Belonging

I walk out to the car, confused when I see that it isn't there. But then I remember that I'm supposed to have swimming right now.

I go back into the building and toward the P.E department. My eyes scour the hallway before they land on a teacher. I go over to her.

"Excuse me." I say.

She looks down at me. "Mhm?"

"Uh.. I chose to do swimming but my brother was supposed to change it for me. Do you know what I'd be doing instead?" I ask.

"What's your name?" She asks me.

"Anastasiya Melnyk."

"Come with me." She sighs. She walks into the P.E office and types something up on a computer. Then she turns to me. "Nobody has called to say that. You're still doing swimming. Go change with the rest of the girls in the changing room."

"I don't have anything to change into." I say. Worry starts in me-did Aleksander not tell Petro? Did he, and did Petro just not call them and change it?

"You can borrow something for this session."

"I don't know how to swim." I say quietly.

Her blue eyes narrow. "Do not try and make up silly excuses. Go to the closet and get a swimsuit that fits, then go change."

"I'm not making a silly excuse. I really can't swim." I insist.

"So you chose swimming but you can't swim?" She says.

"I thought I would get taught." I whisper.

"Do you think I'm a fool?"

"What?"

"Do not think I'm going to believe your stupid excuses. Go and change, or I'll call home and your parents can deal with you."

"I'm telling the truth!" I exclaim.

"Right, that's it." She says. "Sit down over here."

"But-"

"Now." She says, the sternness in her tone leaving no room for argument. I don't think anything I could say would change her mind anyway; she's already got it in her head that I'm lying.

I sigh and sit down, crossing my arms over my chest. This has been one of the worst days ever, which is saying a lot because I've had a lot of terrible days.

She goes over to the phone and fear fills every bone in my body. She's calling Petro. I sit up a little, my leg beginning to bounce up and down from nerves. I take a sip of the water I got at lunch in an attempt to calm the sudden ache in my throat.

He's gonna hit me, isn't he? He's gonna beat me worse than Miss. Margaret ever did. It'll be worse, even, since he's stronger. Her spindly, stiff limbs have nothing on the muscles lining his arms. That combined with the fact that I'm pretty sure the welts on my back are infected, it's going to hurt a thousand times more than it ever has before.

The teacher leaves the room, leaving me alone with my scary thoughts. When she comes back in at least fifteen minutes have passed.

"Your brothers are here." She tells me.

My eyes water. I stand up and grab my bag, following behind her. She leads me out into the hallway, and surprise captures me when I see not only Petro there, but Ivan too.

And they both look livid. Their angry gazes turn to me at the same time, their eyes burning with annoyance.

"What's the problem?" Petro grits out to the teacher.