Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Bruises and Social Workers

Y/N POV

Laughing, I turn my head at the sound of a knock on the classroom door, seeing Evelyn standing in the doorway with a small smile. I glance down at my watch, frowning a little when I realize that the entire lesson has apparently passed by much quicker than I'd expected. "Okay, guys. That's our time, I guess."

The teenagers all groan, not moving out of the semi-circle we'd adopted these past few lessons, each voicing their disappointment. It takes everything in me not to melt and agree to let them stay over for a little bit longer. It's our last lesson, and I'm genuinely going to miss coming here and seeing their faces throughout the week. "Hey, c'mon, guys. I hate that our time together is ending, too, but at least you all have the holidays to look forward to."

Thankfully most of the teens seem to agree with me on that, and after spending the next few minutes helping each of them pack their instruments up and taking about a thousand and one pictures per their request, I internally sigh as I turn my visitor's badge back in for the last time. I didn't know when I started these lessons that I'd grow to love them and all these kids so much, and it's honestly heartbreaking to know that I probably won't ever be back in this school. And to top it all off, a certain teenager wasn't present today, and that's only added to my sullen mood.

I hesitate just outside the school's front entrance, sitting my guitar case on the ground at my feet as I pull my phone out of my pocket to see if maybe said teenager had managed to text me back. My home screen remains blank, though, and I let out a sigh as I start towards the parking lot. I'm starting to get a bit worried about Olivia, because the last time we spoke yesterday morning she was really looking forward to today, and it's not like her to leave my messages on read. I'm trying not to overthink it, though, reminding myself that I'm not the teen's mother and sometimes shit just comes up at the last minute.

"Y/N!"

My head turns in the direction my name was called, frowning when I see the teenager herself jogging towards me. As she gets closer I have to physically keep myself in place, anger surging through my body when the girl's bruised face comes into focus. She looks like, well, like she's been on the receiving end of someone's face. The whole left side of her face is black and blue, and she's got a nasty split on her lower lip that has dried blood caked to it. And she keeps looking behind her as if she's expecting someone to be following her. And it makes me sick to my stomach, and all I can do is stand there staring at the teenager making her way towards me.

"Sorry I'm late. I had to walk here."

Taking a few calming breaths, because I certainly wasn't going to get to the bottom of this, I drop my things at my feet before carefully taking the girl's face in my hands once she's close enough. "What the hell happened, Liv?"

The teenager just gives me a small, weak smile. "It's nothing. I just...fell."

I let go of her face, nodding in the direction of the parking lot, still attempting to calm the massive wave of anger knowing that something obviously happens and the teen is just shrugging it off with a lie like it's no big deal. "Get in the car."

Once we're in the safety of Lizzie's car, I turn in my seat to look over the teenager, who's sunken back into the passenger seat and playing with the zipper of her jacket absentmindedly. "Olivia, what happened? I know damn well you didn't get those bruises from a fall."

The younger girl doesn't say anything, continuing to lazily zip and unzip her jacket. "I really don't want to talk about it."

My jaw clenches, so tightly that I'm momentarily worried that my teeth are going to crack under the pressure. "Did they hit you?"

Olivia goes rigid in her seat, her movements stilling. The silence is enough of an answer for me, and I take a few moments to push down whatever emotions I'm currently feeling, reminding myself that the kid needs to be taken care of first and then I can figure out where to go from here.