Lost in thought, the lady sitting across was kind enough to pull me crashing back to reality by opening her mouth again. “Miss Porter, I really think you need help..”

“No.” I say just as quickly and firmly, my voice hostile. Help. I can feel my skin recoil at the mere mention of such word. How insulting! Porters don’t need help, and we sure as hell won’t ask for it. How audacious of her to even suggest it! My narrowed eyes shifts in her direction, sending off an intimidating look that always succeeded in silencing my peers and most authority figures. Instead of flinching, she meets my heated stare head on. Fearless, yet stupid. This woman’s dead, that’s for sure.

“You do.” She stresses, moronically persistent as ever.

Why was she so eager to sign her death warrant? I wonder to myself. I’ve never come across someone blatantly suicidal like her; not within the vicinity of this school at least. I heard she was new, but really, being a newbie does not excuse her from being ignorant – she should know better than to push buttons in here – especially mine.

“You need help.” She repeats before pulling open a drawer on her bulky mahogany desk and taking out a business card from within. I follow her every move with suspicious eyes. I don’t trust this woman; no, not one bit. She slides the small piece of paper towards me with care, probably worried that I would maul her arm like a wild animal if she came too close. She wasn’t wrong, I was severely tempted. “Miss Porter, you need this.. you need–”

—————————-

4-A Classroom, Redwind Academy.

“FUCK NO!”

I snapped, slamming my palm hard against my desk, sending my silver fountain pen tumbling down the floor with a dull clank. The entire class, taken aback by my outburst, hushes immediately and turns their head in my direction. Normally, I basked at being the center of attention – not this time, though. “Eyes front!” I barked at my nosy classmates. That was enough to make them avert their curious gazes away from me and my friends at the far end corner of the room and back to our exasperated class president who was making some announcements up front. Behind me, Alice rolls her eyes and pulls her rejected hand away.