Professor Weilright riffled through his desk for his grade book. He traced his finger down the column marked 'Elizabeth Cutler'. She leaned forward, curiosity getting the better of her. It's was a pathetic line of F's with one D and a B minus. He caught her looking and slammed the book shut.
"One hundred percent of your grade."
He was being overly generous. She knew it. He had been giving her sorrowful looks all semester. If he was trying to make her feel guilty, it had worked. Just not enough for her to start caring again.
The funny thing was, she used to care. Used to sit at her desk until she had completed all her assignments, most of which came almost too easily to her. Lizzy had a brain like a sponge, only having to read something once before knowing it by rote. A couple of years ago her marks were an unbroken line of straight A's. That's how she ended up in a school that catered to the wealthiest families in Europe. Lot of good it had done her.
One day she woke up and just didn't feel like trying anymore.
Lizzy sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. He was trying to help, she knew that much. Besides, what choice did she have?
"What kind of essay?"
"For you I think something juicy... something to get riled up about yes?"
That sounded as appealing as whale puke.
"Okay. What?"
"You said you were spending the summer in Italy with your family didn't you?"
She nodded cautiously. He leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head. She could see a devilish twinkle in his eyes.
"That sounds relaxing. Laying by the pool, eating pasta... exploring the state of women's rights during the past few centuries."
She groaned.
<<<<<>>>>>
Students milled around the courtyard, revealing in the afternoon sun and the promise of summer. The school was perched high in the mountains which meant it never really got warm here. But the sun was shining and soon we would all be gong home.
Or wherever.
Lizzy walked around the periphery, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. It didn't work.
Heads swiveled to watch her as she walked through. Everyone knew who Lizzy was. Everyone knew just enough of her story to know she'd been in a mental hospital. She didn't care what they thought. She just didn't want certain, specific people bothering her.
Not today.
A group of tall Nordic looking girls caught sight of her as she skirted the crowd. They smirked at each other, snickering as she passed. Fantastic. Lizzy resisted the urge to look down at herself, to see what had set off their mean spirited giggles. Not that she was s sharp dresser by any stretch of the imagination, but she was wearing a damn uniform.
Lizzy almost sagged in relief as a sultry looking blond with cats eyes led the group out of the courtyard Megan was their ringleader and the most popular girl in school. Or at least, the most feared. She had some sort of vendetta against Lizzy for some unknown reason.
Lizzy had a sneaking suspicion that Megan was the one who'd gotten into the school's confidential files and spread the word about her hospitalization.
Lizzy did her best to ignore her. It wasn't easy.
At the far corner of the yard there was a copse of trees and shrubbery. She darted behind them as soon as no one was looking.
Nestled in the greenery was Alberta, a cherubic English girl with mousy brown hair and round glasses. She sat on a decrepit old bench, palming a smoke.
"Oh, it's just you. I thought it was one of the wardens."
Sometimes Alberta liked to pretend the exclusive girls academy was a reform school for wayward girls. Lizzy wasn't even sure they still had reform schools, but it wasn't too far off. It might be one of the best schools in the world academically but the thin wool blankets were straight out of 'Oliver.' Most of the girls brought their own bedding. Lizzy was too proud to ask her dad and stepmother to ship stuff from America, so she was stuck with a couple of extra wool blankets she'd snagged from the housekeeping staff.
Of course, she had to share them with Al. Her gran was too cheap to send her anything extra. Like Lizzy, Al had lost a parents. Both of them. Lizzy had just lost one, even though it felt like they both disappeared forever that day.
She sat down next to Alberta on the bench, ignoring the dead leaves and moss. Not like you would notice a grass stain on the navy pleated skirts they had to wear.
"How'd it go then?"
Lizzy glared at Al, taking the cigarette and dragging deeply.
"That good, eh?"
She grunted and pulled on the smoke. Lizzy was beyond words. Alberta chuckled. She thought she was funny apparently. It was a good thing she did since they girls had been roommates for the past two years and the best friends in the whole world. Lizzy smiled at her wanly and gave her back her cig.
"Not as bad as I thought."
"Good." Al stood and chucked the cig into a pile of butts under the tree. "Well come on then, we better pack."
The Hidden (Heartfire) Page 7