My Goodbyes
Holding the bright red roses in my hand made the reality hit harder as I watched the caskets being lowered further into the ground. Surrounding the pit only friends cried with me. This was a place of sorrow. I never liked this graveyard because it held the decaying remains of all my other family members. I remember as a child my mother would walk me through here to place flowers on the graves of my relatives, this reinforced the fact that they were gone and never coming back. I wished many times that I could have met my grandmother. My mum spoke many times of her. Watching the soil being replaced over the caskets just made more tears slide silently down my cheeks, landing on the roses like dew coating flowers on a spring morning. I stepped forward and placed the bouquet in the centre of the newly disturbed earth then took my place back in the line of people waiting to say their final goodbyes to my beloved parents.
The ride back to my house was quiet and time slipped easily as I let my thoughts run over the day’s events. The youth worker chattered endlessly, no doubt with the intention of trying to cheer me up but to no avail. My mind was no longer with me in the car but reliving the day of my parents demise, processing everything. Their death was strange. They had no health problems but were found lying lifeless in our hallway. At the morgue the doctors analysed everything but found no traces of their killers and no reason for their death, which made it even more bizarre.
The sound of stones crushing together under the weight of the car made me snap out of my trance as I realised we were pulling into my driveway. I glanced up at the house with little white rimmed windows dotted around the originally red brick, now faded a mucky brown. My eyes slid down the front of the house and stopped on my friend Hannah Cartwright. She stood solemnly by the front door, ready to comfort me. I stepped out as she hurried from the porch in the rain, wrapping her arms around my shoulders when she reached me. I wish she hadn’t because I had spent the twenty minute journey reining in tears, but sure enough as soon as we locked in embrace, more drops were released soaking my cheeks again. We walked up to the front door. I removed the brass key from my pocket then slid it in the lock to push open the door. It felt heavier and looked hostile now I knew I could not expect a welcoming embrace on the other side. The house felt so bitter, the stone cold tiles of the kitchen seeming harsher as we walked through to the hallway. I mechanically took off my shoes and turned to look at the spot where I had found my parents lying less than a fortnight ago. I knew this would be the last night I would spend in this house, for tomorrow I would be on a train heading for the Scottish countryside to live with my Aunt Agnes. I couldn’t stand that witch but she was my only option. She was the solitary sister of my mother and, since the rest of my family had passed away, the choices were live with her or go into a care home. Neither options were appealing but living with her had to be better than in social services.
“Scarlett?” Hannah’s voice sounded like a plea as she placed her hand lightly on my shoulder, “do you want anything to eat Hun? Alison is going now if you want to say goodbye...” by this time she had pulled me back through to the kitchen and started going through cupboards. Alison stood at the door. I would miss Alison- her warm smile had made this whole experience a bit less terrifying. She stepped towards me, a tiny grin spread evenly across her face. She wasn’t happy but her smile was gentle and soothing. She handed me a small white envelope, gave me a quick hug and swiftly left. I stood in the middle of the
Kitchen staring at the envelope stuffed in my hand. I wasn’t in the mood for surprises so I placed it on the black marble surface of the kitchen worktop. Hannah looked up from one of the cupboards at me. “Well there’s not much here... pizza or Chinese?” She must have been hungry but I was in the mood for neither. Instead I looked back, a slight smile pulling up at the corners of my mouth.
“Neither.” I replied. Her face dropped a bit so I quickly cut in. “Unless you’re in the mood for Billy’s fish ‘n’ chips?” Suddenly her grin was back, going to Billy’s was our thing. We did it on rare occasions and I knew it was her favourite place to grab some food. I pulled my handbag off my shoulder and rummaged through until I found my purse, pulling out a twenty and replaced it in my bag, placing it beside the envelope on the kitchen top. Hannah was still grinning, probably because she was still engulfed in the idea of her favourite fish and chips. I turned round and hurried back to the hallway, putting on my black dolly shoes, fiddling with trainers was going to be a waste of time and, if I’m honest, I just wanted to get out of the house. I skipped back to the kitchen sliding my hand through her arm and we walked back out the door, the atmosphere was suddenly better now I was outside and I just hoped the feeling would stick. We walked down the little grey concrete path to the shop everything felt grey there. The sky blended with the concrete as the rail fell endlessly, marking almost black dots on the pavement.
