Chapter 6: Part 2/5

Mr Tyrell was an art teacher originally, before he was promoted to be the new headteacher after a sex scandal involving the last one. That was a great time to be alive. Four teachers lost their jobs. Mr Tyrell was a nice enough guy, but he was an unusual choice for the top job for that very reason. I just assumed they were looking for a safe bet after the last guy caused such a commotion. He took over about a year ago, and some of the stricter rules set by his predecessor had been quietly discontinued.

Amberside Secondary School and College was exactly what it said on the tin. It was both a secondary school, and a sixth form college. I started here in Year 7. You can leave after Year 11 if you’re not pursuing higher education, or if you start college or an apprenticeship elsewhere. The uniform is different and there are sixth form only areas, but not much else changes.

Lily was a succubus with no demonstrable educational history and zero proof of identity, so we both agreed before the meeting that she could just bullshit him via the power of mental inducement if it came to it, and it surely would.

“Hello, Miss De Rosa, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mr Tyrell said. “Harrison, you’ll be joining us?”

“Yes, sir,” I said, thinking up a reason on the spot. “I’m basically just here as my mum’s representative. Lily is staying with us for the next few months, and my mum is her guardian.”

“You’re not skipping a lesson right now, are you?”

“No, sir.”

“Okay, then that’s not a problem with me. How is your mother anyway?”

“She’s doing good,” I answered. Mum used to work at the school, but that was before my time here. She eventually left to continue her studies, and got herself a doctorate. Now she works at the local university.

“Wonderful. Come on in you two, and take a seat,” Mr Tyrell said, leading us inside. We sat opposite him at his desk. “So, Liliana. Or do you prefer Lily?”

“Either is fine,” Lily said.

“This all came about pretty quickly and with no academic records to speak of. Is there any way we could get hold of those?”

“I don’t think so,” Lily said. She seemed to be taking it pretty seriously. It reminded me of how she spoke to my mother. “My family situation is quite traumatic. I won’t be going back to them, and my past is essentially under lock and key for legal reasons.”

“Right,” Mr Tyrell said. “Okay.”

She had stumped him. I was quite impressed. She had her answer well prepared and the least I could do was jump in and back her up.

“She is safe now, and will be staying with us. She just needs a fresh start academically so she can get some results for her CV,” I said.

Lily nodded along. “I’m not planning on going to university just yet, so I don’t need to apply anywhere. I just want to finish college for now, and deal with higher education when the court case is finished.”

“I see,” Mr Tyrell said, taking a breath before he continued. “Well, what subjects were you studying at your previous college? I will need to arrange meetings with the teachers of those subjects, and you will need to take some mock tests so we can gauge your level...”

“Can I show you something?” Lily said. Here we go. She got bored.

“Of course.”

Lily stood and leaned over the desk, and reached over to grab his hand. Once she had it, he belonged to her. “It’s so much easier now, right?” she said, and he nodded.

“Much easier,” Mr Tyrell whispered, smiling bashfully back at her.

“Take it easy. He’s married,” I said, and she tutted.

Lily let go of his hand, and dropped back into her seat. “Are we all sorted?”