I can do this!

Elain looked up nervously at Alderwood High School, anxiously looking at the building.

I… I can do this! She thought again, trying to give herself confidence. It’s been well over a week and a half now. I’ve come after school. Hell, even when the school was closed with my brother just to reach and touch the doors! Baby steps! That’s what Doctor Du Maurier says. To not push. I managed to get inside when school was done and walk around and I was fine. I’ll be fine!

Even though her thoughts were confident, she still couldn’t stop shaking.

Oh, come on, stop shaking me! At least try not to draw attention!

“El,” her heart nearly jumped into her throat when hearing her brother’s voice then felt Nate’s hand along her upper arm. “It’s okay, you’ll be fine, and if you can’t handle it then we can just leave. All right?”

“Y-yeah…” Elain let out a slow even breath while feeling reassured by her big brother’s presence. It helped her a lot.

“Ready to try?”

Elain nodded and grasped her brother’s hand, squeezing to try and ease her nerves.

They walked together as she held her brother’s hand, taking slow steps until she was inside the school, it was noon, so a majority was done with classes for lunch, Elain did also have a free period but for now, she was just trying her best to be in school without having a massive panic attack. Easier said than done. But this was the next step before even trying to attempt a full day. Thankfully her teachers were more than accommodating, knowing what had happened, and giving her the time and space to heal while also sending her things for her morning classes online. And if it became too hard for Elain to handle, she would switch to doing online classes until things were more manageable.

Online classes became the norm for some students for a variety of reasons, the majority of which were now because of illness and recovering in the hospital. While others had problems with anxiety. Much like Elain, and couldn’t go to school. But Elain wanted to overcome this. She would take it slow, but it was still something she wanted to do.

Though there were bouts where she was in self-doubt, needing to stop and take a few breaths before going to her classroom.

“I’ll be here a few minutes before the bell, if you think can’t deal with it, then just text me. Okay?”

“Right,” the teachers were already very accommodating, and not just recording and sending what she needed for class. She saw that she wasn’t the first to arrive, with several students hanging out or doing other work from another class.

Elain’s mismatched eyes looked around before sitting down in a chair by the window. Originally, she thought of sitting close to the door, for a hasty retreat, but if what her brother said was true then she should be okay when talking with the teacher.

She still had some time before class started, so she took the opportunity to pull out her laptop, textbook and notebook, trying to be as organized as possible.

But when all was said and done, she began to feel nervous, so she took out her wireless headphone and pressed play. The moment she had, the music of a piano and Erhu entered her ears as she breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you, music from The Twelve Kingdoms soundtrack. Your music eases my nervous-riddled soul.

Elain then closed her eyes and just began to breathe to ease herself, before getting the feeling that someone had sat down in the seat next to her. Opening her eyes Elain saw that she was right, the girl with a thin build was dressed in jeans and a baggy T-shirt, she had dark skin as her hair was styled in corn-row braids that looked nice to her facial features.

Elain looked right to her textbook before the other girl looked at Elain, she didn’t think anyone would sit beside her, not since there were still so many seats available.

Her anxiety began to come back, making her tremble faintly.

The girl who sat next to her noticed this. “Hey, are you doing okay?”

“Y-yeah, don’t mind me. Anxiety.”

“Ah,” was all she said, then suddenly asked. “Are you the girl that couldn’t come in for almost two weeks?”

Elain looked at this girl with a slight expression of embarrassment. “Uh… yeah?”

The girl dug into her bag and pulled something out. “Here,” she handed Elain a USB stick. “Notes from the past week and a half with the classes we share. Iesha, by the way. If you need help feel free to ask.”

Elain looked at the USB stick and then back to Iesha. “You’re in all of my classes?”

“Mostly, except gym class, but I always ditch that.”

“Well, I wouldn’t be able to do it anyway, I can’t do anything physical for the time being. But do you mind if I ask why you took these notes?”

“I’ve been a designated note-taker for other kids in school before, this year is no different. One girl who had part of her liver removed and was stuck on bed rest for a while, or kids who just have trouble paying attention in class. Even have the audio recordings from the classes too in what I gave you. No video though, my old laptop will freak out if I try.”