Eventually we reached the little shop with blue rimmed windows and doors and a blue painted sign reading ‘Billy’s Chish ‘n’ Fips’ written in white. Hannah went inside to get the order. It was obvious Billy had learnt of my tragedy too because Hannah came out with the twenty still in her hand and my favourite food in a white box next to it-he must have known we were coming. We trudged back to my house together, eating and chatting about irrelevant subjects, most of which I wasn’t taking in. When you were in a bad mood conversation with Hannah was easy, you only needed to supply the odd interruption for her to carry on with another unrelated topic. The comforting warm food felt nice as the taste flooded across my tongue and the heat followed it down my throat to my body. The journey back took longer, but not as long as I wished it would take. I had already finished my food by the time we reached the front gate but Hannah kept munching on. It was about six now so I decided a movie, packing then getting to bed for sleep was tonight’s agenda.
Hannah seemed only too happy to accompany me and help, I wasn’t going to see her in a while as of tomorrow and she knew it. Dumping our empty wrappers in the kitchen bin, I headed straight for the DVD rack in our lounge and we picked out a film together. There wasn’t much point having it on because Hannah’s chatter continued throughout the movie. I paid more interest but still didn’t take much from it. The titles crawled up the screen which meant time to start packing. I dug out various big bags from the back of my parent’s cupboard and started to fill them with clothes, toiletries and memorabilia. While packing I came across a beautiful silver necklace from my mother which had a locket dangling gently from it, inside lay two pictures of my parents embedded in the delicately and intricately designed miniature frame. I reached and fastened it around my neck if I left anything behind tomorrow it would not be this. Packing was over just as quick as the movie my wardrobe was empty along with my bedside table drawers and coat rack on the back of my door. I had tomorrows outfit ready laid across my bed and I went downstairs to rejoin Hannah. She was on the phone and I re-entered the lounge. As I put my head round the door her gaze was apologetic which could only mean one thing she could not stay tonight.
One End One Beginning
I had a restless night anyway, regardless to whether Hannah was there or not. I got so bored I started reading up on the school I was moving to, which I was due to start at the end of October half term, Grennia Grammar School. The grey concrete building didn’t look terribly inviting but the prospectus looked good, although I wasn’t too crazy about the uniform. I drifted off around two but was awake again at three; I wasn’t getting back to sleep now even though I was lacking rest- I felt too alert with nervous energy. Feeling uneasy I crawled out of bed and prepared for the unwanted journey later on today. The idea of breakfast was even less appetising when it was in the bowl; I sat swirling my spoon around in the milk before taking a few spoonfuls of cornflakes and dumped the rest down the drain.
By the time I cleaned and cleared the kitchen, dragged my bags downstairs and was in a half decent condition to leave the house, I had around two hours left to catch the train. The ordered taxi would arrive shortly so I was low on things to do. I charged up my laptop battery and got my dongle set out; it was going to be a long journey so I would need something to do. As I re-entered the kitchen to grab my book there was a knock at the door. I stood wandering idly who on earth would be here at this time. Reluctantly I turned round, spending a little time fussing over where I left my key, and then opened the door when I had recovered it. There stood Hannah Joe and Caty. Each gave me a quick hug then Hannah handed me a little black velvet bag, the kind from a top end jewellery store, it had a French label so I could only imagine how much they had spent. Sliding open the pull string I dangled it upside down over my palm and out dropped a single pendant it had no chain but it was absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know how long I stood in the door way mouth agape but long enough for my mouth to dry out. A lump rose in my throat.
“I saw your parent’s locket around your neck yesterday and we thought we would give you an addition to it to remember us as well...” I gazed down at the little silver bauble with a bright red stone in the centre of it. “It’s 9 carat white gold and that’s a ruby, don’t know how big it is but we thought it was pretty and it is more of a scarlet colour which matches your name” Hannah smiled tentatively at me as she said the last part. I couldn’t force out anything more than a “thank you” before the tears over flowed from my eyes and glided down my cheek.
“It's so beautiful and you’re right it is more of a scarlet colour” I held it gently between my thumb and forefinger rotating it slightly to memorise it from every angle. All their faces lit up, the expression touching their eyes, as they realised I loved it. There was a sudden honk coming from the end of the drive way we all looked round to see the taxi waiting patiently by the side of the road.
