Chapter Seven
Asha Avery
“Please have a seat Ms. Avery.”
The office looked orderly and neat with the oakwood desk in the center. A plush black rug that looked to be made of soft black feathers. It didn’t feel right walking on them with my shoes, but I wasn’t sure how long I’d be.
“Am I in trouble?” I asked.
The woman sitting behind the desk wore a maroon blouse with a dark curly set wig that had bangs. She was in the middle of eating a packed lunch when she quickly grabbed a napkin to cover her mouth.
“Not at all,” she let out with a shake of her head. Swallowing, she motioned for me to sit down once more. “Not at all. I know you have class soon, so I’ll be quick.”
This was the student affairs building where admissions, counseling, all things academic related took place here.
The last time I was here, I was in another office begging to be released and allowed to go back home.
Everything I know and love about New York has been pretty much done, and I haven’t looked back.
I didn’t even have plans on visiting any time soon, especially now since I’m in a serious relationship.
I sat my things down on the floor, tucked my locs behind my ears, and I looked at the organized paperwork stacked on her desk. I could see my file labeled Taluwi and Legacy. Smiling, I wondered if she was going to tell me they were going to give me another chance at being a legacy.
“First off let me say, my name is Mrs. Maronie and I’m in charge of a newly developed department here at Drew Collins called OAC, Office of Academic Continuance. I am the last stop and the final call when students have not proven themselves–––”
“School barely just started,” I argued. “I haven’t missed a class or–––”
She held her hand up to silence me before taking her fork to dig back into her broccoli and rice meal.
“While the school year is just starting, this is more of a formal warning. Last year, due to the rare incidents at the school, a lot of students were written off as distracted or other. In your case, you played a part in a lot of things that happened including,” she raised her chin to look at the file.
As soon as I saw the lab paperwork, I felt my skin crawl at the sight.
“Well…I’m sure you don’t need to be reminded. ”
“I haven’t missed any classes and so far, we haven’t done any work that requires a grade.”
“It’s not enough to just attend classes, Ms. Avery. Here at Drew Collins, education is currency in the Underground. You need to not only take it seriously, but you also need to take yourself seriously. What do you want to do once you graduate?”
My mouth fell open as I slumped back into the chair, unsure of how to answer that.
“What are your plans once you leave Drew Collins? Do you have a current interest?”
“I’m not sure of that yet.”
“Work study perhaps?”
“I thought work studies were for second years and up?”
“Ahh yes, you are still currently in the first-year program which is…unheard of…very rare at this school. Let me be frank with you,” she said as she took another bite of her food.
I waited for her to chew and swallow before she wiped around her mouth with another napkin.
“You will need to take on extra classes in order to catch up. This is a carefully designed academic system that does not thrive in students being left behind. It’s either you are or you’re not.
Yes or no. Student or not. There is no in between…
Looking at your file, you will need to take an addition of six more classes on top of the four you’re taking now. ”
My shoulders fell as she continued talking, listing all the classes I needed which just sounded like more money. All of this sounded like a money grab to me.
“Our new dean, Dr. Joy Vaughn isn’t exactly tolerant of students being left behind. According to your records… You’ve been involved in a fight, kicked out of your legacy row accommodation, dropped from Legacy status––”
“You all had me there to fucking breed with Solomon King,” I reminded them.
“Well that wasn’t personally my decision or choice,” Ms. Maronie added lightly before clearing her throat. “I have no part in that. I’m just reading what’s on the file.”
“The fight was retaliation because they tried to drown me.”
“You’re…a siren?” She questioned.
“Taluwi,” I corrected.
“Which is a type of siren, yes,” she added.
“You’re a siren and they tried to drown you?
” She asked as if it wasn’t making any sense before moving forward.
“Look, there is no need to get hostile with me. I’m not kicking you out.
I’m not telling you to leave. As I said, this is more of a formal warning about your academic status and record as a student here at Drew Collins.
Coming directly from the Dean herself, should you step out of line again this year for whatever reason.
