Page 12 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“Don’t worry. Is there something you wanted, Kalen?”
“Yes, actually,” he says, holding out another slip. Where in the hell did he pull that from? It’s like he has a stash in his budgie smugglers. As my eyes inadvertently drop down to his package again, I get a much better look at his rib ink. It’s a tattoo of some sort of Celtic knot. It seems vaguely familiar but I can’t place it. I guess if you’ve seen one Celtic Knot, you’ve seen them all.
“What did I do this time?”
“Here at Knox Academy we hold ourselves to a higher standard, not just in school time, but outside of it too. Dress appropriately next time.”
I take the slip, and whilst it’s a warning slip this time and not an actual detention slip, I rip it into as many pieces as I can all whilst maintaining eye contact.
“Stick this up your ass! This is all I have. We don't all come from a place that requires nice winter outfits. It’s hot as fuck where I live. And in case you didn’t notice, I’m not the spoilt rich kid of a loaded headmaster!” I throw the papers at him as I stand and Elsie follows suit. Kalen doesn’t say anything, he just watches us leave.
“Holy shit, you’re going to be in so much trouble. Skipping detentionandrefusing a warning. And you’re only on day two!”
“Maybe they’ll send me home,” I say hopefully.
“Doubtful.” Elsie scowls, her face falling. “They have ways to get you to comply. Trust me when I say that. There isn’t much you can do to get kicked out of here, which is the point of being sent here. You should see how many times Branson has tried to get himself kicked out. He is inventive.”
“I met him actually, he seems cool.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say he is cool...more like scary as fuck. He is hostile, and a complete loner.”
“My kind of guy.”
We say our goodbyes and head back towards our own rooms. Elsie has to go off campus, but I don’t have a pass yet, and I’m unsure if I’ll be able to get one. Sleeping the day away sounds like a good way to pass the time, so I go the long way back to my dorm to see if I can find Susan on the way.
I don’t find Susan. I’m actually a little bit sad about that. Annoying as she was, she was someone to talk to. Maybe someone has handed her in and will bring her back to me. I head into my dorm. I need to come up with some plans anyway. I need a phone, this once a week crap won’t do. I need to have family support to get me through this, and I won’t let my incubator set down rules. She hasn’t in almost a decade, so I’m not about to let her start now.
Chapter Six
Amelie
As promised, the incubator sends a car for me on Sunday. I had hoped she would have forgotten, but no, it seems my presence at ‘family’ dinner is still mandatory. I scowl, as I get into the ostentatious black limo that she’s sent, and then I remember that I’ll have the use of my phone whilst I’m there.
Excitement fizzles through me and I spend the short car ride debating who to call first: Aadi, Smalls, or my dad. And then there’s Sawyer. I wonder if he’s texted me since Friday. I hope he has. I want to be able to reply to him. Even if he’s just sent me his number, at least I’ll have it and be able to initiate a conversation. I’m going to have to find a way to swipe the phone from the house. There’s no way I’m leaving it there.
“Excuse me?” I tap gently on the privacy glass that separates me from the driver. The partition slides down.
“Yes, Miss Knox?” the driver asks politely.
“That’s not my name!” I’m so taken aback that I can’t even remember what I wanted to say.
“My apologies, Miss.”
“Rossi. I’m Amelie Rossi.”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Rossi, your...erm...mother told me to call you that.”
“No. It’s definitely Rossi,” I insist firmly.
“I’m sorry. What can I do for you?”
“Can we stop at the shops on the way?”
“What kind of shop?”
“Is there a supermarket en route?”
“There’s not, Miss. But we have time to take a short detour.”
