Chapter One (Part Two)

Calla

The bell rang, signaling the end of chemistry class. Only one class left... study hall. I bent down and picked up my backpack, slinging it over my shoulder. I had four textbooks shoved in and it must have weighed at least twenty pounds. Sighing, I grabbed my water bottle and made my way into the hallway.

Rowan had gym class on the other side of the building. He had been one of my closest friends growing up, but after my father went to jail, he had been one of the only people to stay by my side.

Forced to live with my aunt as my father sat in a prison cell, Rowan had been one of the only reasons I had stayed sane. My aunt was nice and all, but she wasn't my father. She wasn't the man who raised me after our mother had ditched us when I was three years old.

Lost in thought I headed down the hall and to the last room on the left.

"Damn! Watch where you're going!"

Bouncing off the chest of the captain of the lacrosse team, I dropped my water bottle and lost my footing. As I tumbled to the ground a group of people snickered.

"Better not make that one angry," called Ryker, a popular senior. "She might kill you!"

More laughter flooded the hallway.

Nathan straightened up, pushing his shoulders back and holding his head high. "I'd like to see her try."

My tailbone hurt as I reached over to grab my water bottle. Moments like this had become the norm after my father got out of prison. First, classmates who had once been my friends had turned their backs on me. The next stage had been even worse. Bullying. Freshman to Seniors said horrible things about my father behind my back and to my face. Then, they had started calling me "The Murderer's Daughter." It was hard enough losing my stepmom, it was harder watching a jury convict my father of her murder, it was the hardest to face the relentless bullying.

I scrambled to my feet and tried to go around Nathan.

"Not so fast," he said, holding his arm out and blocking my passage.

He grabbed me by the shoulder and threw me up against the nearest set of lockers. "What does it feel like to live at home with a killer? Aren't you worried you'll be next?"

I clenched my jaw. "He didn't do it," I said through gritted teeth.

His face twisted into a wicked sneer. "You don't really believe that do you?"

I felt tears welling up in the corners of my eyes.

Nathan's friend Sam stepped forward and pointed at me. "Aw, look. The Murderer's Daughter is crying. Wonder if she cried when her dad killed her stepmom?"

"Get away from me!" I screamed, ducking under Sam's outstretched arm.

Nathan tried to grab my shoulder, but I shoved his arm away. Caught off guard, Nathan's hand slammed into the handle of a locker.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed, bringing his hand to his chest. "I think that bitch just broke my hand!"

I didn't wait for him to say another word, instead, I took off down the hallway and toward the side door. I had to get out of here. I couldn't spend another second in the presence of these terrible people. My dad wasn't a killer. I didn't care what anyone thought!

As I raced down the hall, Mrs. Norbert, my least favorite teacher stuck her head out of her classroom and scowled. "Stop right there, Miss Vinson."

I debated running past her and continuing until I reached my rusted-out Honda in the parking lot, but knowing the trouble I'd be in, I stopped in my tracks.

"She just broke my hand! She got mad and broke my hand," shouted Nathan.

Mrs. Norbert frowned and pointed to the principal's office. "Now."

I let out a dejected sigh as my shoulders slumped. This was the third time I had been sent to the principal's office this month. My dad would be furious. "Just let them talk," he had told me after the last incident. "You and I know the truth. I didn't do it."

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the principal's office.

Miss Jackie, the principal's receptionist gave me a sad smile. "How can I help you, Calla?"

"SHE BROKE MY FREAKING HAND!" shouted Nathan as he cradled his left hand. "She's violent, just like her killer dad!"

Standing up, Miss Jackie pointed firmly at Nathan. "Sit." Turning her troubled gaze toward me, she cleared her throat. "With me, Calla."

Glaring at Nathan, I stood and followed her to Dr. Reyes' office.

Knocking, the receptionist waited for the principal to respond.

"Come in," said Dr. Reyes.

Miss Jackie opened the door and led me inside.

"Ah, Calla Vinson," she said with a furrowed brow. "What is it this time?"

"There appears to have been an incident in the hallway with Nathan Livingston," she said. "He's waiting in the chairs by my desk. He has indicated that his hand is broken."

Dr. Reyes pursed her lips. "Miss Jackie, can you please take Nathan to the nurse while I speak with Calla?"

Miss Jackie nodded and closed the door behind her.

Dr. Reyes turned her computer screen and typed away on the keyboard. Security footage from a camera in the hallway popped up. She rewound the footage a few minutes until Nathan stepped in front of me.

"I didn't-"

Holding out her pointer finger, Dr. Reyes kept her eyes glued to the screen. I watched her face as Nathan held me against the lockers. Her expression held no clues. After I had escaped his grasp and sprinted down the hallway, she paused the video.

"I do not tolerate physical violence or bullying. Mr. Livingston will be suspended for three days," she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"And me?" I asked, waiting for the bad news.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Calla." She turned her screen and steepled her fingers together. "After we're done talking, you can head to your last class of the day."

Relief swept across my body. "Thank you."

She pulled out a form and started recording the time and date. "What brought on this incident?"

My chin fell against my chest. "I really don't want to talk about it."

"Did he say something about your father?" she asked.

My stomach flip flopped.

"Calla?" she pressed.

Exhaling, I raised my head and looked into Dr. Reyes' warm brown eyes. "He called my dad a killer and he called me, 'The Murderer's Daughter.'"

Dr. Reyes pressed her lips together while drumming her fingers on the top of her mahogany desk. "I'm very sorry this happened to you, Calla. Would talking to Mrs. Walker help?"

I shook my head. "I just want to go home."

She nodded, her perfect bun bobbing back and forth. "What class do you have next?"

"Study hall," I responded, as my chest constricted.

"Okay," said my principal. "I'll have to give your father a quick call, but if it's okay with him, you can head home."

My fists clenched. "No, please don't call him. I don't want to put any more stress on him. I'll just head to study hall."

Dr. Reyes frowned. "I'll have to let him know about the incident today. It's school policy."

"Fine," I responded. "Tell him that I'm fine and finishing out the school day. I'll head home at the normal time."

She exhaled slowly. "Are you sure, Calla?"

"Yes, I'm sure." I refused to let my dad worry about the idiots at my school. I didn't want him to worry about anything else. His plate was already full.

I stood up and grabbed my backpack. "Can I go?"

"Yes, you can. But, Calla," she said, "remember, I'm here for you and so is Mrs. Walker. Do not hesitate to reach out to either of us at any time, okay?"

"Okay," I mumbled.

"Miss Jackie will write you a pass to study hall," said Dr. Reyes.

"Thanks."

As I waited for Miss Jackie to return from the school nurse, I thought about my sessions with our school psychologist. Talking to someone about things should have helped, but it didn't. Nothing helped. Nothing would bring Laurie back and nothing short of a miracle would convince the world that my father wasn't a cold-blooded killer.

*******

Cliffhangers,

Super excited to share another update with you! This story is flowing like CAPTURED did when I wrote it on Wattpad! *squeals*

Also, just a quick note, this is the unedited version, so if you see an error, please let me know so I can fix it! :) Thanks!

Let me know what you think with a comment below!

Hearts and Daggers,

Kelly Anne Blount xoxo

P.S. All votes are massively appreciated!