Episode 2

(Recap) "Are you Nova?" The principal herself asked as soon as she stepped foot into the office.

"Yes. Am I in trouble? Because if I am, some upperclassman put the blame on me."

"You are definitely not in trouble. Quite the opposite in fact. I'm so deeply sorry for your loss."

Nova's vision blurred, and her eyes stung as she tried to take a breath. Suddenly the world seemed too small, and her breathing became shallow. "What?" Her legs gave out, and she sat on the floor. Hot tears smarted at her eyes. 

The principal looked at her and then back at her clipboard.  Then she said in a practiced voice: "The information must seem impossible to process, but rest assured we are working on finding a new guardian for you." She started to back towards the door. 

 Nova was in shock. Her reason for living was gone. And the Principal acted like nothing was wrong. This had to be some kind of sick joke. "This isn't a joke?" 

"No. I am completely serious. There's paperwork to be filed, and people to contact. Since there's no family to take you until we finish, You can finish this day of school, and extra curricular  activities. Come back in here at the end of the day. We will figure out the next steps from there."

"So that's it then?" Nova said. A sudden bitterness overtook her. She grabbed the Principals arm, and gripped it. Hard. "I don't even get to say goodbye?" 

"No. That's not protocol unfortunately. You'll be allowed to miss this period, but you really should get back to your class after that. It's good to get back into routine after the death of a loved one."

The principal shuffled through papers awkwardly. Then she stopped. "Usually we have a counselor to take it from here, but they are on a day off. I see you're getting emotional, but please keep it to a minimum. 

She turned on her heel, and headed out of the office.  Nova tried to steady her emotions, but failed. The tears started rolling down her cheeks. She felt so exposed. Crying in public always left her feeling so helpless and lonely. Now she was more alone than ever. A small sob escaped her lips, before she forced herself to stop. She could be vulnerable later, when she was alone, and safe. School was certainly not either of those things. 

Nova went back to class shortly after that event, but with an intention. To get through the day without showing weakness. That she was a master at, or so she thought. 

Tear after tear started streaming down her face in the last period of the day. Endless questions started running through her head. "They didn't even tell me how she died."  

Riing! 

The final bell sounded, and class was finally over. The halls were more crowded than ever. Nova walked out of the classroom numb. Then she heard those familiar whispers. The numbness was replaced with rage. 

"Let's see how many times we can trip her before she leaves school!"

"She can hear you bro"

"Nah. She's probably too dense to even understand what I'm saying." 

Thump! Nova's backpack went flying. the contents scattered across the now almost empty hallway.  

"Oops! Sorry nigga." One of the boys laughed. That was the last straw.

Nova turned to face the boy, grabbed his shirt collar, and dragged it down to her level. For the first time, she spoke directly to him. 

"I'm tired of putting up with your bullshit, and I'm tired of being silent." 

In her head she thought:Grieving can wait. 

Then she kicked him in the balls hard. Once he went down, she punched another in the stomach, and slapped the girl that was with them.

Nova gathered up all of the remaining stuff on the ground, and found some money at the bottom of her backpack with a note. 

"Hi Nova. If you're reading this you've finally cleaned out your backpack! run by the gas station on your way home to pick up a couple snacks or something. You deserve it." XOXO Taunti :)

The waterworks started up again. Nova pushed the money and note back into her backpack. Then she surveyed the damage she caused. 

"Well, She would have been proud to finally see me stand up for myself." Nova said, and a slight smile tugged at her lips. 

Now all she had to do was go to her extra curricular activity. You'd think Nova would have an activity that didn't involve people, and more introverted. However, she chose the media team. (Per her aunts persuasion to put herself out there more.) 

Today they were shooting videos of the football field and fieldhouse to go on the school website. Their team leader was handing out jobs. 

"Nova you'll be setting up cameras by the scoreboard today." 

"Those camera poles are easily above six feet tall. I'm barely five two." Nova argued.

"Get a chair then." He replied. 

In short, Nova managed to put the camera up, but plugging the cord in proved difficult. 

Nova noticed the team leader not doing anything on the bench, so she motioned him over. 

"Can you please plug in the cord for the camera?"

"No." 

"Why not? You're just sitting on the bench not doing anything!" Nova spat. Her patience wearing thin. 

The team leader grimaced. His face contorting into a sick grin. 

"I can't, but you can." 

He seized her, and lifted her up, his hands on places they shouldn't be. Nova screamed. At least ten black SUVs came into view. They parked, and a tall, buff, man with tinted shades emerged from one of them, and started walking them.

"I bet they're football college scouts! This will make a great story!"

The Team leader said, and ran off to gather the rest of the media crew. The man approached Nova, and pulled some crumpled papers out of his pocket

"Yep. You're the one we need. We have permission to take you from the permises."

Nova stood dumbfounded for a second. Then took in her surroundings. A small crowd had formed around them as the media team, and a few curious students listened to their conversation. More men in black started getting out of the black SUVs and murmers spread throughout the crowd.

 The man leaned towards Nova, and whispered:

"We don't want to cause a scene, get into a car quietly."

The man must have thought she was dumb too apperently.

"Hell no. Who do you think you are?"

A larger crowd was quickly forming. Suddenly, the Principal emerged, slightly out of breath.

"They're going to take you to your guardian. It's not a kidnapping I promise."

"Miss you need to come with us please."

"I'll repeat myself. Hell no."

A person pulled out a cell phone, and the man shielded her, all of a sudden flashes swamed them. He pulled sunglasses out of his pocket, and handed them to Nova.

"Put these on, and cover your face please."

He spoke gently, and in that moment, Nova started to trust him.