Whether it’s missing class more than three times, to assaulting someone on the Grounds–––”
“I was defending myself.”
“Uh huh,” she let out sarcastically. “You will immediately be removed.”
The finality in her tone was not missed. She was serious.
“Let me put it to you this way, you are being watched, Ms. Avery,” she said as she leaned in to look me in my eyes.
“It doesn’t help that you are closely affiliated with Ms. Grey who I personally have no issue with, but I realize others do not trust Ms. Grey and her intentions here in the Underground.
You will need to be conscious of how you move going forward.
I have a daughter a little older than you and if she was sitting here in front of me, I would tell her to focus on school first. Figure out what you want to do in life.
You’re still young, and more importantly you have room to take time and figure out what works and what doesn’t work.
What are you into and what you’re not into?
What do you like to do, Ms. Avery? Drew Collins has everything from cooking courses to space and time technology as it relates to magic.
This place can feel like a wonderland of magic and freedom for those coming above ground such as yourself but then you blink.
Then it’s time for the real world. Reality sets in and you realize you’re not quite prepared the way you need to be. ”
We stared at each other before I lowered my head, deciding I could no longer make eye contact without breaking down. A part of me wanted to scream I’m being targeted and then there was the commonsense side that knew she was right.
“Any who,” she went on as she cleared her throat.
“I suggest you join academic clubs…do a little volunteering and maybe join a sorority or organization. Drew Collins is all about socializing and networking. There are communities here that can and will protect you in case of emergencies or changes such as this. You are a part of the siren community and have so many women already vouching for your stay here. We haven’t had any complaints and you’re correct, you have not missed any of your classes, but it does not change the fact that you’re still behind and you’re being watched. ”
Mrs. Maronie leaned in again with her hands clasped together.
“You know, there are some feeder schools above ground,” she whispered as if she didn’t want to say it out loud.
“A few schools that Drew Collins collaborates with have some online programs. Just in case this truly isn’t your path, there is no shame in going back either.
You can go back home, get a job and just take some online courses to gain credit before applying to Drew Collins again whenever you’re ready. ”
…
I let my locs down as I sat on the blanket sprawled about underneath the oak tree.
It was the first time since we’ve been here that we were able to link up due to our busy schedules.
Isis was in the middle of opening her food she bought from the second Dining Hall.
Quan circled the blanket to find a comfortable spot while Souxie leaned up against the tree waving to the few men that walked by.
The wind was blowing her hair against her face when she began digging into her pasta salad.
“Okay so before Maggie gets here,” Isis started as she began eating.
She had her cute shades on that sat on the tip of her nose.
She had gray shorts underneath her gray skirt and her white Polo shirt was buttoned just enough to still see she would turn a man out in the bedroom when given the chance.
“This blood contract. I’ve actually been looking into it and asking my mother about it.
You know she out of anybody would have seen all types of spells and roots placed on someone.
I think this weekend we can go up there and just gather some information.
You think she’d be open to my mom doing a water reading on her? ”
“What is that?” Souxie asked, seemingly uninterested.
“It’s when she reads you…takes her hands and draws a faint of sweat or blood, blood usually works better, and she can pretty much know your history. She’s the only one that can do it. I’m not even remotely curious to find out if I can because that’s gross,” she gagged.
“You all are literally the First Family underwater,” Souxie teased while Isis laughed.
“That’s what they say,” she said before flashing her fangs. “I’m sure they’d never claim us.”
“Why would they?” Quan retorted. Isis rolled her eyes and turned to look at me.
“What do you say, Asha? What do you think? Are you free this weekend? We can all go to my mom’s house and stay in the Wetlands…
We can come back on Monday midday…” Her words trailed off as my gaze became distant and my eyes started to water.
Please not in front of the girls for the love of fucking God. “What’s wrong?”
“Asha?” Souxie called out. I shook my head with my lips curling to fight off the breakdown.
“They’re threatening to kick me out again,” I admitted. Quan was the first to laugh as he rolled his fat ass over on the blanket like a rotisserie trying to fully cook.