“Really there was no need.” Evie said, as they walked out into the cool morning air.
“Like I said my treat.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re new around here, right?” he asked, taking a large bite out of the steaming pastry.
“Is it really that obvious?” Evie asked blowing on her hot chocolate. She raised her eyebrows as he swallowed the huge chunk.
“Breakfast.” he explained, with a grin.
“Ditto.” she said, raising the paper bag.
“So, when did you move here?” he asked, taking another huge bite.
Evie shook her head, trying not to laugh. “Two weeks ago.”
“During Easter?”
“Yep.” she said, taking a cautious sip from the hot cup.
“It must have been a toss-up between the chocolate and unpacking.” he said, taking a smaller bite.
“The chocolate won.” Evie replied, pushing her hair out of her face.
“Good choice.” he said, laughing. His laugh filled the silent street.
“Yeah, but you know what they say, A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!” she said, wiggling her own. She stopped wiggling, and taking a deep breath, wrapped both her hands around the steaming cup. Not now, please, not now. She looked around the street, searching for a distraction from her memories.
“So, do you need any help unpacking now?” he asked, swallowing the last of his croissant.
She exhaled slowly, My saviour, and he doesn’t’t even know it. She smiled to herself, feeling calmer.
“I think I’m ok, but I might take you up on that offer another time.” she said, slowly unwrapping her breakfast.
“What, when you’re ripping you hair out? I look forward to it!”
Suddenly he stopped dead. “Wow.”
“What, what’s wrong?” she asked, stopping beside him.
“Look at that thing, it’s … wow” he whispered hoarsely.
She followed his open-mouthed gaze to…. Her car.
“What, the car?” she asked, frowning.
He nodded slowly. Evie looked back to her croissant, pulling off a piece.
“I wonder who owns it.” he said, walking forward, hand out-stretched.
“Oh, erm, it’s mine.” she said, her hair falling down around her face, like a curtain. Sighing, she tucked it behind her ear. Licking the crumbs off her fingers, she glanced up to find him looking down at her.
“You own this?
“Yep.”
“But. But, it’s a Lexus!”
“Actually, it’s a SC 430.”
He stared at her.
“What?” she asked, defensively. “I like cars!”
“Engine. What kind of engine?” he asked dumbly.
“4.3 litre V8.”
His hand was still stretched out, longingly. Evie fought back a giggle. “You want to touch it?” she asked, trying to keep a straight face.
“Can I?” he asked, with a look a childish delight.
“Sure.” she said nodding. He walked forward slowly, as if savouring the moment. He skimmed his fingers softly over the shining black, a huge smile on his face. Evie stood back, watching him. His smile was catching, as she too found herself grinning. He looked over his shoulder.
“This must have cost a fortune!” Evie shrugged.
“And the insurance! How fast is it?”
“0 – 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds.”
He whistled quietly. Still smiling, she reached into her bag for her keys.
“I’d better get going,” he said, “I said I’d meet my friend, Alec, early so I could go over the geometry homework with him.”
“That’s fine, I need to go sign in early anyway, and get my timetable.” Evie replied. “I still owe you for breakfast.”
“Your gonna keep on about this, aren’t you?”
She nodded, opening the car door.
“How about a compromise?” he suggested walking backwards away from the car.
“Depends, what kind of compromise?” Evie asked, catching her bag as it slipped off her shoulder. A large folder slipped out, from under the flap. He caught it before it hit the ground. Flipping it over, he handed it back, with a smile.
“Have lunch with me.”
“I’ll think about it.” she said, starting the engine.
As she drove around the almost empty car park looking for the main entrance her heart was pounding. She was normally quite calm on the first day, but every thing was different this time. Here, she was by herself. Here, she had no Jamie. But here she could make a fresh start, no one knew, no one could, or would make judgments until they knew her. That made it a little easier. Not much, but a little.
Finding a space close to the large wooden door, she pulled in smoothly. Grabbing her bag, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and opened the door. She tried to stop her hands shaking as she got out and closed the door behind her. Locking it, she shoved the keys into her pocket and walked determinedly to the office.
“No backing out now” she muttered, as she pushed open the door. Clearing her throat quietly, she walked up to the desk. The secretary was tapping away at her keyboard, perfectly manicured nails catching the light that shone through the grimy windows
“Hi, I was told to come here. Today’s my first day.”
The blonde woman looked up from her computer.
“Ah, yes. I was told we had a new pupil this term.” the woman smiled. “What’s your name, hun?”
“Evie. Evie Dalton”
“Here we are. Dalton, Evie. Right your first class is history, with Mr. Malley. Here, let me get you a map.”
