Miss Alexa Bell
The sound of students half asleep, texting and playing games on their phones, some talking in hushed tones. That is what Mr Philips' classroom at Jefferson high school, Brooklyn New York sounded like. Nobody cared about the book that Mr Phillips had put on their summer reading list this past summer. So when the classroom door opened everybody's attention landed on the tall dark haired man in the doorway, Principal Rollins. He scanned the room for the person he was looking for, Alexa Bell. In the back of the classroom she sat with her chocolate brown hair over her face as she doddled on the side of a notebook on her desk. She was the only student that didn't look up to meet his eyes.
"Ms Bell." Rollins' voice made her finally look up and she found every single person looking at her as if they were trying to figure out what kind of trouble she was in. It wouldn't be the first time that she had been caught doing some not so nice things. She had what some people might describe as headstrong and a little rebellious or as Alexa liked to say it herself, she didn't take shit from anybody. "Will you come with me please. And take your things with you." he said and just stood there. His face didn't show emotions which made Alexa mad every time since she can't read him. She picked up her books and pens, throwing them in her backpack before walking towards the door. Every step she took was followed by a 'oooh' by her peers. She gleered them as she passed by, she hadn't done anything, at least not this time. The two of them were now alone in the corridor and Alexa thought she saw sadness and pity in Mr Rollins eyes for a second.
"What is it that you think I did Mr Rollins?" Alexa asked as they walked towards his office.
"I don't think you did anything Ms Bell. We'll talk in the office. Okay?" He didn't say it as a question however which made Alex's thought spiral.
"It must be bad if it requires a room behind closed doors." Her words didn't get a response and her bad feeling only grew when she saw two police officers by his office doors.
"Please have a seat Alexa." Mr Rollins said once they were behind closed doors.
"Okay, let's make it clear that I had nothing to do with Mrs Launders lawn." Alexa spoke and looked around at the faces in the room. By the look on their faces the officers weren't here because of Mrs Launders.
"They aren't here because of that. It's your mother."
"What did she do this time?" Alexa asked like it wasn't the first time her mother had gotten into trouble. She had spent some night in lock-up before and it wasn't a big deal.
"She had an accident. There was a car that lost control and swerved into the diner and.. It's bad Alexa."
"Wh..what? Is she okay? She's gonna be alright, right?" she asked and when she didn't get an answer from Mr Rollins she turned to the officers behind her.
"She's at the hospital now and we're here to take you to her." one of the officers told her and she just nodded, not sure what to say or do.
"She'll be okay. She has to be okay. She's all I have." Alexa kept pleading that her other would be okay over and over again to herself in a way to calm herself down.
The whole car ride to the hospital was quiet. Alex's mind kept playing all kinds of scenarios in her head. The next one being more horrible than the one before. But in every single one of them things were gonna work out. Which kept her mood up and herself from going insane. The car was still rolling when Alexa opened the door and jumped out of the car, sprinting towards the entrance. When she reached the reception she instantly caught the attention of the guy sitting behind it.
"I need to find my mother, she was in some kind of accident at the diner. Her name is Maria Bell?" She told the nurse and he started looking through the computer system.
"She's in the surgery. You can wait for the doctor to update you on the third floor, east wing."
"Thanks. Do you know if she's doing alright?"
"I don't know, sorry. But Dr Wickery is one of the best trauma surgeons on the east coast. She's in good hands." The guy said in a reassuring way before she ran down the hall towards the stairs to the second floor and the surgical wing. Memories of her mother happy and smiling flashed before her eyes was she climbed the stairs. Once she reached the waiting room she kept pacing across the floor of the small room. There was one other person in there that looked just as worried as she was. The woman looked to be in her fifties but she was trying her best to look younger. Her eyes were red from crying and there were stains on her light pink dress. Alexa tried to make up a story about her just to keep her mind from being clouded with thoughts about her mom. The woman looked up at Alexa a few times with annoyance at her never ending pacing. When she looked at her again Alexa was just about to tell her off when a doctor came into the room. The doctor got the attention of the woman for a second but she soon went back to looking at her hands. Alexa’s attention was kept on the doctor that was now looking right at her.
”Ms Bell?” The man asked her from a few feet away.
”Yes, how’s my mom?”
”When she came in she had lost a lot of blood and she had a massive head trauma. We did everything we could but there was just too much damage. I’m sorry, but she passed away two minutes ago.” Dr Wickery said in a calm and consoling tone.
Dr Wickery’s last words had been on a loop in Alexa’s head, ’I’m sorry, she passed. I’m sorry, she passed’ over and over again. Tears were running down her face as she just sat there on one of the chairs. Alexa had lost track of time, she didn’t know how long she had been sitting there until she hear someone calling her name and sitting down next to her. Looking up she saw a middle aged woman in a pen skirt, thin white blouse and a black cardigan, CPS was the first thought that came into her head when she saw her.
”Alexa, I’m Susie. I’m with child protective services.” The woman spoke in a sweet voice.
”Figured as much.” She muttered back.
”I know this must be hard, is there anyone we can get here for you? Grandparents? Your father?” She asked and Alexa couldn’t help but laugh at her words, she didn’t have anyone. She was all alone now.
”No, there’s no one. Shouldn’t your papers tell you that.” Alexa said with a snarky voice.
”Actually.. My papers tell me that your father is in Los Angeles.” Susie’s words made Alexa go stiff.
”No, my father’s dead. Your papers are wrong.” Her father was dead, her mother had told her that for as long as she could remember. Why would she lie about that?
”I spoke to him Alexa, he’s very much alive.” Alexa just sat there in shock and it wasn’t until after a few minutes that she spoke.
”Okay, so he’s alive and in LA what does that have to do with me? He didn’t come and look for me, he doesn’t care so why should I?”
”He cares, Alexa. When I told him what happened he was pretty clear that he wanted you to live with him. Actually he’s on his way to New York as we speak.” If Alexa wasn’t an emotional wreck already those words would have done it.
”What? No! I’m not moving, tell him to stay in LA and leave me alone!” Alexa yelled and got up to start pacing again.
”Sorry Alexa but you have to. Charles is your only living relative. Listen to me kid, go with your father. He can’t be that bad.” Susie tried to reason with her but it was hard to do at the moment.
”I’d rather take my chances with foster care than go with Charles…” She muttered and her father’s name was said with spite as she took a seat on another chair in the room.
”He’s coming here tonight and you leave tomorrow morning. I will stay with you until he arrives.” Susie told her and Alexa felt beat, there was nothing she could do about it.
”I'll be fine on my own, thanks." She tried but Susie didn’t budge.
”It's my job Alexa, please let me help you. Get some food and help you pack. Okay?" Susie offered and as on que Alexa’s stomach spoke loudly.
"Food does sound pretty good." Alexa caved, she hadn’t had breakfast that morning and she was pulled out of class before lunch.
"Good, then let's go. Pizza okay?" Susie turned the conversation very mundane which Alexa appreciated.
"Yeah, no pineapple though."
"No pineapple." Susie said with a smile.
