Chapter 19

Chapter 19

I pulled James the rest of the way to his school, until we reached the doors. There was no one in front of the school, which made sense because they don't have school on parent-teacher conference days... I think. Either way, I didn't see it as a very good sign.

The halls of the school were empty, and creepy, as empty schools always are. My foot steps echoed through the halls, as well as James, which were faster, struggling to keep up with me.

"Where's your teacher's room?" I asked.

"Uh..." James looked around, clueless.

"Really James?" I said, stopping to look at him. "You don't know where you're own class room is?"

"I go in the other entrance," James said quietly. "So I don't get..."

"What?" I leaned down to look at him eye to eye. "What James?"

"Beat up," James mumbled. "There are bullied in the front doors."

I stood up. "Do they hurt you?"

"No," James said. "Because I take the side door."

"Good. Keep doing that. Do you know where the main office is?"

James nodded, and started leading me down the hall. It was at the end of the hall, a big intimidating door. I stopped, and noticed my reflection in the small window. I remembered that I was wearing a t-shirt that didn't look very professional, and my hair was just a messy bun, with a ton of fly aways. I tried to smooth them out, but it didn't help.

Deep breaths Molly. Deep breaths.

I opened the door and peered in. A secretary was sitting at a small desk, typing away at a computer. She looked up as I opened the door.

"Can I help you?" She asked, looking a little skeptical.

"Um, I was wondering where-" I looked down at James- "What's your teacher's name?"

"Mrs. Little."

"Mrs. Little," I said to the secretary.

"Oh, I believe she's in a meeting right now," She said looking back at her computer, and typing some more. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No..." I said.

"Well, she has an open spot in 20 minutes. It's for a little under half an hour, if your interested." She looked back up. "Are you a parent here for conferences?"

"Um..." Parent. Parent. Parent. "Yes. I guess so... yeah."

"Ok then. And you're a parent of..."

Parent. Parent. Parent. "James Canner."

"Ok." More rapid typing. "Great! It's all set up!" She flashed me a smile. Her teeth were to white they hurt my eyes a little. "You can wait in here, or the chairs right out there in front of the office until it's time for your appointment. Her room is 3 doors to the right." She paused for a minute and added, "20 minutes."

"Thanks," I said, and slipped back into the hallway, closing the door behind me.

I took a deep breath, and took down my hair. I sat down, pulling my hair back into what I hoped was a sleeker more professional looking bun. James sat beside me.

"Do you have something to read?" I asked, tying up my hair.

"Uh huh," James said, reaching into his backpack.

I sighed, and pulled out my phone, to check my hair. After analyzing my reflection in the blank screen, I turned it on. My screen was full of notifications of texts. Which surprised me, because no one texted me.

I opened my texts, to see they were all from Janice.

Where R U?

That cute blond guy is here again with his douchey friends

Oh, he asked for u, btw.

I think he has a little crush on you ;)

Liam's also asking where you are

SRSLY WHERE R U???!!!

Ok now Dickys asking for you

The bus is lonely without u

I sound like a needy girlfriend LOL

UR freaked out arnt u?

K, Ill stop now

I smiled at the needy girlfriend text, I replied:

Sorry something came up c u 2night! :)

I spent the rest of the twenty minutes looking through my phone at whatever stuff consumed my time until it was time for me to go to Mrs. Little's room. "Wait here James," I said.

A man in a black suit walked out of it as we walked up the door. He looked me up and down, and gave me a bit of a disgusted look. I felt my cheeks turn bright red as I opened the door. "Mrs. Little?"

She looked up from her papers. "Yes?"

"I'm Molly Canner. The secretary in the main office just set up a, um-"

"Oh," Mrs. Little said, looking at her computer screen. "Yes, there it is. She just sent me an e-mail. You're James' parent?"

Parent. Parent. Par-

"No. I mean yes, but-"

"Sit down," She said, pointing the the chair opposite her desk.

So I did. I awkwardly walked over and sat down, picking at the skin around my left thumb.

"James is a good student," Mrs. Little said, searching through her papers. After a moment, she pulled out a folder, with "Canner, James," Written on the top in small blue letters.

"He's smart," She continued. "He's a very good writer. He's only six and he already understands description, which is a big step. This is one of his poems-" She handed me a piece of lined paper, covered in little kid handwriting. I scanned over it, and saw something about leaves, and squirrels, but I was too nervous to properly read it.

"He also enjoys reading. He's in the most advanced reading group, and he's already moved onto short novels. He seems to enjoys the Junie B. Jones books."

I was having trouble paying attention. I was scared. Really scared. Relax Molly.

"However, he's having a little trouble in math," The teacher continued. She kept talking, but I started only hearing every other word.

"He... concept... numbers... homework..."

What was I even doing here? I shouldn't be there, I should be at school, and talking to my friends, and my mom should be in this chair, and I shouldn't be a stripper, or taking care of my little brother by myself, or-

"...I am a little concerned about some of the bullies."

"Wait, what?" I asked, snapping back into reality.

"Bullies? It's a bit of a problem at this school- well it is at any school, and Jame's is a bit of a target. Has he talked to you about this?"

"No..."

"Well I think you should have a conversation about it. The school is working as much as we can about this. It would be really helpful though if you talked to him."

"O-of course."

"But I think it's really good he's starting to branch out a little. I think his new friend is really good for him."

"Who?"

"James. His friend, Isabelle. They've recently been spending much more time together, and he seems a lot happier with a friend. Has he talked to you about her?"

"Yes, I've met her before."

"Well, they're good friends. And he seems happier in school since they became friends."

"G-good. That's... good."

"Yes." Mrs. Little smiled at me. A sort of sad smile. A pitiful smile. "Well, that's all. It was good meeting you Mrs. Canner."

"You too," I said, walking out of the room.

"Come on James," I said, when I reached him.

"What did Mrs. Little say?"

"You're good at writing," I said. "And you're having trouble with bullies?"

"Just a little," James said. "And everyone does. They beat up all the younger kids."

"Oh. Well, try to stay away from them. And if they ever hurt you, tell me."

"I will. What else did she say?"

"She said you and Isabelle are good friends."

"That's because we are."

"I know," I said, as we exited the doors.

Speak of the devil, who happened to be standing just a few feet in front of the door? Isabelle. And Mary Smith. She was wearing an identical suit to the one she was wearing yesterday, her hair pulled back into the same slick pony tail. Isabelle was holding her hand, wearing her catbug backpack.

"James!" She said when she saw him.

"Hi Isabelle!" James said.

Mrs. Smith gave me a look that could burn a hole through my head. She literally pushed me away as I mumbled, "Sorry."

"But I want to talk to James!" I heard as the door closed behind them.

I sighed, and turned to keep walking home.

"Isabelle and I are friends."

"I know James." I said, with a small smile. "And that's good.

---

HI THERE PEOPLE!!!!

Well, it's time for a little convo with myself.

Me: Hey self!

Me: Oh hi self! What up?

Me: Well you know what happened?

Me: Why I have no idea!

Me: Oh wait, yes I do.

Both Mes: STRIP HAS OVER 1000 FUCKING READS!!!!!

(CONFETTI AND BALLOONS AND SHIT)

Guys. GUYS. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN! WE WERE JUST AT 600 LAST CHAPTER!!! AND NOW IT'S 1000!!! THIS IS TRULY AMAZING!!!!

Like, a real milestone in your wattpad-ness though. So like, thanks. A LOT.

Sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes.

Thanks. Again. Really.

XOX