Blazing Academy: Semester One (Academy For All Things Scorching #1) - Avery Song Page 0,16

or maybe that was just how his smooth voice came off.

He didn't sound young like a student, but not old enough to be elderly. There were footsteps and a gentle but authoritative voice began to speak.

"I called him here, Violet. It's time we had a family talk."

"Family talk? He is nowhere close to being family. He sure knows how to be absent."

"I'm absent because you want me out of Alice's life. You push me further and further away from her and make me the enemy."

"You’re an alcoholic who can't even take care of your child without supervision."

"At least I listen to my daughter's wishes."

"You little-"

"Enough," the authoritative female hushed.

Who are these people? What are they talking about? Who is this Alice person?

"I didn't call either of you here to bicker on my clock. I have things to attend to and that doesn't include babysitting."

The still quietness crept around me, and I started to second guess whether I was really hearing voices. Was I dreaming?

"There was an incident today," the authoritative female announce.

"No. Not again," the older woman said with a sigh. Her disappointment made me feel just as down about the woman's words. They held a heaviness to them, like I was the culprit behind this woman's earlier sobs and now exhausted deep sighs.

"Who started it?" the male questioned. He didn't sound disappointed. He sounded angry, yet it wasn't directed to me. Or whoever this Alice person was. It gave me a protective feel, and his simple question was like a statement clearing me of all charges.

That's how my body responded. That I was nowhere near guilty of the crimes.

"A student in her class. Multiple students came forward and stated he was bullying her all day long," the authoritative woman replied.

"Alice doesn't get bullied. A little disappointed here and there, but she always comes home happy and healthy. She may not have many friends due to all her transfers, but bullying? No."

"Are you blind?" The older man sounded dreadfully mad. "She gets bullied every single day. Are you taking your eye drops in the morning? Wearing those glasses the doctor prescribed you?"

"You know nothing about her."

"I can be damn right drunk and know when my daughter has gone through an exhausting day filled with hateful comments, pointing fingers, and a chorus of laughter, all of it directed at her."

The man was really pissed. As if this daughter of his was truly the world to him. Even if he was an apparent alcoholic and wasn't allowed to be near his daughter. That was the impression I got from their previous bickering.

It sounded familiar. Do I know this Alice? I'd be her friend.

"That's not true!" the elder woman snapped.

"You'll wake her up at this point," the man snarled back.

"She's in an induced slumber," the authoritative woman announced.

"Why?!" The elderly woman sounded shocked by the shrill in her voice.

"What happened?" the man pressed.

"The boy had pushed down Alice's food during lunchtime. With how long our line can get, I have a hunch she couldn't go back in line to get another serving of food prior to afternoon classes. Many witnesses said she merely sighed when the incident happened and walked away. She looked extremely unwell by fourth period and was resting her head on her desk, which a student disclosed was vandalized twice, and slammed her head with a thick book."

When no one spoke back, she carried on.

"Alice struggled to get up and tried to excuse herself to go to the nurse's office. The male student blocked her from getting out and she ended up vomiting all over him. I'd gotten a call from Professor Daily on the school phone and headed to the classroom myself to see what was going on. I arrived when Alice could barely stand and was burning up. The male student got combative and tried to throw the book at Alice. She was far too weak to avoid it if he had thrown the book, but at that second a strong gust of wind shattered through the windows and lifted the boy across the room. The entire school building's windows are shattered, not just the classroom. Alice then passed out. Professor Daily was the one to carry her with me to the nurse's office and we were able to stabilize her, but that meant forcing her to sleep. It took us longer to call you, Violet, because we wanted to make sure she had an IV in and give her some fluids prior to your arrival. She was