Read Online Strega (Strega Series) by Karen Monahan Fernandes - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen Monahan Fernandes
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fluttering heart sank back down in my chest.
XVI
My high school campus was beautiful in any season, but especially in autumn. Soon trees would begin to shed their leaves, which would scatter around the brick buildings and across the grassy landscape. In just a week, students would take over the campus. I took a moment to enjoy the serenity while I had the chance.
This year in particular, I dreaded going back to school. It was not my classes or the work that I minded. Those were actually the only things I liked. I spent all summer reading books and watching history and science TV shows. Ruth and Jack's house was the ultimate knowledge conduit, abound with books on all subjects. My friends teased me for my nerdiness. They'd chuckle as they hiked their pants up and walked with a hunch, while pretending to push an invisible pair of duct-taped glasses up the bridge of their nose.
"Knowledge is power," I'd retort proudly as I adjusted my invisible glasses and snorted.
The thing I dreaded about going back to school was the sea of patronizing faces that would inevitably surround me, especially that first day. Everybody knew I lost my grandmother. It was a small town. Besides my friends, a ton of students came to her funeral, either because they knew me or because their parents knew Gram. I appreciated their condolences, I just couldn't stand being doused with their pity. Or observing their whispers every time I walked into a room. I didn't need the constant reminder that I'd lost her.
I walked up the steps to the main entrance and through the doors for the first time since early June, when my heart was not so heavy and my mind not so burdened. I made my way to Mr. Baker's office on the third floor. The waiting area outside the faculty offices was quiet and empty since school was not back in session yet, but teachers were already trickling back in. As I turned the corner, I saw the administrator sitting at her desk talking on the phone. Mr. Baker's door was closed and through the small panel of glass at the top, I could see that the lights were off. Impatiently, I waited for the administrator to wrap up her call.
"Do you know if Mr. Baker will be in today?" I blurted out the moment she hung up. She took a moment to transition, and slowly responded as if it thrilled her to withhold the answer.
"There is a staff meeting today at 10:15. He should be here soon."
I was relieved to hear this. I wasn't sure if he'd be in at all. It was 9:30. I settled into the chair outside his door and waited. I sent Rena a quick text letting her know I was turning my ringer off. She'd already called seven times.
As I waited, a younger student walked in and stopped at the administrator's desk. I guessed him to be a freshman. I didn't recognize him. He mumbled something to her, and then came and sat down two chairs away from me. He pushed in his earphones, and suddenly I heard the muffled tune of a familiar song. The same song I played every morning, tormenting myself with memories of Vince singing it. I'd already decided I was going to stop that self-destructive routine. Rena was right. Staying hung up on him served no purpose.
A moment later, the administrator craned toward the freshman.
"Vince," she called sharply. I flinched as if she'd just thrown her stapler at me. The freshman quickly stood up and eagerly hopped over to her desk. She handed him a pile of papers and he sat back down to fill them out. I stared at him obtrusively, as if by his shared name he embodied the real thing. I was trying to forget Vince, but my efforts were futile. The universe was working against me.
I heard someone in the hallway, about to round the corner. I moved to the edge of my seat, hoping that it was Mr. Baker. Then a familiar cough brought great reassurance. As soon as he saw my face, his eyes opened wide and his mouth fell open in surprise.
"What are you doing here, Jay?" His hands were full of folders and papers, a lunch bag, and a water bottle. His
XVI
My high school campus was beautiful in any season, but especially in autumn. Soon trees would begin to shed their leaves, which would scatter around the brick buildings and across the grassy landscape. In just a week, students would take over the campus. I took a moment to enjoy the serenity while I had the chance.
This year in particular, I dreaded going back to school. It was not my classes or the work that I minded. Those were actually the only things I liked. I spent all summer reading books and watching history and science TV shows. Ruth and Jack's house was the ultimate knowledge conduit, abound with books on all subjects. My friends teased me for my nerdiness. They'd chuckle as they hiked their pants up and walked with a hunch, while pretending to push an invisible pair of duct-taped glasses up the bridge of their nose.
"Knowledge is power," I'd retort proudly as I adjusted my invisible glasses and snorted.
The thing I dreaded about going back to school was the sea of patronizing faces that would inevitably surround me, especially that first day. Everybody knew I lost my grandmother. It was a small town. Besides my friends, a ton of students came to her funeral, either because they knew me or because their parents knew Gram. I appreciated their condolences, I just couldn't stand being doused with their pity. Or observing their whispers every time I walked into a room. I didn't need the constant reminder that I'd lost her.
I walked up the steps to the main entrance and through the doors for the first time since early June, when my heart was not so heavy and my mind not so burdened. I made my way to Mr. Baker's office on the third floor. The waiting area outside the faculty offices was quiet and empty since school was not back in session yet, but teachers were already trickling back in. As I turned the corner, I saw the administrator sitting at her desk talking on the phone. Mr. Baker's door was closed and through the small panel of glass at the top, I could see that the lights were off. Impatiently, I waited for the administrator to wrap up her call.
"Do you know if Mr. Baker will be in today?" I blurted out the moment she hung up. She took a moment to transition, and slowly responded as if it thrilled her to withhold the answer.
"There is a staff meeting today at 10:15. He should be here soon."
I was relieved to hear this. I wasn't sure if he'd be in at all. It was 9:30. I settled into the chair outside his door and waited. I sent Rena a quick text letting her know I was turning my ringer off. She'd already called seven times.
As I waited, a younger student walked in and stopped at the administrator's desk. I guessed him to be a freshman. I didn't recognize him. He mumbled something to her, and then came and sat down two chairs away from me. He pushed in his earphones, and suddenly I heard the muffled tune of a familiar song. The same song I played every morning, tormenting myself with memories of Vince singing it. I'd already decided I was going to stop that self-destructive routine. Rena was right. Staying hung up on him served no purpose.
A moment later, the administrator craned toward the freshman.
"Vince," she called sharply. I flinched as if she'd just thrown her stapler at me. The freshman quickly stood up and eagerly hopped over to her desk. She handed him a pile of papers and he sat back down to fill them out. I stared at him obtrusively, as if by his shared name he embodied the real thing. I was trying to forget Vince, but my efforts were futile. The universe was working against me.
I heard someone in the hallway, about to round the corner. I moved to the edge of my seat, hoping that it was Mr. Baker. Then a familiar cough brought great reassurance. As soon as he saw my face, his eyes opened wide and his mouth fell open in surprise.
"What are you doing here, Jay?" His hands were full of folders and papers, a lunch bag, and a water bottle. His
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