“We will help you with your bags if you like?” Joe offered
“We could ride with you to the station too” Caty added sounding slightly unsure but whatever emotion was behind it I didn’t think it was resentment towards me.
“Thanks I’ll need help with my bags. But won’t that mean you’ll have to walk back.” I replied acknowledging the taxi driver as I turned slightly to go back inside.
“We honestly don’t mind Hun. But promise you will visit please life here is going to be so dull without you.” Hannah grimaced looking down at her shoes as she released the last sentence through her lips. I smiled back at her.
“Of course I will silly. Don’t forget the Scottish countryside isn’t exactly going to be exactly what you could call entertaining either.” We giggled together as we all lugged my bags outside to the awaiting taxi.
The ride to the train station was nowhere near as long as I wish it had been. The streets blurred past too quick for me to enjoy my last few minutes with my friends wishing I could hold on to this time for as long as possible. Reaching the station they helped me drag my bags out the taxi and waited for my train to pull in so they could help me get all my stuff on. The train was twenty minutes late which started my day off on a bad note, I had a feeling this journey was not going to be smooth. It took us five minutes running back and forth to fit on all my bags I had no idea how I was going to get them off again, but I didn’t let my mind rest on that problem. Turning to Hannah the lump came back to my throat and I didn’t know quite how I was going to say goodbye to her, my best friend, she had always been there for me ever since I was a baby, it would be like having to say goodbye to half my life. Instead of making the words drag themselves from my throat -where they were firmly lodged- I simply took a step forward and gave her a big bear hug, to my surprise she must have been thinking the same thing because she embraced me in exactly the same way we stood there for a moment then stood back and grinned at each other so hard my cheeks started to hurt. I also hugged Joe and Caty for as long as the currently stationary train would allow then turned to climb into the carriage and sat waiting for my imminent departure from this small city. Facing backwards so I could see the three standing on the platform I lifted my hand to the window and as I started to wave the train set off pulling me further away from my past and toward my future.
Arrival
The train journey dragged as we past countryside after countryside and stopped at town after town. The ride wasn’t smooth, as I had anticipated. The old train seemed to have difficulty running swiftly over the track which was slightly worrying. From the corner of my eye on a number of occasions I could see a guy about my age with short butterscotch blonde hair and very light hazel eyes, who kept glancing over his PSP, around the carriage, then at me. He would quickly focus back on his game whenever I met his gaze. He also looked suspiciously familiar, but I couldn’t place him. As the train dragged me further away from my home I started thinking about what would await me when I got to my new destination, what school was going to be like, would I even be able to understand people! I giggled to myself after that thought I didn’t have too much trouble understanding my aunt but her accent wasn’t too prominent.
Finally the ancient train started slowing and over the speaker a thick Scottish accent announced we have arrived in Ayrshire. Luckily there was only the blonde boy left on my carriage, for everyone else had gotten off at previous stops, yet he still pushed past me very quickly as I tried to tow my bags off one by one. I was not excited about the car journey I would have to endure with my aunt to the outskirts of Kilmarnock but it would be better then walking fifteen miles.
As I pulled the remainder of my bags off the train I turned to see a short woman stood on the platform a few metres up from me. She was quite a big lady even though she was only thirty nine. Her face wasn’t what you could call beautiful either. The lines across her forehead looked as if they were permanently carved into position from frowning and the bags seemed permanently etched beneath her eyelids, her lips pulled down slightly at the corners setting her expression in a constant grimace. The way she stood remained me of a rhino or a bull about to charge, her stance wasn’t welcoming maybe even aggressive and she wore a slight sadistic grin that tugged at the corner of her lips. Her short black hair was tinned out and not looked after, just as I remembered it from three years ago the last time I saw her. After looking at her I started second guessing my decision to come here. She stalked forward with less grace then an elephant and towered over me eyeing up the numerous bags I had brought.
“Was all this really necessary?” her voice sounded even angrier then her stance had looked I could tell I wasn’t welcome here.
“I was thinking about financial issues, I didn’t want for you to have to buy me all new clothes that would have cost a fortune Aunt Agnes” I looked at me feet but I felt her gaze on me her anger was almost taste able in the air.
