Hearts of Steel

The sound of a motorcycle out front stopped any form of rage and destruction I was sure to have ensued upon my room. It sounded like my dad was home early… which never happened. I calmed myself, swiping away angry tears as I went downstairs and taking a deep breath as I peered out the window. My father was parking his motorcycle on the street, shaking the helmet-shape out of his fiery hair. He trotted briskly to the door. He jumped when he saw I was here.

“Sable, what are you doing home?” he asked.

“Slept in. I could ask you the same thing,” I replied curiously.

“Never mind that,” he muttered, walking past me and searching the living room frantically. “You’re being transferred to a boarding school in the city. Get ready to go.” My eyes widened, and anxiety grasped my heart.

“What?” I asked in fear, “Dad, I can’t…”

He cut off my sentence with a strong look, his crystal-blue eyes stone-hard.

“I was going to wait until after Christmas break, but you need to go as soon as possible. I’ve already done the paperwork.” I stared blankly at him as he rushed past me into his room. Was he drunk? He looked very sober… His voice was clear and crisp.

“Pack your things,” he called from his room. I stumbled up the steps on the way to my door, and began to unload the contents of my drawers into a duffel bag. Dad was on the phone when I hauled my stuff downstairs.

“Thank you,” he hung up as he turned to me. “You’ll be living at the dormitory there,” he told me. Frankly, I didn’t want to. Why was this so urgent all of a sudden? And how was he going to pay for private school?

“Why? Can’t I stay here?” He grabbed his leather jacket from the back of a chair and threw it over my shoulders.

“You’ll be safer there.” He picked up my bag and walked to the door, and I followed him outside. He strapped my duffel to the back of the motorcycle and fixed his helmet on my head. My father swung his leg over the bike and started it. I climbed on behind him.

“Dad?” I asked hesitantly. He turned his head to the side.

“Yeah?” I paused, nervous to ask the question that has always plagued me. But I felt like I wouldn’t get another chance to ask it.

“Why did mom leave us?” Time seemed to stop as he sat perfectly still. He silently turned his head back forward.

“Not now, Sable.” The motorcycle engine roared as he peeled out into the road.

We got onto the highway, and rode it until the exit to the city came up. We were soon driving through downtown Chicago. Even though we lived pretty close, I had rarely been here. I couldn’t help but stare as we drove through. The roar of the bike and the power of the wind calmed me slightly, and it was all over too quickly.

We rode beside a great manor-like estate, with countless floors and buildings, tall as the sky and with endless grandeur. Dad found the parking lot, and took my bag as we walked toward the gate. It was massive. Great black iron workings with flowing designs, built into the stone wall that encompassed the school. Two stone angels held the hinges of the doors, one on each side. I tilted my head back to read the words at the top of the gate.

Saint Gabriel’s Boarding School.

Dad led me through, and we walked down the long path to the door of the first big building, surrounded by beautiful gardens. The foyer of the first building looked like the inside of some fancy hotel. I felt very misplaced in my ratty jeans and plain t-shirt. Dad talked briefly to a secretary as I fidgeted by his side. He handed me a bagged bundle, and a small key ring with two silver keys on it.

“This is your uniform and room keys. You’re in room 17F on the 6th floor.” Uniforms? I thought I was going to be sick.

I took the bundle and tried to swallow the lump in my throat.

“Dad, I don’t want to go here,” I whispered fearfully.

“I know. You’ll be safe here,” he told me, ruffling my hair.

“And how did you pay for this? We can’t pay for this…” I was getting desperate. I would give anything just to go home right now. Dad sighed.

“I’ve been saving up. Don’t worry about it.” He pulled me into a stiff hug. “Can you promise me something?” he asked. I nodded. “Never,” he said, pointing to the chain around my neck, “take off that necklace. Never. Okay?” I was confused, but I nodded anyway.

“I promise.” I jumped as the doors slammed open behind my father, and uniformed officers walked into the school. I peered curiously past my father at them. He turned and winced. An officer glanced from the secretary to my dad, and walked briskly toward us. Dad grasped my shoulder.

“Samuel Clayson, you’re under arrest.” He flashed a badge at my dad. I grasped my father’s hand desperately.

“For what?” I asked frantically.

“First degree murder.” He pulled a pair of handcuffs from his belt and roughly cuffed my father as a second officer patted him down. I was scared out of my mind. I could feel tears pricking at my eyes. The officers took my father by both elbows and started to move him to the door.