“That’s alright, I’m better when just listening anyhow.”

Iesha merely looked at Elain before asking. “Want to give me your email? If you find you can’t handle class, I’ll at least be able to send you the recordings.”

“Oh, sure. Thanks.”

“No thanks needed, this way you won’t get behind, and I’ll type up the notes too, so you won’t struggle with my shit handwriting.”

“I’m sure you’re handwriting isn’t that bad.”

The look on Iesha’s face said it all: “No it is, trust me, it’s total trash.”

“Ah… got it,” Elain said as more students began to come into the room, a few rushing into class before the teacher arrived, who came with a laptop and webcam to set up for those who couldn’t physically be in class. The teacher a nice-looking blonde woman with her hair in a bun, Ms. Zorić, noticed Elain but didn’t make any comment about it, she merely smiled and was glad to see her, and went about setting up for what she needed for the online students.

When the class got going, Elain felt her anxiety calm as she became focused on learning, trying to write with her left hand instead of her right, but was poked by Iesha’s pen.

“Don’t force it,” Iesha said softly so as not to be picked up by her mic from her laptop as it recorded the audio.

Elain understood but still wanted to try, even if it meant her notes were a scribbled mess and almost impossible to read.

Elain looked at her horrible notes with a crooked smile, how she wished she was ambidextrous with her left. Her friend Rebecca was a little bit since she wrote with her left but had to do a lot of things with her right hand since that’s how things were designed. Rebecca’s only gripe was the agony of dealing with scissors. A right-handed pare could not be used by someone who used their left hand.

“Miss Ortiz, may I speak with you for a moment?” Ms. Zorić asked as Elain was getting ready to leave for her next class.

Iesha gave a two-fingered salute with her right hand before heading off to their next class.

“Yes, Ma’am?” Elain asked.

“How was the class?”

Elain couldn’t help but look very confused. “Uh… good? Normal?”

Ms. Zorić smiled, seeming to find Elain’s confusion sweet. “I mean about your anxiety; I know things have been difficult for you at the start of the year. I just want to be sure that you were comfortable.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Oh,” was all Elain could see as her face became flushed. “Ummm, it was fine. I found that when I’m in class and just listening to the teacher, you and probably the others too, I don’t feel my anxiety all that much.”

“Good, I’m glad. If you find that you ever have trouble just head out. I only ask if you can do so as silently as you can so as not to distract any of the other students.”

“Sure, I can do that.”

“Also, if you need a note taker, I’m sure Miss Bain would be willing, that is of course if she’s not doing a lot already.”

Bain? Oh, she must mean Iesha. “I will, thank you, Ms. Zorić.” She then noticed her brother, silently waiting, as he gave a faint wave. “Do you have anything else you need from me?”

“No, that’s all, oh, though before I forget, the assignments you’ve done will be given back later this weekend. The other teachers will probably do the same, either way, if you need to go back to being strictly online, just send an email to let us know.”

That surprised her. “You sure?”

Ms. Zorić nodded. “Of course, our job is to help students, be it with sending assignments or doing online learning. As well as needing anything from your IEP, you just have to let us know in advance if you can.”

“I will, thank you.” After giving her goodbyes, Elain left with her brother to head to her next class.

“So, how’d it go with your first class?”

“Good, I think, but I just want to take it slow for now. To not overthink so I don’t get overwhelmed. So then, maybe…” She looked at the arm that held her graph hidden by her long-sleeved shirt. “I can move past this.”

* * *

For the next couple of days, Elain managed to do her afternoon classes, with how things were, she felt comfortable doing her morning classes online and the rest at school. While she still had bouts of her anxiety flare up from time to time causing Elain to calm down.

So more often than not, she was given the go-ahead to leave early, at first Elain wasn’t sure, but Iesha said it was fine and would just send her the recordings.

Her parents and brother had her support, but while that was going on she noticed something was going on with Kaya, especially on those occasions when Alastor would call Elain and ask if she could pick his daughter up while watching her for at least an hour due to conflicting schedules. Elain figured it was probably due to work, so she had no issue with this. And Amalie seemed more than okay with walking home. Kaya, on the other hand, seemed less than enthusiastic about all of it.