“I didn’t want you here and I don’t want you taking up so much space in my house. When we get back you will ditch the non-essentials do you understand?” her tone was harsher than expected I could tell she was not pleased by my decision to live with her and she had to take me in because I wasn’t sixteen until next summer.
“Yes Aunt...”
“NO! It is ‘Yes Miss’ from now on do you understand?!” she cut me off and my mouth closed automatically. My fists clenched and my jaw tightened as I tried not to let tears escape my eyes, she was my only family and even she didn’t want me the, rejection had hit me harder than her words had.
“Yes Miss” I answered quickly in response, my words didn’t stick in my throat to my relief.
“Good now go grab a trolley I am not carrying all this! Stupid stupid girl.” her tone still wasn’t pleasant but it was quieter because people began to stare.
“Yes miss” I mumbled through my teeth, still trying to keep my jaw tight as I walked off to try and find a trolley. I brought one back as quick as I could but the wheels were not working with me as I tried to speed back to my bags on the other side of the station.
“Load them and follow me if you don’t hurry you will walk back.” She didn’t even look at me as she delivered her latest blow instead she turned and walked away. I hurried trying throw all the bags on the trolley but they kept sliding off and wouldn’t all fit. Eventually a man took pity on me and helped me load the last of the bags onto the trolley; he was then kind enough to help me push them towards the door she was waiting in the car across the lot. Her car- if you could call it that- was an old ford painted a disgusting purple with rust eating away underneath it and bits of bumper missing, no way was that car road legal but I wasn’t going to walk to her house. I rushed across the parking lot with my bags and loaded them in quickly returning the trolley as she started pulling away; I had to jog brusquely before she slowed enough for her to let me jump in.
New Home
The whole road trip was silent if I took a breath in too loud she would snap at me, I could barely begin to imagine what she would do to me for the next few months but I tried not to let my mind get too indulged in that thought. We pulled up to a small cottage, very remote and tucked away. The neglected house was covered in ivy from ground to roof which had tiles missing from it. The windows where set in old metal frames, which I guessed were once painted white but most of it had flaked away with time. A few grey bricks were visible along with the windows through the creeping ivy, but that was about all of house that was visible behind the curtain of green, except the front door which stood in the centre of the small house, looking fragile. The wood was old and uncared for with moss growing in between the slats which held in place a large black metal knocker and handle.
She got out the car and threw me the car keys. “Get out your bags when you’re done make sure it’s locked. Then get started on dinner, I want pasta and bacon, you can catch a bus to the shop and get my food with the money I will leave on the kitchen counter. I want all the change and you can have toast with- depending on how pleasing your meal is- butter. Then after chores –which I will leave a list of with the money-you will start on the dining room it has been very neglected so that will be your task for the week. I don’t want to hear you moan about doing the jobs because you will sleep outside in the old dog house if you do, so let that be a warning to you. School starts next Monday, I advise you be awake, ready and out of the house by half six... it’s a long walk. I also suggest you clean the lounge before next week if you want any chance to do homework. Your shopping budget for lunch will be five pounds for the week which you will give me back after you start a paper round I graciously set up for you to start in a fought night. If all these conditions are met we won’t have a problem. Understood?” the look in her eyes was evil as the same sadistic smile tugged at her mouth again. I nodded my head daring not to speak.
“NO!” she bellowed “WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT ADRESSING ME?” her hand clenched into fists at her side.
“Y-yes Miss” I stuttered over the words but tried to regain my composure. Her fingers relaxed but her grin had compressed into a hard line.
“That’s better” she whispered through her teeth, the words almost like a threat and subsequently turned to stalk into the house, pushing the door aside with enough force I was sure she could have broken it. I had to lean against the car for support. ‘What have I gotten myself into’ were the only words that repeatedly ran through my head as I opened up the boot and back door to pull out my bags.
“What kind of place is this?” I muttered under my breath to myself and my throat became stiff as I fought the tears back. I had a gut feeling I had made the wrong choice about coming here but there wasn’t much that could be done now. I could see Agnes was going to use this new situation to her advantage and I had two choices... endure it or run away. One was the smart option and the latter was my preference. I brought the bags inside the house which looked worse inside then it had out. It was so dark the lights were covered in dust and mould and the wallpaper dangled off the walls the ceiling was stained yellow and the place stunk of cigarette smoke, so bad I couldn’t help but gag.
