F*ck You: Knox Academy - Term One

by Jaye Cox

  “Don’t be a spoil sport, you’re ruining my twin sandwich fantasies.” She laughs at my comment, then the bell goes even though I haven’t eaten all of my lunch. I have a free period next and need to find the study hall, which is in the library according to Elsie. Elsie ducks out quickly with a goodbye, but I take my time to dispose of my lunch and watch the Knox boys as they leave. Kalen smiles at me and I flip him off, which makes him laugh. The twins glare at me, so I blow them a kiss, which just deepens the scowls on their beautiful faces. Satisfied that I’ve put myself on their radar, I head out.

  Walking the halls, I rely on Susan to guide me safely, even though I’ve come to the conclusion that she has as much idea as I do regarding directions. I take yet another right down a deserted hallway, everyone else is already in their classes.

  Ah-ha! Finally, I find a room that has a damn sign. Literally, a sign on a stand that says, ‘study hall’. Entering quietly so as not to disturb anyone, I look around in awe. It very much looks like a home library, or the kind I always imagined someone with money would own. Long walls lined with tall bookshelves, but not as big as an actual city library.

  Have you ever been stuck in an alley, in the dark, and all you have are your senses to rely on...no? Well I have, and a wave of...something...rolls over my skin; the hairs on my arms stand on end. I use my peripheral vision to see if anyone is close.

  One exit, three windows, none look like they open, but could potentially be smashed.

  The thumping in my chest rings in my ears. I’m being ridiculous; I’m at school, in the daylight and I’m new. Who would want to hurt me? I swing towards the exit, needing a time out to get myself in check, but I’m blocked mid-swing. Two large bodies trap me, and I instantly feel like a small car stuck between two semis.

  “Don’t say a fucking word, keep your mouth shut, and everything will be fine.”

  I don’t know which twin speaks, but I scoff in response. I may be hyper aware of my surroundings, but the issue with me is that when I’m faced with trouble, my mouth has a mind of its own and it likes to get defensive.

  Each twin grabs an arm and lifts me enough to half-drag, half-carry me to a table at the back of the room. Dropping me in a chair, they take a seat either side of me, clearly smart enough to know I would try to run.

  “Who are you?” one of them snaps. His eyes are so dark they seem black to me. Or maybe their attitude is tainting my perception?

  “Who are you?” I mimic.

  “Don’t get smart, we can make your life here harder than it needs to be,” the other one adds. I spin to look at him. Are his eyes slightly different? Warmer? Or is it my imagination painting Elsie’s words onto their faces?

  “Amelie.” I don’t care if they know my name. I realised with Kalen that they don’t know who I am yet. Which makes me wonder why my incubator hasn’t disclosed that I’m here. Maybe she hasn’t even told them she has a kid – though Principal Knox clearly knows already. I didn’t miss the ‘step-daughter’ title he threw my way. It really wouldn’t surprise me if the others didn’t know, though.

  “Why did you transfer in during second year?”

  “Isn’t that the point of this place; misfits and fuckups having a place to go?”

  “No one transfers in their second year, so you are here for a reason and we want to know what it is...so start talking.”

  I’m not sure which one it is, but he squeezes my leg under the table hard enough to leave a bruise.

  “I don’t know what you're talking about. One minute I’m in court waiting for community service, and then bam, here I am with no choice in the matter. So how about you back the fuck off and leave me alone?”

  “Not a chance in hell. We know you’re lying. Why did he bring you here? He doesn’t do anything unless it benefits him, so you have to benefit him somehow.”

  “Who, your father? He’s the headmaster, right?” I play dumb. “Unless he likes high blood pressure and migraines, I can’t see any good reason for him wanting me here.”

  “You have no idea what we are capable of.”

  “I’m shaking in my boots…. How about you go ask your father why I’m here. I’m fairly sure it’s against the rules to ask anyone that though. Maybe I murdered the last boy who touched me without my consent.”

