NAOMI'S POV:

Today is the first day of Mr. Davis' and I book club and I'm so excited for it. I honestly thought that after last nights episode he would have cancelled everything but he was so understanding, you have no idea how much I needed to see that. It as nice to have Mr. Davis demonstrate that he is on my side, or even that he has just as much respect for me as he does for the staff members. When he caught me yelling in the kitchen I was certain that I would be digging my grave later that evening. Instead, he showed me that he is capable of understanding my situation, but more importantly that he can relate to it.

I wanted to show my gratitude for not having my hind tanned, so I've done all my chores to the best of my ability and have been very proactive in my other responsibilities to avoid anything that'll potentially interfere with tonight. I scrubbed the bathroom in the girls corridor, making it sparkle if I may say so, and swept the hallway floors. I even swept up all the cob webs on the ceiling. I didn't have any laundry to do, which was a relief, because it gave me more time to focus on my room in case of a surprise inspection.

Mr. Davis told me to come after dinner that way no one could bother us, mainly because curfew was extended on weekends and he wouldn't have to be on duty until later in the night. Mr. Patry still hasn't returned my book but that's okay, last night I made a list of all the talking points I want to go over for tonight's meeting. It is a little scary not knowing when I'd get my book back, or if for that matter. It's like being grounded indefinitely. Nevertheless, I'm trying to remain cautiously optimistic that my next encounter with Mr. Patry will work towards my favor.

I practically skipped merrily down the hall after lunch to Mr. Davis' office, I want to see if he is even close to being as excited as I am. I haven't been this excited about something since my release date - let's just hope that my mood doesn't change as swiftly as it did on that day. Mr. Davis always tried to remain objective when in front of the students, it was an act that he mastered well but it seems as though he could never hold it in when I was around. Just before I could knock on the door, I heard him speaking to Mr. Patry.

"Disobeying a staff member? Insolence to a staff member? Harold, we can't let that go unnoticed...."

"It did not go unnoticed, I've spoken to her about it, the situation was handled."

"But not in the right way! Respect is a virtue that we instill in every student, she should have been reprimanded."

Sometimes I hate how traditional Mr. Patry is, just because someone is older than you does not mean that they deserve your utmost respect whilst they disrespect you. Last night I just showed her the same respect she had shown me.

"You didn't hear what Sherry said to her. She struck a nerve and Naomi responded..."

"Inappropriately. What's the matter with you Harold? You're becoming too soft! We have a duty here at the Academy to administer the right values into these children. But you're treating Naomi as if she were special..."

"She is special! Jim, I understand my duty in this matter but you have to understand sometimes she requires different responses."

I could see his shadow moving closer to Mr. Patrys.

"Listen, there are a lot of other values we do not teach the students because they are here for a short time and we expect their parents to fill in that gap. But Naomi," he stopped only for a moment. "well she's my responsibility now, she's here with me entirely so I have to make sure she gains the same general knowledge that she would if she were at home."

"I'm warning you, if word gets out that she is getting special treatment, it could be disastrous for the Academy's reputation as well as ours."

"It won't get out because she isn't, and if anyone has questions about how I conduct business...well they can address me directly." Mr. Davis stood his ground.

I heard Mr. Patry sigh at how stubborn his colleague was being at the moment.

"Do what you wish Jim, but don't expect me to concur with your methods if I witness any of her wrongdoings."

"I'm sorry that you disagree, but I am not changing my mind Jim."

With that, Mr. Patry's footsteps began emerging towards the door and I instantly ran back as if I hadn't even of gotten there yet. It was strange how he could leave without another word, he always likes to be the last person to speak so his words would resonate.

"Hello Mr. Patry." I tried to say cheerfully.

"Afternoon Naomi." He said politely but he moved on quickly.

I watched his body language, which was nothing short of disappointment, until he reached the end of the hallway. Nevertheless, I knocked on Mr. Davis' door and upon my entrance I somehow felt less excited than I had all day.

"Can I do anything for you?" Mr. Davis asked, curious about my arrival.

"No..." I tried snapping myself out of my own thoughts but it wasn't working.

"Are you sure? It looks like something is on your mind." He sat down and leaned back against his chair.

"H-how can I stop being such a burden to you?" I almost whispered.

He clicked off his computer, shocked at my question and I'll admit that I myself was surprised that I so blatantly asked it.

"Excuse me? What makes you think you're a burden to me?"

"Well, I just can tell that..." I stopped and motioned behind me, referencing to Mr. Patry before I closed the door. "there are some people who seem to be going against you, and I'm always the one common denominator."

"Did you hear all that?" He stopped.

"I wasn't trying to listen, you guys just weren't talking at a normal tone." I put my hands behind my back, covering my behind scared that I would be punished for ease-dropping.

He considered my statement and agreed with me. Letting out a sigh, he stood from his desk and approached me.

"Mr. Patry has his own ideas of right and wrong, of action and inaction but I am your legal guardian so any measures or discipline fall entirely under my jurisdiction."

Again, it was great to see that Mr. Davis defends me, even when it comes to Mr. Patry but his statement didn't make me feel any better. The last few months have felt like a time-bomb, everyone was turning against Mr. Davis, using me almost as a crutch, and eventually that bomb will go off. I just hope Mr. Davis isn't the bomb.

"Honey," He grabbed the underneath of my chin to focus my attention on him. "you are not nor have you ever been a burden to me. Now, your situation was definitely a surprise but everyone likes surprises."

"No they don't, you don't." I forced myself away from him. "Ergo, not everyone likes surprises. Nice try." I smiled at his effort.

He returned a smile as well, "You're right, I don't like surprises. But I love challenges, and you're becoming the best challenge I've ever had."

"Thanks Mr. Davis." My smile was genuine this time.