“Upstairs last bedroom to the left” a voice echoed down from further along the hallway. “Don’t touch anything else all the other rooms are mine you will only use the downstairs toilet and shower. Better hurry the shop shuts in an hour.”
I pulled the numerous bags upstairs then opened the door to my new room. It was so small; a blow up mattress had been laid on the floor with a blanket and an old yellow stained pillow. She hadn’t even blown up the mattress for me. The room itself had once white wallpaper now yellowed with age, one window with an old lace curtain hanging over it, two plugs where placed beside where my new bed lay, along with a small wardrobe, chest of drawers and a bedside table which held an old alarm clock. Each piece of furniture was aged and layered in dust I shook out the blanket and that too was filthy. For the time being I folded my bed back against the wall and brought my bags in. They only just fit on the available floor space in the room. I turned shutting the door quietly and headed downstairs. The first door along the hallway held a small living room with one double sofa and a TV, the condition of the room currently was just as nasty as the hall just with more junk strewn across the floor and piled up on the coffee table. The rest of the rooms followed in about the same fashion until I reached the kitchen at the end.
The cold tile floors were covered in dirt and god only knows what else, in the corner the sink over flowed with dirty pots which stunk of stagnant water and the counters were covered with fast food boxes and old food packets. A small table stood near the window with two chairs and a table cloth a square space had been cleared on either side obviously to eat on but the rest of the table was covered in more junk and old newspapers. Also on the table lay a ten pound note with a letter giving me directions to the shop and instructions on what my aunt wanted to eat, she also explained my budget was included in there too. The bus schedule lying next to it stated that I had fifteen minutes to run for the bus so without pausing I grabbed the schedule, the money, the list, my purse and left.
School
The rest of the week had passed in the same fashion, chores, cleaning, cooking until finally it was Sunday which meant school started tomorrow or translation; ‘my day off’. The house had suddenly looked in much better shape after my arrival. When I had finished sponging all ceilings and re-painting them, they no longer stunk of stale smoke. Shortly after that I had set to work scraping off all wallpaper which clung weakly to the walls and replacing them with more paint. I took down the curtains to clean them and chiselled all the dirt off the kitchen floors and surfaces. I was tempted to call a skip with the amount of rubbish which needed disposing of, but Agnes had made me drag it in bags to the car so she could drive them to the dump.
After blowing up my mattress on Monday I soon discovered it had a slow puncture so it was flat by the time I woke up every morning. I retired to bed early on Sunday evening blowing up my bed and setting up my blanket. I felt a charge running through my body, excitement. I’d had no contact with anyone but Agnes since I had left my friends at the station. Getting to sleep wasn’t easy while I was buzzing with nerves as well as anticipation but I managed it somehow around eleven. I was awake before my alarm went off at six and ready to leave by quarter past. The school uniform wasn’t appealing at all; the grey pleated skirt came down below my knee and I had to wear white knee length socks with black shoes. I had a white shirt and blue striped tie with a blue V-neck, which was exactly the same colour as the navy blazer I had to wear. I was unresolved whether or not to undo my top button and loosen my tie as well as taking my shirt out from where it was tucked into my skirt, simply because I didn’t want people to hate me from the start, but after some deliberation the resolution was that I would leave my uniform until I arrived at school and assessed how everyone else wore it. I decided it might be a good idea to try and sneak my laptop with me to school to see if it worked there, at least homework would be an excuse for staying behind. I hadn’t dared get out my phone or laptop near Agnes one because I didn’t know what she would do to them if she found them and two I just didn’t have any time. She had given me a small map so I could find my way to school, considering it was my first day I determined that leaving early would not be a bad idea especially seeing as I didn’t know where the school was.