Though their parents thought it would be good since they didn’t live all that far from the school itself was close to their home. Plus, it would give both Elain and Kaya some exercise. Something that Kaya would normally like since she always enjoyed climbing and running but these past few days, she seemed a bit withdrawn.

“Kaya, what’s wrong?” Elain asked while they were walking home, carrying both Kaya’s and Amalie’s backpacks. Amalie was walking ahead, stopping to look at some wildflowers before continuing. “Do you not like your new school?”

Kaya stopped walking. “Why did we have to come here?” she asked. “I know why, you were hurt… but… why did we have to move so far away? I still had my school, my friends… but now I don’t know anyone.”

“You know Amalie, don’t you?”

Kaya looked at the girl, and when Amalie looked back and smiled, Kaya smiled back but that smile didn’t last long when the girl went back to what she was doing, her smile vanished. “Maybe… but there are people at school who don’t like Amalie…”

Elain watched Amalie; a feeling of understanding weighed on her chest. “People are complicated,” she told her sister. “Not everyone can see eye to eye or get along.” Elain paused. “Kaya… about the move—”

“Whoa!” Amalie gasped as she jumped back drawing both girls’ attention and they rushed over.

“Amalie, what’s wrong?” Elain asked.

Kaya looked to where Amalie was staring and immediately brightened up. “Kitty!”

A Tortoiseshell cat with blue eyes that was mainly black and orange with a white-tipped tail came out limping with an injured back leg limped over and curled up in Amalie’s lap.

Amalie remained completely still hands up and unsure what to do. “What do I do?”

“It looks hurt.” Kaya squatted next to Amalie and held out her hand and the cat sniffed her fingers before licking them. “It doesn’t have a collar either.”

Elain noticed the wound on its leg, it seemed like it was deliberate. “When we get to our place Kaya, we’ll see about looking for a vet and if we can bring the cat to them.”

“Okay,” Kaya looked back at the cat whatever worries she had seemed to be overtaken by the cat.

By the time Elain got home with the cat, and the two girls, Nate was already home, she had texted him about the situation and he had gone and nabbed a pet bed and some canned food and a foldable crate.

“There’s a vet that’s a five-minute car ride. And Dad will be home soon, he’s got no issue with us borrowing it to have the cat looked at.” He then looked at the cat in Elain’s arms. “Any idea if it’s a boy or girl?”

“No clue, but if it’s anything like a Calico then it’s probably a girl. But I think for now we should just get it comfortable; I don’t think it has a chip so it might be a stray.”

“It’s little too,” Amalie said as she said from the front door. “So, it could be a kitten.”

“Amalie, what are you doing?” Elain asked. “You can come in you know.”

Amalie looked a bit wary. “Are you sure?”

Nate gave the little girl a confident smile. “Of course, it is. We’re not going to let a kid just wait on the porch for her dad to come home.”

Elain noticed Kaya’s frown before she quickly headed upstairs to her room as Amalie came inside, Elain wanted to talk with Kaya but wasn’t even sure how to approach her. What’s more, what Kaya mentioned about Amalie concerned her too.

“…For some reason or another, some of the kids at her school don’t like my daughter…”

Alastor’s words rang in her mind. Amalie was being bullied, but by who and how severely? Still, that bothered her, and it seemed to bother Kaya as well but didn’t seem willing to talk about it either.

She could ask Amalie, but they weren’t close and also couldn’t just straight up ask either. How could she go about this without being intrusive?

No, for now, that shouldn’t matter, at some point, she would be able to ask, and maybe figure out a solution to the problem.

For the time being, they focused on the cat, Amalie in particular just seemed content with petting the cat as it lay wrapped in a blanket as the cat slept after eating a whole can of wet cat food and drinking water.

The little thing must have been starving.

Then there was a knock at the door, where Nathan went to open the door and there stood Alastor with a smile on his face.

“Oh, hello Mr. Hilmarsson, you just get back from work?”

