Chapter 2

Jace Verano

I watch as Lucifer was getting annoyed by the girl from earlier. She's in here almost every. Fucking. Day. Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard. I felt like sending her home as it's hell enough for everyone involved. Lucifer had begun to twitch. I would have let her talk more but I don't want to deal with another lawsuit. I'm a teacher I should be more concerned. It was hard enough I had to drag him away from his friend and that new guy. Lucifer was able to finish all the lessons in time, so I let him work on his pictures for his photography class. Wendell bought him a camera sophomore year, Lucifer always has that camera near him. Sometimes I think Wendell cares too much and is far too nice. I mean for crying out loud he's been my best friend for years... best friend.

"Excuse me! This is in-school suspension, not a social reunion or gossip time. Eliza, sit over there and shut up". Lucifer looked relieved as she huffed and left. Her long painted nails scratched the surface of the desk. I called up Lucifer. I worry for the students, I am a teacher, I like to say a good person (that's entirely false and Wendell forced me to keep checking on Lucifer).

"Yes, sir?" He mumbled. His hair covered his eyes. He could use a haircut.

"How's everything going for you Lucifer?" I asked him. He shrugs. I heard the same scream of words, but this time it was another boy. I get up to check as I have to watch so another student doesn't get stabbed or killed on campus....again...

"McLennan shut up!" A feminine voice said. The two were probably ditching to hook up. I looked back into my class and the idiots were already trying to take someone's head off.

"Get him Lucifer!" I sighed. God damn it son.

"Let it go, Max!" I heard Lucifer's voice.

I walk into my classroom to see Lucifer punching another kid... I pinched the bridge of my nose in complete desperation.

"LUCIFER GET THE HELL OUT OF MY CLASSROOM!" I yell. I was tired of this. This kid has got us worried and every fucking night he's at the police station waiting for bail. He instantly freezes. The kid landed a few punches. The kid was a boy named Max. Max holds hatred against Lucifer for some unknown reason. In my rage, I tell a security officer, who showed up right away, to call any of their available parents. I see Lucifer still in the same spot, his eyes widen. He quickly takes back a paper on the floor and holds it close to him tightly. My rage quickly disappears for minutes as I see Lucifer, his eyes widen with all I can see is fear. I realize my mistake. I forgot security might be calling his father. I forgot how abusive his father was. I forgot Lucifer hates when people yell... Lucifer pushes off Max and collects his stuff as he leaves without another word. I hung my head, the officer was about you stop him but I told him not to. I understood fear, I felt it in other forms but it boils down to the same.

"You call the police and send them to his father. Make sure Lucifer doesn't see that man," I quickly look up and hissed at the security guard. He nodded frantically and rushed to the office. I sat in my chair defeated. I'm too tired. I'm ready for excitement. I'm ready to fall asleep as Wendy grades papers and runs his fingers through my hair. I'm ready to nap and be at peace. I wonder what Wendy is doing? The students don't deserve his kindness. I don't either.

"Max, get over here," I said coldly. He rushed in front of me. His voice is a bit high pitch. Sure he was a strange kid but something about him and Lucifer in the same room equaled the same tension as fighting for the last slice of pie with fifteen other pie lovers.

"S-sir?" He stuttered. Millions of thoughts run through my mind. Hopefully, someone who isn't an abusive prick finds him.

"Why did the fight start?" I asked cautiously. Max trembled underneath my gaze. I clutch my fist until my knuckles turn white.

"....A picture fell out of one of his books. I picked it up and thought she looked old so I teased him. Saying he liked older women-" I cut him off.

"Light skin tone, black shoulder-length hair?" He nodded.

"Did she have ember color eyes and wore a shiny blue dress in that photo?" I asked to confirm my suspicions.

"Yeah, she didn't look right so I just thought he was some weird pervert". I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. He looked at me with confusion.

"You don't carry photos of your love ones Max?" I asked. He mumbles an oh. I am speechless.... I leaned back in my chair twirling my pen.

"Damn it," I threw it at Max.

"Ow!?" He said more offended than hurt.

"Shut it shorty," I glared.

Lucifer Laurens

It's not fair. You must hear that a lot. I wonder what's the base for comparison of fairness. I had my camera hung around my neck as I ran down the steps of the school. I don't want to go anywhere my father could go to see me. I ended up in the woods again. I found a clearing in the woods. There was a beautiful field and the trees here were much taller. I started to take photos of the areas I passed by. Mikasa would have been running through the fields. She was my model for most pictures I took. I ran my hand in my hair, pushing it back. I should go back soon. I check my old pocket watch, given to me by my old foster parent years ago, the time read 1:37 it's already nearly time to go home for the others. My phone is paid for by the school. It's free for me and I have my own number. I was given it when I qualified at the beginning of my first year of secondary school.

I wandered more and found the road back into town. I don't want to see him. I looked at some of the photos I took recently as I pulled out another cigarette. My smoking habit will probably be the death of me. I lit it up and sat on a huge rock near the side of the road.

Dragonmill, Highsnow... I've lived here for maybe seven years? I lived here from my birth to the age of 7 then we moved to Vertmerrow. We quickly moved back when I was 12 and remained here for a while. I've been to many cities and maybe...three regions? I forgot the third. I lived with a foster parent for three years because my mother was away and my father was in prison. They didn't tell that in his records now did they? They deem me the bad guy.

I thought more about this shitty no good city. The funny thing about the city is that it got its name for being a place where dragons use to room back in medieval times. Highsnow is a cold place. It's barely September and it's already freezing. My jacket isn't doing its job very well.

"Why are you in the forest kid?" I looked up to see a police officer. A police officer I know very well.

"Hey Mr. Michaels," I said in a rough voice. He sat next to me on the rock. Mr. Michaels also known as Adrian, use to be my foster parent. That was until my father got out of prison and got a suitable job in construction. He didn't want me to go back but sadly father won the court case. The court didn't know of his abusive and manipulative behavior. No one listens. He did though get arrested for trespassing and assault.

"What happen Lucy?" I smiled, he gave me that nickname so long ago when he was in charge of my case.

"Got kicked out of school for the rest of the day, been in two fights and I'm pretty sure they told my..." I can't finish the sentence. He grabs my cigarette and puts it out. He hates a lot of my destructive habits.

"Well it's-" he looked at his watch-" almost two o'clock, have you eaten already?" He asks. I nodded. I guess since the town is rather small everyone tries to be kind as you see those people every day.

"Let's go home, we'll be back in time so you can pick up your friend and I'll have a talk with the person who called that man," he says softly. I don't know why they treat me like I'm a glass about to break. He leads the way, grabbing my arm the same way my French/photography teacher did. Am I really that unstable? I mean I have anger issues but geez I'm not suicidal.

We made it to the car in a few minutes. Will recently broke my skateboard so I was stuck walking nearly everywhere. The town was small but it did lead into the city of HollowsCreek. Anyone could just take the major street up there. In Dragonmill, the language is mostly French considering the French had control up to recently. The US bought a few areas and bam! They now have Highsnow. I continued to look through my photos as Mr. Michaels drove. We made it to the school in fifteen minutes time.

As we walked up the steps to the school I started to feel myself get anxious. I felt my hands tremble. As we got to the office, one knock is all it take for the door to open. The secretary walked us to the main office room of the principal.

"Glad you can join us, Mr. Michaels please go ahead and go through. Lucifer, stay here," Frank has to be here. Guards blocking the door.

"Go ahead, Lucy. I'll be back," he ruffled my hair and goes inside. My stomach ached from anxiety.