  “You wouldn’t be the only one here who has murdered someone, Princess, ask your little friend why she’s here.” They both laugh. It isn’t possible. Elsie doesn’t look like she could hurt a fly.

  “How about instead of kidnapping a girl on her study break, you act like civilised human beings, and ask politely?”

  “Watch your back, new girl. Stay away from our brother. We will find out one way or another, by force if necessary.” They both stand.

  “I look forward to it. I’m sure you’ll find out very soon.” I wink at them as they storm away.

  I wait until they are out of sight to rub my leg, his damn fingernails dug in so hard I swear they broke the skin.

  My mind goes to Elsie...I’m not allowed to just ask her why she’s here, but maybe once she trusts me, she’ll tell me. Surely they couldn’t just let murderers walk the halls here?

  I decide to give up on study, and go to see my tutor, Ms Davis. Surely our first explosive encounter was a one off?

  I find her easily, knocking to alert her of my presence. “Amelie, how can I help you?” I can see the tension in her jaw; she really doesn’t like me. I wonder if she knows who I am.

  “Is it true?”

  “Come in and shut the door.”

  I follow her instructions, but I don’t take a seat. I don’t plan to be here longer than I have to be.

  “Now, is what true?” she asks calmly, putting down her pen and looking up at me warily.

  “That there are murderers here?”

  This makes her take interest. “It depends how you look at it…”

  “Murder is murder. I have to deal with enough of that bullshit in my normal life, I don’t need to feel unsafe here without any backup.”

  She laughs, the bitch actually laughs.

  “This isn’t ‘The Hunger Games’, but yes, it’s true that there are some students here who have accidentally been in situations where someone has died. I wouldn’t say there are any cold-blooded killers in the school. We take every student’s safety seriously.”

  “Fine, thanks for your time.” I turn to leave. I reach the door when she stops me.

  “Stay away from my son. I know who you are, and I don’t want him around the likes of your family.”

  I turn back to her, making my way over to her table. I place both my hands on her desk, leaning in close.

  “How about we get something straight? I. Am. Nothing. Like. My. Incubator. And I never will be. I didn’t ask to be here, nor do I want to be. As for your son, you’ll find it’s him seeking me out, so you can take that up with him.” I push back and leave this time, maybe now she knows the hatred I have for that woman she’ll back off and leave me alone. Three years cannot go by fast enough.

  ***

  I’m The One blasts through Susan, go figure we can have Spotify here in this God forsaken place. Anyone who hates the Beibs is lost on me, anytime his songs come on you really can’t help but bop along.

  I wish I had some sluttier outfits. I sigh when checking my reflection out in the mirror. I have to admit that I rock the tight black skinny jeans with rips in the knees, and a tight black bodysuit that dips low at the cleavage. I let my long dark hair fall in curls down my back. I used to hate my naturally thick curly hair, but tonight I embrace it. I finish my makeup with dark smokey eyes. I think my outfit screams ‘I’m classy but will fuck on the first date’. I set a timer on Susan for six. Everything I need is in a small black clutch.

  I grab my hoodie on the way out; the weather here is cold as fuck compared to back home and I don’t have a coat. We would have beautiful sunny days and warm nights by now. I drew a map to get me to the teachers’ parking lot because I didn’t want to r
isk bringing Susan in case they have some kind of GPS tracking on our devices – which they must do if she’s my walking talking map around this place normally. I wouldn’t put it past them to check up on our whereabouts though, so she’s safer left at home. I also googled directions to the only pub nearby and luckily, it’s a pretty straight drive there. It’ll take about forty-five minutes though, we really are in the middle of nowhere.

  Finding the old BMW the teacher in the toilet was bitching about is fairly easy, as I expected. It really is a shitbox, but that works well for me too because Smalls taught me how to hotwire a car before I even started high school. I’d expected more security in this part of the school, and I hadn’t figured out how I was going to get past them, but to my surprise there’s only a gate. Nothing to worry about however, as all the cars have small tags on the wind shields that I expect will allow them to pass straight through.

