. “Said you were found with drugs. Now, that can’t be right. I know you’re dumber than shit, but that’s just stupid.” My eyes bugged out as my words were lost inside my mind.
“You’re high, aren’t you!” he seethed. In the next second, he let my body go. My legs were barely able to hold my weight.
“No,” I said. “I didn’t do anything.” he looked me up and down, seeing right through the lie. My fear returned tenfold. My entire body shook as he took a few steps back, giving me space. A wicked smile spread across his lips. “Your mother would hate you right now. Lisa would, too. But this,” he waved his hand up and down my body, “works in my favor. Now, don’t think I’m okay with my filthy daughter doing drugs, but now…Now, I have another reason to punish you.”
I stood strong, not letting him see how broken I was inside.
“I want you upstairs, on your bed. Naked and waiting,” he said, his voice deadly.
“But I didn’t take anything!”
“You did, Scarlett. Talking back is only going to add to your punishment.”
“I’ve always done everything you request of me. I never complain. I take whatever you give. So you can go fuck yourself, Alan.” He gritted his teeth as he quickly slapped me across my face. My head hit the door behind me, and my bag dropped to the floor. Before I could recover, he grabbed my arm and dragged me upstairs.
