A STRANGE VISIT

"She has regained consciousness," I heard Lily's voice say when I opened my eyes.

"Are you okay?" Coach Harris asked while hovering above me.

"Yes. Where am I?" I asked while looking around.

"The infirmary. You will be here till the school ends for the day so that the nurse can keep an eye on you," the coach explained.

Coach Harris instructed Lily to keep checking up on me between classes before he left.

"I'm happy you are awake. I was worried. Even after the chest compressions, you only coughed but didn't wake up. Are you sure you are okay?" Lily asked worriedly.

"Yes, I am. Just a little bit weak but that's all," I replied weakly.

"Okay, if you say so." Lily's brow creased, "Mabel, that witch. I will never forgive her for this."

"What of Mable?" I asked, remembering she fell along with me.

Lily gritted her teeth, "I'm sure she must be in class. Can you believe she said it was an accident, claiming that the tiles were slippery and hence, the reason she fell into the pool with you."

My nose flared. "She is a liar. She pushed me into the pool and then fell in with me. Mabel almost killed me all because of Mr rude. When I'm out of here, I promise to deal with that jerk and he would wish he didn't mess with me. He can't get away with it this time around."

"You can't do that, you will get suspended or worse expelled besides, he saved you. He was the one who carried you out of the pool," she clarified.

"What do you mean?" I couldn't believe it.

"You heard me. I'm not sure Rex was a part of this whole thing. If he had planned it, then why would he save you?"

I blinked at Lily, speechless. How would I know?

"I need to get to class. Don't worry, I will copy your notes along with mine."

I thanked Lily before she left. I pondered on her last question. Why would he save me? Maybe to appear as the hero in everyone's eyes. That would be so low of him. But, why was he there in the first place? I thought he left along with other students.

Time quickly passed by and a nurse came into the infirmary, "Miss Raymond, a woman by the name of Mrs Rosalie Raymond is waiting for you in the director's office. Your presence is required."

My heart skipped a beat. What is mum doing here? I quickly changed out my swimsuit into my sportswear which was neatly folded and had been on the shelf all this while before rushing out to the director's office. Why was mum here to see Ms. Sophie?

I came to a halt in front of the office door. I took in two, long sharp breaths before knocking and then pushed the door open. Mum was sitting facing a total stranger that wasn't Ms. Sophie. I sighed out in relief.

"Please sit, Miss Raymond," the lady said.

I took my seat beside mum and she continued, "I'm Mrs Abigail Noel, the vice director. Mrs Sophie is away for now. Your mum requested for transfer, do you you agree and if yes, can you give your reason?

I couldn't believe it, mum actually came to school to actually do the transfer even when I didn't say anything in our little conversation yesterday. I needed to think of what to say. My brain worked and finally I got an idea.

I turned to Mrs Noel with a smile. "The thing is... my mum got a new job elsewhere and wants me to transfer schools but I insisted that I don't want to because I love this school so much. I have pleaded with her to leave the care of my kid sis and I to nanny and she could start her new job. If done this way, she can visit us on weekends but she refuses." I breathed in, " Mrs Noel can you plead with mum to drop this idea of transfer. I love this school and can't transfer to another one."

I lied. I had to because from what I have heard about Ms. Sophie, she wouldn't agree to a transfer without sending a bad report to the school the student wishes to transfer, automatically terminating that transfer. I needed to make my pitiful excuse believable in order not to be on her radar.

"Your mum said something about you coming home everyday looking so sad and gloomy," Mrs Noel said, jerking me out from my thought.

"Who wouldn't be sad about leaving the school they love and being transferred to a new one. Please, can you change her mind because I don't want to leave this school."

Mum stared at me wild eyed and mouth agape.

"Mrs Raymond I think you shouldn't deprive your daughter of her happiness. It isn't up to a week she started. Can you please reconsider your decision?" Mrs Noel pleaded after seeing my pitiful expression.

"But..." Mum wanted to argue but then decided against it. "Fine, I won't insist on the transfer."

She picked her bag and left the office angrily and I quickly followed her after thanking Mrs Noel.

Halfway through the hallway, I turned angrily at mum. "Do you think having me transferred will change the situation? I told you before we located that I didn't want to leave my old school and friends yet, you didn't listen and now you want me to transfer? I won't leave this school until you see me in a body bag since you can't give me the reason we had to relocate."

SMACK!

Mum's hand landed on my face and I held my jaw as the stinging pain assaulted my cheek and senses.

"I'm sorry if I have made your life hard. We would move back, I promise you that," Mum said with eyes glistening with unfallen tears.

"Fine, I want my old life back. Don't bother picking me up," I screamed at her before running back to the infirmary in tears.