Following the map given to me I trudged down the pathways and roads heading, hopefully, towards my new school. Everything was covered in foliage; just endless stretches of green curtain reaching from ground to sky with the occasional field spaced in between. The tarmac roads were saturated in water drenching my socks. “Wellies tomorrow” I thought as I carried on squelching down a slope. I crossed about three small bridges on my way fourteen fields and twelve houses before I saw a signpost stating just how much further I would have to travel, only half a mile left to endure which put a smile across my face. Suddenly the thought crossed my mind of the little phone I carried in my pocket pulling it out to check the time-It was now half seven- I noticed for the first time I had signal as well as twenty six messages from my friends back home. The first messages were their condolences and wishing me good luck in my new home, the majority thereafter where about the week they had spent without me and towards the end of the list held several messages filled with worry by my lack of response to them. I quickly replied to Hannah wishing her well followed by Joe, Caty, mark and Shelley.
By the time I had finished with all the messages I saw it, my new school standing in a clearing away from all the trees. The concrete blended in perfectly with the grey sky, the darkened tarmac and the grey shingle lining the footpath up to the main entrance. The crunch of the stones beneath my feet reminded of my driveway back home, who would have thought something like that, would make me think of home. The giant glass double doors opened automatically as I stepped inside a woman sat at reception to my right beckoned me to go to her. She had long blonde hair and brown eyes. Her face was covered in makeup the mascara clumping around her eyes but somehow it still complimented their brown shade, she was slightly on the large side but wasn’t overweight and her face although plastered in makeup was warm and welcoming.
“Good morning” as I said this I realised just how nervous I was my voice was shaky and barely audible.
A professional smile spread across her face as she answered “Good morning and welcome to Grennia Grammar School my name is Cynthia. How can I help you sweetie?” Her voice was quite high pitched yet soft and friendly perfectly suited for a receptionist.
“Umm. I’m Scarlett Taylor Miss.” She nodded encouragingly yet seemed slightly impatient, but there was no clue of that on her face. “I’m due to start at this school today.” A look of realisation stretched across her face.
“Ahh Scarlett, yes they let me know you were coming this morning.” She laughed slightly to herself and reached for the phone on her desk. “Hi Tom we have Scarlett in reception, could you send someone down to show her around and sort out her timetable? Yes... ok thank you.” She placed the phone back on the stand then turned to face me. “Mr Bainsley, your new form tutor, will be down in a few moments if you would like to take a seat.” She gestured towards a row of retro looking white chairs which stood uniformly together stretching away from the reception. I turned to sit down as she leaned over her desk to address me again. “Is there anything I can get you? A glass of water maybe?”
“No Thank You miss. I’ll just wait here.” I turned to sit down on one of the white retro styled chairs while I glanced around the school. The north face was entirely made of glass, while the rest was coated in white plaster and painted with various patches of vibrant colours. As my attention drifted down the staircase in front of me I noticed a small man walking towards me a huge smile pasted on his face. He was balding slightly but his hair hadn’t turned grey yet. He wore a white chequered shirt buttoned to the top and a purple tie in a small knot, with black leather shoes that looked much too big for him. He walked quickly to me still smiling as he said my name.
“Scarlett.” He held out his hand and I took it he shook it vigorously then let go to replace his hand back by his side. “I’m Mr Bainsley your new form tutor. Welcome to Grennia.”
“Thank you sir” I said looking up at his face.
“Not at all it’s our pleasure to have you, I was very impressed by your grades at your predecessor school and I only hope you can excel further here. A student will be down shortly to give you a tour of the school I believe she is in most of your classes as well as your form.” For the first time I noticed a small stack of papers in his left hand. He lifted them towards me presenting me with a timetable, a map -which I was determined to memorise before I was caught with it- a student ID card and a small envelop address to my new guardian. I examined each of the papers trying to take as much information from them as possible and stuff it into my head so I wouldn’t have to keep referring to them.
“That should be all you will need. Your tour should last until break then after that you have your first class which is maths... lucky you, although you have a very nice teacher Mrs Grange is very welcoming and helpful to all new students” he carried on smiling tentatively at me I tried to give him an answering smile as best I could.. Great an over welcoming maths teacher just what I need for my first lesson; everyone to know I’m the new girl.
He motioned towards the seat and I plonked back down on it to await my tour guide thoroughly scanning the map until a girl sat down next to me her face covered in the same friendly smile which everyone else had worn today.
“Hi” she said excitedly I put the map in my pocket and met her gaze she was practically bouncing with enthusiasm.
