Chapter 3

“Clover!” Calls Mr. Belladonna. I snap upright, surprised by his shout. 

“Y-yes?!” I inquire, feeling dread pool thick and viscous into my stomach. 

The class is silent for a moment. A few of my classmates snicker. Mr. Belladonna stares at me with disappointment. He moves on. 

“Chrys!” She slips her lollipop out of her mouth for a split second to answer.

“42.” 

“Correct! Now, Clover, stand up and sit next to me so you don’t fall asleep again!” Public humiliation. I stand up heavily and drag myself to the desk beside him. Then, I lower my head into my arms and get lost in the realm of dreams once again. I can hear a few boys scoff and a few girls snigger. 

“CLOVER.” I jolt awake to the shout. 

The lights are still on. Class is still in session. All my classmates are staring at me. I’m a pin cushion beneath their pricking eyes. 

I think I finally snap. I forcefully stand up, my chair skidding back, violently discarded.

“WHAT IS IT BELLADONNA.” I roar. He looks at me, shocked for a brief moment before regaining his dignity. 

“MR. TRIFOLIUM STAND OUTSIDE. I WILL TALK TO YOU AFTER CLASS.” He screams. 

“Whatever.” I rip my bag from the ground and stomp outside, slamming the door pointedly. Without Myo to comfort me, I curl up against the wall and sob into my hands. I don’t even know why I have such bad luck. Why does it always happen to me?! 

I don’t know how long I’m staring at the dreary, empty, dimly-lit hallway before my mind begins to wander once again.

“Myo!” I wail to the sky, as Chrys palms my homework. 

“Relax Clo—I’m just gonna borrow it for a second, I’ll give it right back as long as you shut up and promise not to tell Ms. Iberis.” 

Myo appears behind Chrys and snatches the paper out of her hands. Chrys jumps and leaps away from Myo like a scared cat. 

“Chrys…” Myo says soothingly, “You aren’t messing with Clo, are you?” Chrys shakes her head frantically, backing slowly like a cornered animal. “Of course you wouldn’t. After all, you know what will happen to you if you do, riiiiight?”

“Yep!” Chrys squeaks.

“Go on then, run along to your friends.” Myo gently encourages. At this, Chrys scrams and escapes from Myo’s soft gaze.

“Why are they so scared of you?” I wonder to her later, trying to fix the creases in my paper. 

“I dunno.” She shrugs, her eyes soft and warm.

Mr. Belladonna is in front of me. He scolds me, encourages me to do better, and all I do is nod. I nod and agree with everything he says. Finally, he lets me go. Finally. 

The school yard is nearly deserted aside from a few stragglers—shady older kids and especially dedicated students mixing like oil and water. I missed the late bus. No matter, my house is close enough to the school. My shoulders are sore from the bag. I unlock the front door and step inside, too tired to respond to my mother’s greetings from the living room. 

The first thing I do when I get to my room is toss my bag across the floor. Its contents spill onto my carpet, abandoned. I’m tired. So, so, tired. All I want to do is sleep now. 

I don’t even bother eating, washing, or doing my homework before I collapse on top of my sheets and black out.