  My heart pounds and adrenaline fills my veins. I haven’t been away from home all that long, but I miss the rush of doing runs with Smalls or my brother. Pulling out onto the street, I check the mirrors until I’m in the clear. The sweat from my palms has started to dry by the time I pull into an old side street close to my destination. I’m not about to risk driving into the pub’s car park.

  The adrenaline has worn off and paranoia sets in. I chastise myself; what’s the worst that can happen? I get expelled and sent home? Good. Isn’t that kind of the point? I expect that I could have avoided all of this by just stealing the car and deliberately getting caught. But if I’m being honest, I want to hurt my mother, and part of me is pissed that she can be a mother to those boys, but not to me. It’s fucked up. So yeah, if I actually manage to seduce this Sawyer guy, bonus. I want to fucking hurt her and tear her perfect little world apart.

  I might be tough on the outside but deep down every girl should have their mother. Chelsea, for the past seven years, has been a mother to me. Her and my father got hitched last year. Their being together is another reason why Smalls and I could never be more than friends; Chelsea took him in when his parents got involved with drugs and couldn’t take care of him. Smalls loves her so much that he would never do anything to jeopardise that, and I get it. She even accepted Aadi and I as her own, so I’m not prepared to mess with our family dynamic. I sigh, realising how much I miss home. I can’t believe I have to go to stupid ‘family’ meals once a week just for the privilege of being able to contact my actual family. The irony that my own mother is doing for the Knox boys what Chelsea did for me and Aadi isn’t lost on me, but those boys don’t need a mother. They have one. Admittedly, she’s a shitty, stuck up, bitchy one. But a mother nonetheless. They don’t need mine. I need her. Needed. I’m just fine without her now.

  I shake my head and clear my thoughts. Focus, Amelie. I need to go inside and get this party started. I’m going to get myself sent home; I just hope that tonight is enough. How many of my step-brothers will I be forced to fuck before Mummy and Step-daddy dearest see fit to send me away? Only time will tell.

  Chapter Four

  Sawyer

  I grind my teeth as I wait impatiently for Jessica Hart to show up. I didn’t want to meet with her, but she’s persistent as fuck, and she caught me at a weak moment after grinding me down for weeks. I’m just not interested in dating a fellow teacher. I’m not interested in dating anyone. Especially not a woman who’s only after one thing: my money.

  I don’t know how she figured out that I’m rich, but I swear she sniffed it out like a bloodhound. There shouldn’t have been any clues to give it away: I was adopted by the Knox family; I work as a teacher on a pittance of a salary; and I drive a beat-up old rust-bucket. So how the fuck did she figure it out? I don’t think for a second that she’s actually interested in me as a person. She’s certainly never shown any interest in me – just in trying to take me out – so I doubt she’s genuine. I also can’t work out why she’s a teacher, because she seems to hate kids. Thinking about it, I realise that actually, I can’t stand the woman.

  I sigh and check my watch. She’s twenty minutes late. I’ll give her another ten, then I’m out of here. May as well enjoy another beer first though, it’s not often I get into the local village for a drink, especially on a school night.

  I’ve just ordered and got my pint, raising it to my lips ready to enjoy Tom the barman’s best local brew, when I hear the door bang. I turn to scowl at Jessica, ready to give her hell for being late, when my eyes widen in shock. It’s not Jessica who just walked in.

  This girl is beautiful. And it’s like Sam Hunt's song playing in the background really is her theme song because her body is a back road. She’s wearing tight black jeans with rips, and a low-cut form-fitting black top that’s exposing a generous cleavage. She doesn’t look slutty or desperate though, just confident and comfortable with her body. I appreciate her style, and the view. Her hair is loose, in long dark curls that spiral far down her back, and her makeup accentuates her full pouty kissable lips. But even without the clothes, and the hair, and the makeup, she’d still look gorgeous. There’s a natural beauty underneath and a vulnerability despite the tough glint in her eyes. She scans the room and when her eyes fall on me, she smiles softly.

