The Infirmary

“Good, you’re awake, mum’s on her way, I called her and told her everything,” Austin whispered.

I blinked slowly and looked around the room, there was a curtain on my right. I saw a silhouette from behind it, I knew it was Archer.

“Is dad picking Archer up?” I asked with a scratchy voice.

Austin quickly handed me a cup of cold water and sat down on the bed.

“I don’t know, he hasn’t woken up yet..Emila, what happened?”

I looked at the water in my tiny cup and tried to focus on not zoning out.

“All I remember is choking him,” I shut my eyes tightly trying to remember, but my headache grew.

“Don’t force yourself! Here relax more,” Austin fixed my blanket and pulled my feet upwards massaging them.

“Why are you so nice to me?” I asked yawning.

Austin briefly stopped moving before answering, “You’re like my sister now, I have to look after you.”

“I’m older Austin, I’m supposed to be looking after you.”

He stiffened, “Well I’m the man in the house, so let me have some dignity.”

I turned my attention back to Archer sleeping on the other side of the curtain, “Are the ambulance coming for him?”

“Probably, you gave him a few bruises, he could seriously be injured.”

“Be bruises?”

“Emila, you almost killed him. He has a huge red mark on his throat, something could be wrong with him,” Austin answered.

I shrugged as if it was no big deal, but I knew it was, I could have murdered someone. I would’ve gone to jail.

“You’ll probably be suspended for a while, since the fight was this bad. Good going Emila, and on your first day too.”

I looked back at Austin and watched him focus on rubbing my feet.

“You know you don’t have to do that, I’m fine now.”

He awkwardly smiled and retracted his hands.

“Where’s my phone?” I croaked.

Austin nodded to my water before handing me my phone. I took a sip while turning on my phone.

I had a few calls and texts from Ate Katie, and e new notification from Instagram. A new Ollie request.

I clicked on the app and checked out the profile trying to follow mine.

Jacob Klinnen.

I sighed deeply turned off my phone, he was going to really annoy me this year.

“Oh mum’s here,” Austin’s aid staring at his phone.

I tossed off the blanket and tried standing up, but Austin pushed me back down.

“Austin?” I asked awkwardly.

His arms were placed on my shoulders and his body was close.

He looked gloomy, as if something was bothering him.

“Hey-”

Austin smiled, “Let me help, you might get dizzy.”

Austin held out his hand smiling the same smile he held the first time I saw him.

I wrapped my arms around him and used him as support as I slowly stood. Austin was right, I was really dizzy.

Austin helped me walk to the office, meeting up with Katie.

I looked up at her and saw a woman with a pale face. She rushed over to me and grabbed my arm and cheek, searching me up and down.

She looked me in the eyes for a moment before embracing me.

“I was so worried when Austin called Emila! Are you okay? You have a black eye, how bad does it hurt? You can tell me sweetie I’ll help!” Ate Katie said worriedly.

“Wait..What black eye??”

I lift my hand up to my eyes and feel them gently looking for a swollen spot, sure enough, my right eye was swollen.

How?...

Ate Katie caressed my cheek frowning.

“Excuse me Miss Turlin, Miss Hilmen, May I speak with you two?”

I looked behind Katie and saw an old man in a suit, my principle was asking to see me, great.

I nodded and walked into his office with Katie.

“I’m sure you're aware of the situation Miss Turlin, I know your son called you earlier to fill you in.”

“He only told me that Emila was hurt, I came as fast as could…” Ate Katie corrected.

The man cleared his throat and leaned forward placing his hands on the table, “Miss Hilmen got into a fight with Archer Hilmen, she tried suffocating him, but another student stopped her by knocking her out. Now usually I would give others warning if they had a fight with another student, but since Miss Hilmen put Archer into serious danger, the least I can do is suspend her for a week.”

“There’s nothing else she can do? Mr. Jakeel, it’s only her first day, she’s learning the ropes, please give her another chance,” Katie begged.

“I’m sorry Miss Turlin, Emila is suspended for a week, I can’t change it. She”s not allowed on school grounds until next week Tuesday, and she needs to report to me first thing in the morning.”

I crossed my arms, “Is Archers’ dad picking him up soon?”

“No, Archer will go home with a friend once he wakes up, and you have to stay away from him as well Miss Hilmen.”

I tilted my head agitated, “Excuse but he’s my blood, if I want to see him I can, you can't control that. I wasn’t trying to hurt him, what he said wasn’t okay, he just needed to be taught a little lesson.”

“Miss Hilmen, please have more respect, this has nothing to do with you two being related, you still aren’t allowed to see him.”

I rolled my eyes and stood, “I’m leaving.”

I walked out the door and shut it harshly angry. Austin was sitting in one of the few chairs outside of the office. He was biting his nails nervously, then turned to me.

“A whole week??”

I nodded, “Awesome right?”

“No! You’re going to miss so much school, I can’t believe he won’t let you do community service instead or something.”

“I wouldn’t do it anyways, I don’t have any time for it,” I said lazily.

“You’re just too lazy,” Austin said picking up our backpacks and motioned for us to leave.

I followed him out the door and walked to Katie’s car with him.

“Why are you leaving too?” I asked.

“Why not? Mum needs to go to work soon, who else would watch after you?”

“I’m not a baby Austin, I can look after myself.”

“Yeah, but you won’t eat. I need to go home with you,” he insisted.

I sighed and sat down, “Why is Jacob trying so hard to be my friend?”

Austin shrugged turning the car on, “Maybe he likes you.”