Dr. Kendall runs a hand over her skirt, composing herself. "All off-campus access will be denied, including her work program, for the rest of the month."
"What the--"
Mr. Garner has come around to stand behind me and places a hand on my shoulder, easing me back into my seat. "That's fair."
She glowers up at him. "And I suggest you better acquaint yourself with our life advisor script, Mr. Garner. I hold you directly responsible for her actions."
He presses his lips together and nods. "Of course."
I am going to get him fired. Shit.
"Thank you, Dr. Kendall," Niall says, standing and ushering me to the door. Mr. Garner is just as eager to escape, striding alongside me. "I'm going to speak with Lana before I leave. I'm confident this will be the only time we'll have to address this or any other matter."
When we reach the foyer, Mr. Garner turns to Niall. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Harrison. I know you entrusted me with Lana's care ... I don't know what to say. Other than, I'll keep a better watch over her."
"It's okay, Isaac. You can only do so much. Trust me, I know." Niall shoots me a side-eye glare.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at them both. "I can take care of myself."
"No you can't," they say in unison.
"I'll be in touch," Niall tells Mr. Garner. Then to me, "Lana, a word." He walks toward the doors of the sitting room. I follow with shoulders bowed.
"I know you're used to having your freedom and doing what you want, but that's also the reason you're here. You have a lot more freedom here than you would in juvenile detention, and you know it. So I suggest you start abiding by their rules. Blackwood has a very limited tolerance for insubordination. You already have a list of minor infractions, and now a major one, within only a few weeks. You have to be more responsible, Lana."
"I really didn't do anything wrong last night," I say earnestly.
"I know who you were with, and I know the Philips family. Grant's a responsible individual, and I can only hope that he's more of a positive influence on you than you are a negative one on him."
I open mouth to take offense when he says, "I approve of him, Lana. He's good for you. And if you can do what's expected of you until school starts, I'll request that he be allowed to escort you off-campus."
Hearing him approve of Grant, felt ... fatherly. It definitely didn't sound like my lawyer talking. And now I don't have any words. None. I just stare at him with my mouth gaping open.
Niall gives me a rare smile.
"Um," I say, regaining my ability to speak, "have you heard from my mother? I keep missing her. I want to make sure she's okay."
His eyes shift down solemnly.
"What?" I hold my breath.
"She fainted at work the other night. But she's okay. Olivia's arranged to take her to see her doctor next week to follow up."
I close my eyes and sigh. "So she's not okay."
"We don't know that for certain. She says she feels fine. Blamed it on not eating."
"She's lying," I tell him.
"That's why Olivia is going to make sure she keeps this appointment. I'll let you know if there's anything to be concerned about. For now, do what you have to do. Stop messing up, Lana. There's only so much I can do to save you."
There's a knock at my door within seconds of hanging up from my nightly security checkin.
"I'm here to break you out," Brendan says, stepping into my room. I know his timed appearance isn't a coincidence. Our government seriously needs to hire him, before another country's does--because if they get him first, we're screwed.
"You know?" Then I shake my head at my stupidity. "Of course you do. I can't get caught leaving my room."
"I won't let that happen."