"Hey, Adahlia!...Yo! I'm talking to you, Adahlia! You deaf as well as dumb? Don't you hear me talking to you?"

Adahlia's heart races in her chest as she listens to the footfalls approaching quickly behind her. A deep sigh escapes her lips and she lowers her head almost to her chest. She slowly turns to face the voice. Nancy Middleton.

One of Nancy's cohorts, Summer Reeves, repeats the taunt in a mocking tone.

"Yeah, Adah--liaaaa! You deaf as well as dumb?"

A chorus of giggles.

Adahlia keeps her head lowered while answering.

"No. I heard you!"

Nancy pops her gum and stares at Adahlia with undisguised hatred.

"Oh...So, you just decided to ignore me? I see how it is. Where's my essay? You got it? Where's it at? It's due first period! Hand it over!"

Adahlia sighs a second time and stoops down. Placing her backpack on the ground; she pulls out a bright green binder and flips the dividers until she is near the back. Her face suddenly grows ashen and she sneaks a glance around her. Heart beating twice as fast as previously, her eyes widen. The words freeze in her mouth as she stares up at Nancy's impatient frown.

"I...I don't have it! I think I left it on my kitchen counter....At home. I was almost late and..."

Nancy does not give Adahlia a chance to finish her sentence. She pulls Adahlia to her feet and yells into her face.

"You...What?"

"I accidentally left it on my kitchen counter," Adahlia says. "My mother works really early and she made my breakfast. She almost never does that. I put my binder down to give her a hug and I think I forgot to put your essay inside. I just ran out the door. I'm sorry. I'll run back home and get it! I know I'll be late, but I'll get it for you! I can pass it to you at the door to your class. Maybe you can stall the teacher? But, I have to go now! Okay?"

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

With a hateful glare, Nancy shoves Adahlia to the ground. A sharp exhale exits Adahlia's lips as her right elbow pings off the pavement. She rubs it, tears welling at the corners of her eyes, and stares fearfully up at Nancy. Nancy's three lackeys giggle and point.

Modesty Cross shakes her mane of long black curls and then runs a hand through them. "Why do you care, Nancy? You're failing first period anyway. What's one more essay about the voyages of Columbus gonna do to your 60-point average?"

Giggles. Nancy shoots Modesty a stern look.

"It's the principle of the thing," Nancy replies. Her eyes are once again on Adahlia. "It's the principle of the thing!"

_

_

Mrs. Ingram calls out the attendance in her usual monotone voice. Her mind roaming to the cup of Mocha Latte perched at the edge of her desk-- and the chocolate eclair nestled in a piece of foil in her top desk drawer.

"Adahlia? Adahlia Highstreet? Has anyone seen Adahlia?"

All of the heads in the classroom swivel to look at the single empty chair near the window. Adahlia never missed school. It was almost a classroom joke that she was a fixture of the school. That the school couldn't function if Adahlia Highstreet wasn't fastened into her chair. Adahlia was that serious about her studies. She even attended online classes when she was sick with the flu. So where was she?

Tyler Manning finally voices what everyone is thinking. A shy slender boy, with a face full of freckles, the blushing of his cheeks makes each freckle stand out in sharp relief.

"Do you think she's okay, Ms. Ingram? Adahlia never misses school! Never!"

Ms. Ingram tries to keep the alarm out of her voice-- and off of her countenance. "I'm sure she's fine, Tyler. But, just to ease everyone's mind; I'm going to ask the counselor to call her mother. Leslie, will you watch the class? Turn to page 27 in your Lit books. Start reading the story. Everyone be on your best behavior. I'll only be gone a few moments."

_

_

Adahlia doesn't stop running until she can no longer hear the footfalls of the older girls-- or their horrid giggling. Listening for a few moments, she is satisfied that she has either lost them or they have turned back. She flops down onto a large rock beside the stream. Dropping her head to her knees, she sobs uncontrollably.

A large hand on her shoulder causes Adahlia to nearly jump out of her skin. Her eyes widen and the words nearly stick in her throat.

"Who...Who...Who are you?"