Chapter 6 The Uninvited

Elena POV

Mrs. Anthony's gaze crawled over me like an insect. Her eyes were sharp, searching for a weakness, but I simply stared back. I didn't understand why these people turned their emotions on and off like a faucet. One moment she was screaming, the next she was cold and calculating.

"I asked you a question," she hissed, stepping closer. "Who are you?"

Before I could answer, a hand snatched my arm. Liam pulled me back behind him, his grip tight, his posture protective but frantic.

"She is with me," Liam said, his voice echoing in the small room.

The teacher beside Mrs. Anthony finally moved. He pulled a file from his briefcase and slapped it onto the metal table with a sound like a gunshot.

"This is the evidence," he declared, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Disciplinary records, witness statements, and school violations. This girl's testimony is irrelevant compared to the systemic behavior documented here."

I felt the air in the room turn thin. Liam's eyes widened as he scanned the papers.

"This is a lie!" he shouted. "You know that's not what happened!"

Mrs. Anthony laughed, a brittle, ugly sound. "It doesn't matter what you say. The school has spoken."

I stepped forward again, ignoring Liam's hand on my arm.

"You are twisting the truth," I said to the teacher, my voice steady. I felt a strange surge of power that had nothing to do with my lost wings and everything to do with the fire in my gut. "If he hadn't saved that girl, she would be gone. You are trying to bury the truth under paper."

Mrs. Anthony's face turned a dangerous shade of red. "How dare you speak to your elders like that! Do you even know who I am?"

"You are a bad woman," I said, my voice flat and honest.

The room went deathly silent.

"Elena, stop!" Liam shouted, his face pale.

He grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the exit.

"Don't say another word!"

He shoved me out of the room, but the chaos followed us. Inside, I could hear Grandma's voice, thick with sobs, begging for mercy. The sound made my skin crawl. Liam was being torn apart for doing the right thing, and the people around him were too blind or too cruel to see it.

After an agonizing wait, Liam stormed out, his eyes burning with a mixture of rage and defeat. Grandma followed, looking like she had aged ten years in a single hour. She walked straight past Liam and bowed to the teacher who was leaving, apologizing for "the trouble."

Liam looked at her, his voice cracking. "Grandma, I saved her! I am the victim here!"

She didn't even look at him, her back stiff with shame. "I did not raise you to be a troublemaker, Liam. If you continue to bring this kind of shame to our house, do not bother calling me again."

She walked away, her footsteps fading into the distance. Liam stood there, shaking, until the lead officer walked out, holding the teacher's file. He looked at the teacher with a hardened expression.

"Check the handwriting on this report," the officer said. "If this is a forgery, we handle this by the law. No exceptions."

The teacher turned pale. He didn't say a word. He just turned and hurried out of the station.

Liam bolted after him, shouting, "Are you scared of her? Is that why you're lying?"

But the teacher disappeared without looking back.

---

Exhausted and with nowhere else to go, Liam dragged me to his grandmother's restaurant. It was a warm, bustling place that smelled of spices. It was a jarring contrast to the cold station. He shoved me into a seat at a corner table with his friend who I later knew his name as Remo, funny how human beings has name for there selves. While Liam went to the kitchen to help them out.

I watched his Remo eat, breaking down the action in my mind: put it in your mouth, chew, swallow. I mimicked the rhythm and smiled. I picked up the chopsticks, but when I tried to pin the macaroni, it slipped. I jabbed the plate aggressively, and the sauce splashed right onto Liam's face as he walked by.

"Did you do that intentionally?" he snapped, wiping his cheek.

"Sorry," I whispered.

He shoved a fork into my hand, and I took it, relieved.

When I took a bite of the spicy macaroni, it hit me like fire. I spit it out, horrified.

"What is this?" I asked.

Liam groaned. "Wow, do you love the spotlight? It's spicy macaroni. It's supposed to be spicy. Why are you acting like you've never eaten before?"

"Spicy?" I whispered.

Grandma walked over with a tray of drinks. She set them down and looked at us.

"After everything that happened today," she said, "are you two alright? You haven't been having any pain around your body, have you?"

Remo asked, "The car didn't break or anything?"

Liam replied, "The car didn't break," and he looked puzzled, as if he himself still found it hard to believe.

I spoke up. "I was the one who saved him from falling."

Everyone looked at me, except for Liam. To break the tension, Grandma asked, "How old are you, dear?"

"I don't usually count my age," I replied.

Liam stopped mid-sip, his cup frozen. When I realized they were all staring, I patted Liam's shoulder.

"Same as him."

"Eighteen?" Grandma asked.

"Correct."

I reached for my drink, but Liam shook his head. "You're lying. Your face looks younger."

I pointed at a sign on the wall. "Part-time worker wanted. I can do that."

Grandma looked at me, then back at the sign. "Do you have any experience?"

"She's not staying here," Liam interrupted, his face skeptical. "It's just for today."

Grandma looked at my face, then back at Liam. "She saved your life. This is the least we can do."

She told me to go change and come back down later.

Grandma left, and Remo leaned in. "When will you be getting transferred to our school? There's a beautiful girl there. I'll be expecting you."

He walked out, closing the door.

I moved toward the fridge to find some water. Liam was about to speak, but the front door swung wide open again.

We both froze, our eyes going wide at the sight of who had just walked in.