The first couple of classes passed in a dull blur. Pushing back her chair as the bell rang; she packed her bag quickly and pulled out her map. “Geometry,” she muttered, “Where is geometry?”
Finally finding the right room, she stood outside, waiting for the teacher. Hardly anyone was there yet, just a few girls, giggling over a phone, occasionally glancing over at Evie, before dissolving into giggles again. More people seemed to be coming, though, as the laughter and chattering became louder.
“Look at that! Woo!”
“Total babe!”
“Nice!”
Evie looked up to see who all the boys were talking about. They were looking at her.
“My time to shine! Excuse me.” A large spotty boy, pushed away from the rest of his gang. He walked towards Evie, slicking back his hair. Her heart started pounding as his friends started shoving each other, some pushing closer to get a better look at the new girl. *Panic began to take over. She felt light headed, somehow this felt all too familiar. She stepped backwards, her hands reaching out behind her. Her chest clenched tightly as her sweaty palms quickly skimmed over the wall. There was nowhere for her to run. She was trapped.
“Mind out of the way. Excuse me. Thank you. Chris, your blocking the door.” The boy moved away from Evie reluctantly to let the teacher pass. Shaking his head, he groaned as his friend gave him a high five.
“Hard luck, man.” Closing her eyes she waited for the rest of the class to go in before she followed.
Taking a deep breathe Evie walked up to the teacher’s desk and passed him the note with shaking hands.
“First day?” he asked kindly. She nodded, smiling weakly. He signed the note and gave it back, looking around the room. “There’s a spare seat at the back, there.” he said pointing.
“Ok, thanks” She turned around to see where he was pointing. Next to the window, with a view of the science labs. Sighing, she walked to her new seat. Dropping her bag beside the chair, she sat down and waited for the class to start. Leaning her head against her hand she stared out towards the science rooms, taking deeps breaths, blinking back the tears that were pricking her eyes. Quickly rubbing her eyes, she turn away from the window as she heard someone move the chair beside her.
“Hi.” he said, plopping himself down next to her.
She was saved from having to reply as the teacher finally started the class.
“Come on, do I have to tell you to take out your books everyday?”
Evie rummaged around in her bag.
“Hey, you ok?” whispered a voice. She looked up to see the sparkling eyes that were becoming all too familiar.
“I’m fine.” she said, pulling out a copybook.
“Looking for your dressing table again?” he asked with a grin, as the teacher turn his back to the class.
“Haha,” she said sarcastically, “No, this time I was actually looking for a non existent book. Mr. Griffith forgot to give me one.”
“No problem, share with me.” he said pushing the book towards her. She smiled shyly.
“Thanks.”
The rest of the class passed surprisingly quickly. She quickly scribbled down her homework as the bell rang. She hurried out of the room, looking for the school library, hoping they might have the geometry book. She was so caught up in her thoughts, she jumped when someone called out from behind her.
“Hey!” Evie spun around.
“You left this on the desk.” he said holding out her folder.
“Thanks.” she said, stuffing it in her bag. She turned to walk away, but he started walking beside her.
“Your name’s Evie, right?
“Yeah, and before you ask, no I don’t have a brother called Adam.” He laughed, grinning widely.
“Evie, do you have any idea where your actually going?”
“No. But I know where I want to go.” she said slowing down slightly.
“That’s a start! Where d’you wanna go?”
“I need to go to the library to see if they have the geometry book.”
He pulled out his own book. “Here, use mine for tonight. Mr. Griffith is the only one you can get the book from. Well, a book with all the pages.”
“Don’t you need it?”
“No, it’s fine, I have it done already.” She shoved it into her bag.
“So have you thought about our compromise?” he asked, leaning against the lockers. She smiled.
“It’s my first day at a new school. I haven’t really had a chance to think about it.”
“New schools can be a pain. How about you think about it on the way to the canteen?” he asked, pushing a way from the locker, as it’s owner walked closer. “Come on, you know you can’t wait to try out the school’s food.”
“I - I don’t even know your name!”
“If I tell you, will you think about the compromise?”
“If I say yes, will you stop bugging me?” she asked, smiling.
“Sure. My name’s Will.” he said holding out his hand.
Evie shook it, laughing. “Which way is the canteen?”
As they walked in to the large, crowded room, Will seemed completely oblivious to the stares. He seemed to be a little more enthusiastic, as they walked in, though, drawing Evie’s attention to himself instead of all the staring faces.
“Where d’you wanna sit?” he asked, softly.
“I don’t mind. Anywhere.” He led her to a table, which was furthest away from the loud chatter. A light breeze drifted in through the open door.
“What d’you fancy?” he asked as she sat down.