"Of course, now go on and make sure you're prepared for our meeting tonight."

I nodded my head, feeling relaxed that he was still dedicated to our relationship despite everything that was occurring inside of his life. However, his conversation with Mr. Patry was a rough reminder of the trouble that I bring to Mr. Davis. Even if it is unintentional.

______________________________________________________________

Dinner was quiet; there was an unsettling awkwardness at the table and I couldn't identify the cause. It's Friday, usually most of the students are happy because they can enjoy their weekend. Maybe it was because we were having snapper, it's honestly everyone's least favorite choice for dinner at the Academy. There's something about teenagers and fish that don't work well, it always has a negative outcome. But whose going to complain? No one, not even the students here, are idiotic enough to risk losing their weekends. Honestly though, I don't think even the Administrators enjoy it. I had eaten half of it and I was ready to barf, so I started swirling it around on my plate.

I made eye contact with Mr. Davis who raised his eyebrows and motioned down at his plate, signaling that I need to hurry up and eat. I tried eating at the same pace as him but the disgusting fishy-ness was getting in the way.

"Naomi, don't play in your food." Mr. Patry said as he sipped from his glass.

Something inside of me was burning up, it was as if I acquired a spectrum of hatred for Mr. Patry after hearing his conversation earlier. Even one glance from him fulled this hate-fire that was burning inside of my head. It was as if he wanted to see me punished, scolding Mr. Davis for making an alternate choice.

Around 7:30 p.m. everyone had finished dinner, and so I made my way through the boys corridor and inside of Mr. Davis' office. He was facing one of his stands near his restroom, holding something in his hands.

"Go ahead and sit down Naomi."

I took a seat on the sofa in the corner, near his bookshelf, and grabbed the pillow that had been squished by my back. When he turned around, I could see that he was holding a cup of tea in a shadowy blue mug.

"Do you drink tea?"

"Not usually sir, no but I'll give it a try." I eagerly took the mug from his hands and looked down at the soothing beige color.

"Its black tea with milk and sugar, give it a try." He asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee and began stirring creamer into it.

I took a sip and instantly felt a warming comfortless that trickled throughout my body. I wanted to swallow the whole cup but I knew it would be better to take my time.

"So, what is your first impression of this book?"

"Well, this isn't a book that I usually read and I'm trying to be...neutral about the whole thing."

"Neutral? You mean objective?" He took a seat in the recliner across from me. "In what way?"

"Umm," I wasn't sure how to say this because I didn't want to disappoint or offend him. "neither of my parents were religious so I myself am not either."

"Oh I see." Now he sounded neutral. "Well it's good that you're exploring an unfamiliar topic and giving the book a try despite any conflicting beliefs you may have." He took his copy and twirled it between his palm and the arm of his chair.

The topic of religion made me more uncomfortable than I anticipated, so I was desperate to change the subject. "I know I've only read the first chapter," that's a lie. "but I'm not sure what the main theme is of the book."

"Hmm, that's a very thematic question. What I've collected so far from the first chapter is a sense of self-discovery." He put his cup down and leaned forward. "Antonio is a very young and naive boy, he is consistently battling with his inner conscious of whether or not he should be a priest like his mother insists or if there is a greater fate he has yet to discover. Every person, at one point in their life, goes through this."

"But how do you know when the time comes? Or is it more of a never-ending chain?" I started getting frantic, this was a common response of mine when confronted about the future.

"It's a 'never-ending chain' and I know that's not what you want to hear but..." he stopped and looked at my curious expression. "okay do you remember in the chapter when Antonio witnesses the death of a community member?"

I nodded my head, going over the details of the chapter silently in my mind.

"That would be a link in his never-ending chain. Much like in your situation, as your life progresses, you will become more and more enlightened of different variables in the world. Those variables, whether they be the result of your actions or the actions of others, will mold you as a person and you will eventually find yourself."

I nodded my head to show I was following him, it made sense but it sounded extremely exhausting. A long, long torture timeframe more like it.

Seeming concerned that his point wasn't clear, he straightened himself and asked: "Do you know what I do at the Academy?"

"Yeah, you punish the students." I shrugged my shoulders. I know that seemed very upfront but that was the simplest way I could answer.

He slumped his shoulders a little at my comment, probably disappointed that I think that's all he does. Trust me, some days it sure feels like that's all he does.

"No, actually I am a CMA." He smiled proudly.

"A what?"

"It stands for certified managerial accountant. I only became an Administrator when I invested into the business."

"Invested? So what was the link that ended you at the Academy?" I asked, wanting to shift focuses away from all disciplinary topics.

"My wife." He looked down and smiled.

"Wait, you're married?" I put down my tea and sat straight, focusing my attention on anything that would get me the as much detail from him as possible.

"I was, I was." He glanced over at the book and set it down on the table, realizing that we had completely gone off course.

"What happened?"

"...A car accident." He pursed his lips after sighing and I had realized that, that was enough. I didn't need to know any more.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Davis." I waited for his response, which was only a nod and a half-smile.

I was still confused on her role in the Academy but I was hoping that he would voluntarily continue the subject so I wouldn't have to reopen any of his old wounds.

"That makes Mr. Patry my brother-in-law, and he acquired this business from his father a few years ago when he passed. I joined because he needed the help. We were very close when I married his sister and I couldn't leave him after her passing."

"What was her name?" I began looking around the room, trying to find a photograph that I never noticed.

"Audrey." I could see his eyes becoming glassy as they crinkled when he smiled.

I walked over to his recliner and put my hand on his, which was resting on the arm of the chair.

"I'll put my heart out for you Mr. Davis, I'm sure she was a wonderful woman."

I watched as my words resonated through his body as he gave me the most endearing look and opened his arms for a hug.