Snowflakes & Fire Escapes by J. M. Darhower Page B

office on the fancy leather chair that my father helped pay for with the outrageous tuition at this place. “You’re only allowed to wear certain approved garments.”
    “So approve this one,” I said, “then I’ll be allowed to wear it.”
    “It doesn’t work that way.”
    “Why not?”
    He sighed exasperatedly. “Because it doesn’t. So take it off and—”
    “No.”
    He raised his eyebrows at my denial. “No?”
    “No,” I said again. “Why do I have to follow the dress code when none of the other girls in this place do?”
    He didn’t answer that, but I knew the answer. None of them were Conner Callaghan’s daughter. I knew my father well enough to know he called and complained, voicing his expectations for my schooling. He wanted the dress code followed, so they’d enforce it … on his little girl, at least.
    “What’s gotten into you?” the principal asked in lieu of answering my question. “This isn’t like you at all, Grace.”
    I wanted to tell him he didn’t know that … he couldn’t know that … because he didn’t know me at all. The only person who really ever knew me turned his back on me, leaving me with nothing but a heavy silver locket around my neck and a ratty old hoodie he didn’t bother to take back, and nobody was going to take them from me.
    Especially not today.
    Not on my birthday.
    He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head at my lack of response, knowing conversation about this was pointless. He said he had stuff to do and he supposed I’d be keeping him company, since I couldn’t go back to class until I conformed to the dress code.
    I slouched down in the chair instead of complying, getting comfortable, and sat there until final dismissal.
    As soon as the bell rang, I stood up and turned to walk out, hearing him clear his throat behind me. “Wait a moment, Miss Callaghan.”
    I ignored him as I strolled outside, my brow furrowing when I found the hallways empty, all of the other students still in their classrooms, even though the day was over. The principal came out of his office after me, urging me to stop, but I refused to listen.
    He could suspend me for all I cared.
    The overnight snow hadn’t stuck, but the sidewalks were still slick with ice, meaning the walk home was really going to suck.
    Especially with who would insist on accompanying me.
    As soon as I stepped out onto the stone steps, I saw my father standing in his usual spot, waiting. I considered walking right past him, considered pretending he wasn’t even there, when something caught my eye in the distance. Flashing lights in my peripheral startled me, stalling my footsteps.
    It happened quickly.
    Out of nowhere, cars screeched to a halt right in front of the school, red and blue lights filling the overcast sky. Chaos erupted, men rushing onto the sidewalk, some with uniforms and guns, others wearing suits with shiny badges. My heart raced as adrenaline coursed through my body. I felt like I was going to faint as dizziness took over.
    My father was thrown to the sidewalk before he could utter a single word.
    “Connor Callaghan, you’re under arrest.”
    I wasn’t sure who said it. There were too many of them. My father’s hands were forced behind his back as handcuffs were secured on his thick wrists.
    What the hell is happening?
    “Dad?” I cried, stunned to see blood streaking his face from a scrape on his cheek. They were being rough with him. “Oh God … what’s going on?”
    His eyes instantly sought me out. He looked calm, relaxed, not a worry in the world, like he wasn’t even surprised he was being arrested.
    “It’s just a mistake, Grace,” he said, ignoring the officers as they read him his rights. “That’s all this is … a big mistake. I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. I’ll be back home before you know it.”
    He didn’t have a chance to say anything more. In a blink, he was being hauled away, shoved into the back of an idling police cruiser.
    I was