“Hi” I responded with nowhere near as much eagerness as she had.
“You must be Scarlett” her voice was layered with friendliness “My name is Ami I will be your tour guide and your new best friend here at Grennia! Everyone has been so excited to meet you... we never have anyone new here so your kind of like major news!” she got up off the seat to stand in front of me. “come on lets go” she reached down to grab my hand pulled me up and she skipped off I followed trying to make myself look inconspicuous but failed as Ami danced around the school towing me at her side. She chattered relentlessly as she showed me around making sure I knew the ins and outs of everything that went on in the school at break she introduced me to some new people the names I remembered were Ben Turner, Nicky Carlton, Jeffrey Taint and Hayley May. Each wore the same smile and also chatted to me in the same fashion as Ami but I felt somewhat like a novelty or a new toy to them. Maths was fun... not Mrs Grange introduced me to the rest of the class- what a joy and then she made sure I didn’t have to work too hard giving me special treatment and never calling upon me, although that meant maths was made easy people began to stare at me. Ami changed places to sit next to me this made me feel as though I fit in more but each time I looked around I would catch a dozen eyes upon me. The day carried on in the same pattern and soon it was so repetitive it felt normal the next day the same things happened but less intense and over the week the news of my arrival gradually died down into the occasional conversation. The teachers had become used to me as well so they did not stand me in front of the class any more. I started to blend in -I belonged.
Hannah would happily text me back every day during school now understanding that I couldn’t reply at home. She begged me to go back but there was no way to leave so to my regret I had to carry on enduring life here. My aunt’s behaviour seemed less severe now, I wasn’t sure whether she had actually lessened my work load or I was just getting used to completing the tasks she set. Either way life was starting to feel more comfortable, for now anyways. My new friends seemed a little put out that I wouldn’t see them outside of school but the truth was I couldn’t see them, yet I wasn’t about to tell them about my aunt and my new home. They endlessly asked questions about why I moved here and why I left Norwich to which I just answered my parents got bored and moved here, they seemed to accept that story so I stuck with it.
It was my fourth Monday at Grennia when a new boy turned up to start, it was very late in the year but they had let me in so I didn’t look too much into it, that was until I saw him. I had gone into my maths class same as every day and there he was-sat in Ami’s seat! She asked me to move to sit with her but the teacher sat me back at my old place. Looking at him he seemed familiar then suddenly I remembered where I had seen him before- he was the boy from the train and before that I had seen him at my old school! I started to think I was going mad but I was positive that I had seen him there I remembered his eyes that’s how I knew it has him. His light hazel eyes fixed on me as I came to sit next to him.
“Everyone” Mrs Grange addressed us. “This is Jack Gray” she gestured to him he stood up looked round the room then sat down again. “He has just joined us from Norwich Technology College, so please make him feel as welcome here as you have done for Scarlett.” Her announcement confirmed my suspicions about where I had seen him before. He seemed wary of me his body language slightly tensed his hands positioned like claws as they rested on the table.
“Hi Jack, I’m Scarlett. Umm I believe we went to the same school” I laughed nervously “how funny. How come you moved here?” I stared at him hoping for a response then he turned to look into my eyes again, his pupils were an odd shape they were slightly more oval then normal but I dismissed that thinking I was being silly.
“Hello” he said in a rough voice very deep and very appealing. “It’s nice to meet you Scarlett. Yes I believe I saw u at NTC yet I don’t believe we have officially met. I moved here with my family a few weeks ago then started today.” He kept glancing quickly round the room then back to me his focus was too concentrated, too vigilant.
“Oh” was all I could manage to push out my mouth while I regained my composure his voice was so inviting. “Well I hope you enjoy it here.” I tried to sound indifferent but I failed my voice jumping slightly at the beginning.
“I don’t intend to stay for very long so your friend can have her seat back soon.” He said turning away.
“Why did you move to here then if you aren’t going to say” when I finished I thought I had been rude, I was about to try and rectify that but his gaze shot back to me.
“I’m waiting for something, that’s why I’m here... because I need to be.” He almost threw the words out his mouth. I was about to answer back but the bell went and he was out of the classroom before everyone else.