“Oh, I’m not hungry.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Ok” he said, shrugging. He walked over to the long queue, glancing back over his shoulder. She smiled. Glancing at her watch, her smile widened as she realised it was ten past one. Pulling out her phone she stared at the tiny screen. No new messages. Gee, thanks. My first day is going great. Don’t worry I’m fine. She thought sarcastically . Flipping it open, she glanced up. Will was deep in conversation with a blonde girl. Snapping her phone closed, she lay it on the table. She shook her head with a knowing smile. Why am I surprised?
“Now I know you said you weren’t hungry, but -. You ok?” Will asked sliding into the seat opposite her.
“Yeah, I’m fine” Evie said smiling. She slipped the phone back into her pocket. He frowned slightly, but didn’t saying anything else.
“I know you said you weren’t hungry, but I got you chips anyway.” he said, pushing them towards her.
“I’m not hungry!”
“I am”
“You have them then!”
“I bought them for - hey, Soph!”
Evie followed his gaze; he was smiling at the girl who had just walked into the canteen. She smiled and made her way over, her dark hair shining in the gloomy lights.
She sat down next to Will, before stealing one of the chips Evie had pushed back towards him.
“Yum, good chips!” she said, fanning her hand in front of her mouth. “Hot though.”
Will laughed, reaching up a hand to mess up her hair. “That’ll teach you, won’t it?”
She started laughing too, “Doubtful, it hasn’t in the past”
Evie fidgeted slightly. Just as she was about to excuse herself, Will turn to her and smiled as he caught her eye.
“Evie, this is my sister, Sophia.”
Sophia nodded shyly “Hi.”
“Hey.”
Will seemed completely oblivious to how the conversation was dwindling to nothing.
“You might have a couple of classes with Soph, Evie.”
Evie chuckled “It’d be nice to see a familiar face.” she sighed quietly.
“What classes are you taking?” Sophia asked, leaning forward curiously.
Ducking her head, Evie pulled out her timetable.
“Um, History with-.”
“Mr. Malley?” Sophia asked eagerly.
“Yeah. You have him?”
Sophia nodded.
“I didn’t see you this morning.”
“I came in just before last class. Someone didn’t drop me in like they said they would!” she glared at Will.
“Well maybe someone needs to get their butt out of bed earlier.” he said poking her side. Sophia continued to glare. He poked her again, this time in the stomach. She poked him back, smiling slightly.
“Ha, made you smile!” he grinned triumphantly. “Besides, you said you weren’t feeling great last night, I didn’t want to wake you up if you weren’t gonna come in to school.”
Sophia smiled and nudged him gently with her elbow. She turned back to Evie.
“What have you got after lunch?”
Evie ran her finger down the laminated sheet.
“Geography with Mr. Middleton.” she said looking up.
“Me too! What other-.”
“Sophia, why don’t you just take Evie’s timetable and check yourself.” Will asked, laughing quietly. He reached out to where it was lying between them and slid it over towards him.
Smiling Evie looked around the crowded room. People were still staring over at her. She recognised a few familiar faces, the girl in geometry who kept tying up her dark hair, before taking it down to tie it up again. There was the boy that was late for history, chatting to the blonde girl from geometry. She looked over at the dark haired girl again. They looked familiar.
“Hey, Will. That blonde girl over there, isn’t she in our geometry class?”
He leaned in to get a better look.
“Her? Yeah, she and the girl with the dark hair are always giggling together about something.”
“I saw them, while I was waiting for Mr. Griffith. They were huddled around a phone…” she trailed off.
“Yeah, that sounds exactly like them.”
She turned around again. Someone was making their way over towards them. The spotty guy, Chris.
She swallowed hard, feeling sick.
“-said that dad would be home before us so-. Evie are you ok?” Sophia asked, looking worried.
“I’m sorry, I have to go.” she stuttered, grabbing her bag. A dozen face turned towards her and by the time she wrenched open the large door leading out from the canteen, everyone was staring .
“Evie!”
She didn’t care where she went, she only wanted to get away from there. She hurried quickly down the disserted hall, focused only on the large doors ahead. She clenched her fists tightly, barely feeling the long nails digging into her pale palms. She didn’t care, she just kept running, her bag hitting against her side with every step. She burst through the main doors, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks. Slowing down slightly, she realised she had nowhere to go. She looked around, somehow she had ended up near the rows of plants and trees that surrounded the school. She stumbled over towards the shadows and curled up by the wall, so she was hidden from the people passing by. Pulling her knees up close to her chest she buried her face into her arms and let the tears she had been holding back all day fall.
A very big thank you to Awake for giving me the final push!
