Chapter 16

Sixth period was Laylah's favorite class of the day. Usually she would come to Literature class in a bad mood because Professor Mozar would have humiliated her several times during History. Laylah couldn't wait to escape from that hell and come to her Lit class where Professor Lipps welcomed her with a kind smile and helpful words that made the rest of the afternoon seem better.

She could still remember when her Lit professor had informed the class that they should and would be calling her Miss Lipps because Professor made her feel old. That had been the moment Laylah knew she would always get along with this particular instructor. She also discovered that she and Miss Lipps shared a love of books.

Among their favorite classics were authors Elissa Malcohn, J.R. Tolkien, Andre Norton, Octavia Butler and Michael Crichton. They were writers from the old Earth, and to Laylah, they were tale spinners who helped her leave misery behind and find comfort in characters who could not be disappointed.

With a light step and smile, she hurried to her class and her favorite teacher. "Hello, Miss Lipps." She hugged her backpack to her chest.

"Good afternoon, Laylah. Did you enjoy the book?"

"Oh yes! I like the main character's ability. He talks to animals. And his title, "Beast-master" is appropriate for what he does and who he is. Something about it appeals to me. Maybe I'm jealous he gets to have such intriguing adventures with his animal friends."

"Very good observations. I thought you might like the story. There are a few more books in that series if you wish to read them."

"May I, please?" Eagerly, Laylah handed her book over and took the three Miss Lipps held. Hearing others coming, she stammered her thanks and headed for her seat.

"Laylah! Chica, you really know how to run when you want to escape Professor Mozar. Are you sure you don't have cheetah in you somewhere?" Britta teased.

Laylah giggled. "Sorry. I like this class better. Besides I had to turn something in." Lovingly, she caressed the books on her desk. Miss Lipps was a firm believer in paper books. Everything could be found on data crystals and data stylus pads, but Miss Lipps said it took away the joy of curling up in a chair, book in hand and mind ready for adventure and amazing journeys.

"That's okay, Chica. I forgive you. Hey, Laylah."

"Hmm?" She was imagining what fun and danger lived in this new book. Would different aliens be introduced? More characters? The possibilities were endless.

Britta snapped her fingers in front of Laylah's nose. "Laylah? Wake up, Chica."

"Oh, sorry. Did you say something, Britta?"

"We need to talk. Not now, but next period," Britta whispered before sitting in her seat as Miss Lipps began to teach.

The entire time, Laylah wondered what her best friend felt was so urgent. She really hoped it wasn't about the party. She still hadn't told Britta that she wasn't allowed to go. Too soon, in Laylah's opinion, class was over. Britta grabbed her arm and hurried her to their last class of the day. When her friend led her past their usual seats, she blinked, opened her mouth to object, but a shake of Britta's head silenced her. Britta finally stopped in the back of the room and peered around.

She nervously glanced at her friend. Study hall was held in a giant auditorium-sized room that held 500 seats. The only students who sat this far in the back were boys and girls looking to "swap spit" as Britta often called it. So why had her friend dragged her here?

"Britta?"

"Shh. I want you to pay attention to what I have to say. Then you can talk. Okay?"

"Uh, okay." Laylah was baffled by Britta's behavior, but listening never hurt anyone and that was one thing she couldn't mess up.

"Laylah, have you noticed how strange everyone is acting today?"

"Strange? I don't understand."

"You've made it through the whole day without getting picked on by a bully or yelled at by a professor. Not even once."

She stared at Britta and thought about what she was saying and knew her friend was right. "Oh." The weight of comprehension made her speechless.

"Yeah, 'oh.' Don't you find it odd? Not to say that I enjoy you being picked on or publicly humiliated, but when it suddenly stops…it's strange."

"What do you think it means?" Laylah was now afraid. Was Violet cooking up something horrible to do to her? She felt sick to her stomach and worry dug its way into her heart.

"I don't know, but let's be careful, okay? I don't think they'll do anything today. After all, it's Friday and they're all worried about Violet's party tomorrow night. Speaking of parties….You are coming to mine, right?"

Britta's sly look made Laylah tense. She fidgeted, nervously playing with her braid. "I, uh…." She coughed, tired to clear her dry throat and failed. "Britta, I..."

"Don't. Don't you even bother to say 'I can't come,' because if you do, I might start yelling."

 She clutched her books to her chest, eyes downcast. "I'm sorry," she whispered. She felt horrible for letting down her one and only friend. "Father got mad and grounded me. He wouldn't even tell me for how long." Her voice broke and she sucked in a breath at the tightness in her chest. She heard Britta sigh but she dared not look up, not able to take the disappointment Laylah knew she would see in her friend's eyes.

"Oh, Laylah. Come here."

Being hugged surprised Laylah into glancing up. Britta was crying! Bewildered, Laylah hugged her friend hard. "Don't cry, please. It's my own stupid fault I got grounded."

Britta stepped back from her. "How do you figure, Laylah? Your father's never around and when he does come, he stays long enough to tie you into emotional knots before he leaves again. He comes in like some dictator, doesn't even bother to ask you how you feel, just barks commands. I'm sick of it. Maybe I should tell him off."

"No!" Panicked she grabbed Britta's hands. "No, please, don't! He'll take you from me, too. My life sucks enough without losing my only friend!"

"Okay, I won't. I'm saying, someone should," Britta grumbled as they went back down to the main section of the room and sat down.

 Laylah was uneasy. Her mind was in a flurry and she tried to calm down. Maybe Violet had decided to take a day off from picking on her. She doubted it though. She could count on being bullied like she could count on Jacques picking her up on time every day from school. Finally, the bell rang and she gathered up her books and backpack, hugged Britta and then made her way outside to her pick-up spot.

She sat down and started reading and became engrossed in the adventures of the Beast-master. A hand touched Laylah's shoulder and she swallowed a scream. Slowly she turned around and let out a relieved breath. "Miss Lipps! Hello. What are you doing here?"

"Laylah, do you know what time it is?"

"I don't know. Around 3:45, why?"

"It's 4:35. You've been out here almost an hour."

"No! That can't be right!" Laylah jumped up. "No, Jacques always comes on time. He's never, ever late. Never!"

"I'm sorry, Laylah. Is there anyone else you can call?"

Laylah stared at Miss Lipps before answering. "No, I don't have anyone else," she whispered.

"Come, we'll go call a cab." Miss Lipps took her hand and together they went back inside the school.