  “Hey.” She saunters up to me with bags of confidence, but it’s attractive, not cocky.

  “Can I buy you a drink?” I offer. It doesn’t look like Jessica’s coming. But if she does turn up and sees me with this girl, she might finally get the message and clear off once and for all.

  “Sure.” She grins at me. She has a really nice smile. There’s an...innocence to her under the confidence. I like that too.

  “Can I see some ID please, miss?” the bartender asks. I mean, I’m all for the whole Challenge 25 initiative, but there’s no way this girl is under the legal drinking age of 18, so that’s just absurd.

  I watch, amused, as she slides her ID over the counter towards the barman, who checks it, nods, and hands it back.

  “What can I get you?”

  “I’ll have a bourbon,” she tells him, and my amusement grows. “What?” she demands playfully.

  “I didn’t think you were the type to order a pink fizzy drink, but bourbon?”

  “Make assumptions much, do you?” She stares at me then quips, “Pink and fizzy goes with my other outfit.”

  I chuckle and then point to a booth in the far corner. It’s dark and cosy.

  “Shall we grab a seat?”

  I point for her to lead the way so that I can follow and watch her ass as she goes. As my cock stirs, I think maybe that wasn’t such a great idea.

  “So, are you local? I’ve not seen you in here before,” I ask her.

  “New to town. You?” she replies.

  “I’m originally from out of town, but I work at the school.”

  “At the local high school?” She frowns.

  “No. Besides, we call it secondary school here. No, I work at the private school. Knox Academy,” I tell her.

  “Oh. I’ve not heard of it.”

  “Not many people have,” I tell her gently.

  “How did you come to work there, then?”

  “I actually used to go there as a student.”

  “So you had an affluent upbringing?” she asks, and I laugh.

  “No, not at all. It’s not that kind of private school. It’s more of a... reform place. For troubled teens.”

  “Oh! That explains why I haven't heard of it then.” She giggles.

  “Quite,” I reply. I’m not ashamed of who I am, but I don’t often meet people that I have to spill my past to. I guess I don’t have to tell this girl my story, but something has me wanting to. “What’s your name? I’m Sawyer by the way.”

  “Amelie,” she replies. “So, teaching…” she prompts.

  “Well, let’s just say the school worked wonders on me. I fully reformed and I was so grateful to those who helped me change, that I decided I wanted to do the same. I got my teaching certificate and came straight back to try to hel
p others.”

  “That’s really admirable.” She smiles at me, genuinely. “Who made such an impression on you there?”

  “The headmaster and his wife. She teaches there too. Not only did they educate me and help me to change for the better, they did the unthinkable: they adopted me. I owe them my life.”

  “They sound amazing.”

  “They were. I mean, they still are. They’re just not together anymore.”

  “Oh why?” she asks softly. There’s no judgement or prying in her tone. She simply invites confidence to talk.

  “They split relatively recently. It came as a big shock to me and my brothers – other kids they adopted, and their one biological son – because they always seemed like such a perfect couple. But Dad ended it and found himself a new girlfriend pretty quickly.”

  “Was he cheating?” she asks.

  “Possibly. I guess it doesn’t really matter. I’m glad he’s happy if he wasn’t before. But my mum is still pretty cut up about it all. It’s hard for her. I wish she could be happy too.”

  “Do they still work together?”

  “Yeah, Mum didn’t want to leave her home. It’s kind of like a calling, rather than just a job. She has a house off campus, but she hardly ever uses it. She prefers to stay on campus with some of the other staff because I think she’s lonely. Dad kept the family home which is also off campus.”

  “Sounds really tough.” She smiles sympathetically.

  “It was for a while, but everyone’s getting there.”

  “What’s the school like?” she asks, changing the topic. I’m grateful; I don’t mind talking about this stuff, but I’m happier to move on now.