For the rest of the day I assumed he was avoiding me he was in all my classes but never took the available space next to me, he always sat elsewhere, when I walked towards him he would suddenly turn a corner and disappear so I would give up and retreat. At lunch I couldn’t see him so I sat down on one of the available tables waiting for my friends. Three girls walked up to my table their names were Kayley Marks, Katey Marrs and Kathy Mears. They all uniformly were thin and good looking with peroxide blonde hair and extensions and had the same long diamante encrusted nails. They never ate but they always carried a tray of food at lunch, they were ruthless- even I knew that.
“This is our table” Kayley said her voice was very nasal, high pitched and irritating.
“No it isn’t you never sit here.” I tried to sound aggressive but it didn’t work my voice
sounded weak and I assume the look on my face provoked them further. Kayley put her tray down in front of me then looked at Katey and Kathy they quickly walked round each side of the table to stand on either side of me grabbing my shoulders and pulling me backwards of the bench while Kayley pushed my food off the table and into my lap. Each took my previous spot so I stood up grabbed Kayley’s food and threw it at her all three jumped up fists clenched as I grabbed my bags and ran off to where I thought Ami’s lesson was. I turned the corner quickly and bumped into Jack dropping my bags and falling over backwards. Rubbing my head I leaned forward he crouched down beside me handing me my bag as he helped me up.
“Are you okay? I’m so sorry I was in a hurry to come and get you...” he cut off thought for a second then carried on hurriedly “to come get some food... I was rushing because I was hungry, I should have paid more attention I’m sorry” his eyes were soft and apologetic
“Its fine, I shouldn’t have been running...” I said trying to convince him it’s wasn’t his fault but he just cut me off and snapped.
“I don’t blame you for running” then his face went back from hard to apologetic again “sorry I’m just a bit on edge at the moment, I could walk you back to the cafeteria if you like?” he put his hand on my shoulder as I nodded and walked me back. As we past Kayley she stood up and walked behind us.
“You’ll get what’s coming to you just you watch” she sneered under her breath I felt Jack’s grip tighten around my arm as he pulled me across his body away from her, he couldn’t have heard that could he? Whatever the reason there must has been something in his body language which kept Kayley from perusing us. He bought me lunch then walked me back to my lesson and he took his place next to me. I.T finished quickly because Miss Guller just babbled on about how to appropriately use a key board and mouse to maximum efficiency- what a waste of time. The students filed out the classroom quickly then hurried to get outside. No one else walked my way but Jack watched me as I crossed the courtyard then turned to walk the opposite direction.
Fight then Flight
I had been walking up the path for some time when I started to get the feeling I wasn’t alone. Turning around I saw two people in hoodies heading my way I sped up slightly clutching the bag which held my laptop and phone tightly. I turned the corner to find another person stood in front of me head down covered by her black hood she slowly tilted her head back as the other two closed in.
“Good job girls, let’s get to work” the sinister voice said acknowledging the pair behind me. Their hoods fell back to reveal Kayley, Katey and Kathy or at least I thought it was them their hair had changed it was jet black and wavy, their faces had strange black markings and their teeth were jagged in their open mouths, their nails were no longer polished fakes but claws real claws and they held jet black stones where their eyes should be.
My feet where firmly planted in the ground as they stalked forward. “Such a strong soul!” Katey said eagerly in a voice so high it hurt my ears.
“Yes” Kayley agreed “Strong but dormant, she will make for an excellent feast!” her voice was almost as thrilled as Katy’s.
Kathy looked at Kayley doubtfully “Should we wait for Cerberus and Jezebel? They will be mad if we don’t...”
“They don’t have to know” Kayley retorted focusing back on me.
All three were less than a metre away from me now their expressions were greedy. I tightly closed my eyes wishing to fight back, willing my arms to move, desperate to know how to escape. I felt one of them touch my arm, which sent an electric shock across my body I opened my eyes to see I was on fire! I hit Kayley frantically trying to get away from her and whatever she was doing to me but my fist burnt through her skin she fell to the floor clutching at her arm screaming in agony. The other two closed in with ravenous expressions and their teeth bared, another wave of terror flowed through me, but the fire leapt off my body protecting me in a dome of flame then it started pushing outwards blazing towards the now frightened looking trio. With no warning it exploded outwards knocking them out the way and scorching them all over.