“Sable,” he called urgently as he looked back over his shoulder. I took a step towards him, clutching the bundle to me. “Your mother didn’t leave,” he said, “She was taken.” My father and the police disappeared through the school doors. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the exit, stricken. I felt my chin quiver as I fought back tears. I didn’t want to be here… I wanted my dad. I wanted my mother…

A bell rang, startling me out of my desperate thoughts. The sound of doors opening was followed by footsteps, and I was soon surrounded by students. Every single one wore red and white uniforms. I stuck out like a sore thumb, and I wanted more than anything to disappear, to become invisible, to melt into the floor. But I was frozen to my spot in the sea of Saint Gabriel’s students. I felt lost. I felt scared. My face burned red as tears spilled down my cheeks. The doors opened, the same ones my dad was led through by a pair of cops, and the students went outside into the midday sunlight. I stifled a sob as I lowered my head and started to shuffle through the mass of students, who all seemed to be going the opposite direction. I needed to find some sort of directory, I needed to find the girls’ dormitory. Before I had even taken three steps, I slammed right into someone. Well, they slammed into me, rather. I wasn’t going very fast.

I gasped as I staggered backwards. My head snapped up to look at a tall student. He looked startled, and held my shoulders to steady me.

“I am so sorry! I didn’t see you there…” he apologized, “Are you alright?” He must’ve noticed the tears. I was afraid to speak, cause I knew I would start bawling if I did. But the dam broke, and everything I was holding back came rushing out as I fell into this boy’s chest. And I cried. I sobbed into this stranger. He was very decent about it, just let me cry and even patted my back a little.

“Let’s get you out of here,” he told me, and led me to a less populated hall, and a bench. He sat me down and kneeled in front of me like a big brother to a kid who fell and scraped their knee. I wiped my eyes and nose on my arms, snuffling and pathetic. He pulled tissues out of his pocket and handed them to me.

“Thanks,” I said. He nodded.

“You new?” he asked as I blew my nose. My head wobbled up and down.

“And lost.” He chuckled. It was a fuzzy, warm sound.

“My name’s Joel,” he told me, holding his hand out.

“Sable,” I said, shaking it. His eyes were a deep brown-green hazel, sparkling with cheery warmth. They were partly covered by his shaggy dark-brown hair, that fell over the tops of his brow and ears in soft waves. The dark hair fit well with his well-toned skin.

“So…” he said, propping his elbows on his knees, “Where are you headed?” I looked down at my bundle, at my keys.

“Girls’ dorm, I guess…” I told him. He rose.

“That’s on the south side. It’s the lunch break now, so I can show ya,” he said offering a hand and a smile.

“Thank you,” I said, taking it and letting him help me up.

He showed me around the school, and pointed me to where I could go if I needed help. He also gave me a map of the grounds. Which were huge.

We were soon standing at the doors of the girls’ dormitory, both craning our heads back to stare up at it.

“Since it’s break, I’m allowed in there. What floor are you on, again?” he asked. Without looking away from the tall building, I answered “Sixth floor…” Joel whistled. He hoisted my bag over his shoulder and led the way. We walked through a lavishly decorated reception/lounge area, and Joel checked us in. He told me I wouldn’t need to check in at the desk anymore, since I was living here. He led the way to the elevators. I couldn’t help but notice how well he seemed to know his way around… But hey, I can’t judge the guy for having looks.

Up we went, all the way to the sixth floor. We passed a group of girls entering the elevator, all giggling and twiddling their fingers at us. I looked at my keys as we stepped into a long hall.

The building was arranged with four halls, all in a box shape to hold a garden-and-fountain kind of courtyard in its center. According to my number, I was in a room on a corner of one of the halls, facing the courtyard. Joel waited as I fumbled with the key. We entered my room, leaving the door open. The room was plain, simple, and yet very nice. There was a bunk bed, though no sign of another person inhabiting the room.

“Huh,” Joel said as he flicked on the lights, “Looks like you don’t have a roommate.” He set my bag down beside a vanity with a large mirror, and moved across the wooden floor toward the windows. He tugged back the lacy white curtains. “At least the view’s great,” he chuckled. I followed him, and peered out the window into the courtyard far below. I sighed at the beautiful sight.

“Thank you for helping me out,” I told Joel.

“Hey, it’s no problem,” he assured me, and pulled a pen from the pocket of his white collared shirt, previously hidden by his crimson wool vest. “You got a cell phone?” he asked, and I nodded. He took my hand and wrote numbers on my thumb. “There. If you need anything at all, send me a text.”

“Alright.” I smiled. Life here. I wouldn’t be that bad. Joel glanced at his watch.

“Well… I gotta grab some lunch,” he told me with a laugh. “Care to join me?” I took a look around the room.

“No thanks, I think I’m going to get settled.”

“You want me to get you anything?” he asked with a smile. I chuckled. This boy was so helpful. I patted the pockets of my jeans, then fished through the pockets of dad’s jacket that he left me with. My hand closed around a wad of bills. I pulled them out. Joel smiled as my jaw dropped. It was a wad of Bens… and a few of his wealthy buddies. I found a ten, and handed it to him. He pocketed it as he headed for the door.

“You can pick up your student ID at the Student Help Center, by the way. You can load cash on it, and pay for meals that way,” he told me before he stepped out the door.

“Thank you so much, Joel.” His hazel eyes shone as he smiled.

“My pleasure, Sable.” I closed the door behind him.