“No, I had a few errands I needed to take care of.”

“Dad!” Amalie rushed to her father and hugged him, as he rested his hands on her shoulders.

“Hello My Darling,” he then looked to Elain and Nathan. “I hope it wasn’t any trouble watching her.” He paused and noticed the cat in the living room. “Oh my, it seems you have one more guest.”

“On our way home, it walked right up to Amalie,” Elain said. “It was hurt so we brought it here, it might have been deliberate so we’re waiting for our Dad to come home so we can take it to the vet.”

Alastor moved a bit closer to look at the cat. “It’s beautiful, I’m sure when it matures it will be even more so.” He glanced at Elain and Nate with a teasing smile. “Are you hoping to adopt?”

“Huh? What?” Elain responded.

“Uhhh, I mean it’d be awesome if we could, but… our parents might not let us. Though we lived in an apartment before that didn’t allow pets. So, who knows?” Nate said as he looked at the cat with his blue eyes. “I kinda hope we do; it’d be nice to have a pet in the house. But we’ll just have to wait and see what they think.”

After a moment, of spending time with the cat, Alastor began to head back to his home with his daughter only to pause and look back at Elain. “Miss Ortiz, may I speak with you.”

“Sure,”

He handed Amalie the key to their house. Where she went off to the house with her backpack, being careful to cross the street and looking both ways before doing so. Leaving Elain with Alastor by the front of Elain’s home.

“What did you want to ask me, Mr. Hilmarsson?”

“Would you like to babysit my daughter, Miss Ortiz?” Alastor asked with a smile.

That threw Elian for a loop. “Wait, what? You want me to babysit Amalie?”

“Why, of course, I’ve known you for a while now, and I think you’d be perfect. And given the current circumstances, I require a new sitter. I’ll pay you an hourly rate for all that you do and add anything else if expenses are needed.”

She wasn’t expecting that. Any of that. “You’d think I’d be good to look out for her?”

“I do. You’ve watched her a few times now and it’s clear that Amalie likes you, which is something I would never say lightly. She liked the last person who looked after her when school was done. The young woman was supposed to watch her this summer, however, things changed.”

“Did she move?”

His smile changed, to an almost sad expression. “She disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

“Yes, I knew that she was dealing with some problems. She couldn’t go to the police because, as she told me, no one would believe her. But one night, I offered to drive her home because it was so late, but she declined. I cannot help but wish I was a bit firmer in doing so. Then maybe, I could have done something for her.”

“What about the police? Did you call them?”

“I did call them, they’re finally taking her disappearance far more seriously with new evidence that was uncovered, but I don’t think she’ll ever be found.” His gaze went glanced at his home; Amalie was in the living room doing school work. “There are always the kind of people who will want to disappear, and if they try hard enough, they can do it without anyone else the wiser.” He then shifted the topic back to what it was. “Apologies, that’s not what we’re here to talk about, I should drag you into something so needlessly.”

“No, it’s fine, I know things can change in ways no one expects, I just hope the woman’s okay.”

“I’m sure she is,” his tone then shifted to a more mellow note. “So, it’s a deal then? In looking after my daughter, I mean?” Alastor then offered his right hand to shake.

She looked at it, then at him and his subtle smiling face. “Can I think on it for a bit?”

He continued to smile as he lowered his hand. “I see no problem with that, I did just spring this on you so suddenly, but I would like to hear back from you at least a day later. I’ll be home a bit before Amalie is finished with school.”

“Okay, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

“Wonderful, have a good afternoon with your family. And best wishes on getting to keep the cat.” As he headed back to his home, Elian could see Amalie peaking through the window of their house, and when she waved, Amalie waved back.

Elain couldn’t understand why Kaya didn’t seem to like Amalie anymore when they were so good to each other when they first met. Amalie was a sweet girl. A bit shy, but that was normal for any kid. However, it was a bit of a concern that Amalie didn’t seem to have many friends. Then again, kids were kids, and certain personalities meshed like water and oil. Still, for Kaya to act like that seemed a bit odd.

What was happening at her kid sister’s school?