< Social Studs | HighSchoolOfShadows | Can't Mistake My Biology >
<Helena> There's a row of large metal utility shelving units along the wall behind the door, with a hanger full of mops, brooms, and other such tools on the opposite wall.
<Helena> The wall across from the door is lined with empty metal trash cans and spare chairs.
<Helena> The only way to tell the room gets any regular use is to crawl into the bottom shelf and lie there, staring up at the pictures and posters lining the shelf above it, too low for anybody to notice, like Helena does each night before falling asleep.
<Mese> A whispering sound, like leaves of paper flapping over one another. "Helena."
Helena brushes her fingers along the line of posters and pictures, stopping at the torn out picture of Cole thumbtacked in the corner.
<Helena> "What do you want from me? What do you need me to be?"
<Mese> "I want you to dance to my tune," says the photo-Cole. "I want you to walk in step."
Helena yells "I don't know how to do that," and flails at the picture until she tires herself out and rolls onto her side, curled into a ball on the shelf behind an empty trash can.
<Mese> "Just be my soldier, Helena." says that papery voice. "Ms. Harley is coming."
<Mese> On cue, there's a knock at the door. Ms. Harley: "Helena? What are you doing in there?"
<Helena> "N-- nothing. I'm fine. Just leave me alone."
Helena slides off the shelf and stands up.
<Mese> "You seemed pretty upset there, Helena. Do you want to talk about it?"
<Mese> She's talking through the door, her voice oddly muffled and booming and metallic as a result.
<Helena> "It's nothing. Cole was just so upset with me, and I didn't -- no. No. I don't want to talk about it."
<Mese> "If you're feeling tioo upset to return to class, I could... call your parents?"
<Mese> Abrielle overhears this last line as she comes into the corridoor.
<Helena> "No! N-no. I'll be fine. I just needed to clear my head."
<Mese> "I really can't just leave you in there, Helena. It's supposed to be off-limits to students anyway."
<Helena> "Just go back to the class and deal with them. I'm fine!"
<Mese> Ms. Harley exhales. "Fine, fine! Be that way. I'll have to make some notes, and the principal will hear of this!"
<Mese> Looking distinctly less composed, she leaves - but she doesn;t even try to open the door.
< Social Studs | HighSchoolOfShadows | Can't Mistake My Biology >
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