The Fire and the Veil (Veronica Barry Book 2) by Sophia Martin

I don’t know. She’s very hostile, and she seems… well, unstable, I guess? I’m concerned for her.”
    “Yes, you’re not alone,” Lloyd said.
    “And today I noticed she’d written on her hands, the words ‘fuck’ and ‘slut.’ I mean, you know, Lloyd, it’s not that I’ve never seen the graffiti in the girls’ room, but on her own hands… that she would identify herself that way…”
    “It’s very sad,” Lloyd said, nodding. “Look, I have met with Miss Hekili on a couple of occasions, and I have read a report from another counselor, which of course I’m not at liberty to discuss. But I will say that you’re right to be concerned and I appreciate you bringing this to me. She’s coming to us from a very difficult background, you understand.”
    “I really don’t know much about her at all,” Veronica said.
    “Have you gone through her cumulative file?” Lloyd asked.
    “No,” Veronica admitted.
    “Well, in your copious free time,” Lloyd grinned, “have a look at that. That should begin to shed some light. There’s more to it, though. More than even the other counselor knows, I figure.”
    “Can we do anything for her?” Veronica asked. “I’m really concerned that she’s going to hurt herself.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “Just her behavior. The writing on her hands. I don’t know, I can’t say I’ve seen anything like it before.”
    Lloyd nodded. “To be honest, she’s not the kind of kid who lasts at Eleanor Roosevelt. She’ll be at the continuation school before the end of the year, I’ll bet.”
    Veronica pursed her lips. It didn’t sound like there was going to be any sort of intervention—she’d hoped he might refer her to counseling, or some sort of social services program.
    It shouldn’t surprise her. There were over a thousand students in the school, and only one part-time psychologist. Lloyd wasn’t going to intervene with Lola based only on Veronica’s misgivings. She needed something more concrete, and she had no idea what that could be. How could you prove that someone you barely knew was suicidal?
    “Thanks for talking with me, Lloyd,” she said, standing. “I’ve taken up enough of your time.”
    “Not a problem,” he said, getting up as well. He walked around her so he could hold the door open. “Come by any time. I always appreciate when a teacher’s invested.”
    Veronica gave him a weak smile and left his office. She stopped a few steps beyond it, creating a slight obstruction in the flow of traffic. What was she supposed to do now? Just go eat lunch?
    She gave her head a little shake. Alan Candleman, the VP, was in his office. She walked to his door.
    He was a short, white man with mousy hair and a bald spot, and perpetual five o’clock shadow. He was writing something in a form at his desk. “Alan?” she said to get his attention. He looked up.
    “Ah, Veronica. That’s handy. I was going to send you an email.”
    “Here I am,” she said.
    “I needed to let you know, when you send a student to the office, I need you to send a referral form either with them or right after with a TA.”
    “Lola left before I could write a referral, and I don’t have a TA in French II.”
    “Well, call for a supervisor to pick up the form then. I can’t tell you how messy things get when students show up here and we don’t know why they got kicked out of class.”
    “Sorry,” Veronica said. “She just refused to do any work. She said she’d take the F. I gave her a choice, get to work or go to the office. She chose the office.”
    Alan nodded. “I gathered that from what she said. She’s something, isn’t she?”
    Veronica raised her eyebrows and nodded. “You could say that. You know, I’m worried about her, though. I think she needs help.”
    Alan blinked at her. “How so?”
    “She seems unstable,” Veronica said. “She had written on her hands, the words ‘slut’ and ‘fuck.’ I think she must not have very high