FrAcTuReD (Part One) (Completed continued in Part Two)

Chapter. 08 (Another Slight Edit)

Charla merely stared at him in almost surprise.

"What? What is it?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing, do I need a note this time or am I good to go?"

"You are good to go; there's still plenty of time before class so no need to rush." Charla took her bag and slung it over her shoulder intending to leave but stopped and looked back at Jack when he spoke. "Take care of yourself alright Charla?"

Charla smiled. "I will goodbye for now Mr. Norris." she then left him alone in his office. Alex was right. She thought as she walked down the hallway. He really does care about the student's health, kind of nice for a change.

Jack leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath before staring at the file and the notes that he had made. "Just what in the world have you had to deal with Charla Liebert?" he said to himself noting how pale and tense she looked when he asked her about the reason for her blackouts and what would have triggered them. The look of dread mixed with how pale she had turned, he was missing something in all this.

Then a knock came to the door. "Come in," he said without so much as looking at who entered. "I know you're worried, but coming to ask me about it will do little good when you could just talk with him since you know her father, Maxine."

Ms. Clark looked with a slight worried look. "It isn't that simple Jack, you know that. How was she doing after she fainted?" she asked changing the subject.

"She was fine, and when I just saw her now she still seemed alright, though there seems to be more than her chronic issues with fainting."

"What? What do you mean?"

He tapped the file on the desk. "The reasons for her coming here might be deeper than just being here because of a killer in the city." He looked to Ms. Clark. "Something that has to do with the family in particular, I mean. I know you've had issues with his family before."

"That's putting it lightly," she said lightly. "But you think the cause for her blackouts might have something to do with the family?"

He looked to the file. "No entirely, again I'm just speculating and jumping to conclusions isn't the best. For now let's just keep an eye on her, that's all we really can do as teachers."

But Ms. Clark didn't seem too happy with that. "I'm going to go check on her; I think I know where she might go."

"You care too much sometimes you know," Jack told her.

She gave him an arch stare. "As do you Mister Nurse." And then left the office and went after Charla.

Jack laughed slightly. "Isn't that the truth?" he looked back at the file and sighed. "Ah Johan just what in the world is happening to your kid in that screwed up family of yours?"

Charla ended up in the small garden that Ms. Clark had showed her yesterday and sat on the stone bench her head tilted up to the tree, its leaves showing signs of changing color for fall and she smiled slightly at it. This was Charla's favorite time of year, the other seasons were fine but this one just seemed to be the best for her. Taking her headphones she placed them over her ears and scrolled though her music list and came across one song she always listened too whenever she thought of autumn leaves.

It was a classical piece, with only a cello playing; some found this particular instrument rather sad sounding but to her it was somber and relaxing. She leaned up against the tree near the stone bench and outstretched her legs. She then closed her eyes and listened to the song, her thoughts taking her back to a happier time in her childhood with her brother when he was alive and the songs that he would play or just when their father took them to Germany in the summer when they were ten.