Love Bites

A new start

Tasha tossed and turned, her mind refusing to obey her bodies command for sleep. The clock read 5:16am and knowing she had to get up in a few hours she threw back the covers, giving sleep up as a bad job. She'd been doing that a lot recently, every time she closed her eyes she saw blood, flesh hanging off bone, her dad's pain filled eyes. These horrors were interspersed with memories of Alice's broken body at the bottom of that disused well, her own screams echoing through time.

Sighing, Tasha made a coffee and took it out to the garden. She sat on the chair swing and watched the day come alive. She dressed with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. This was their final day of year 13, the study leave they had been on was over and they had to attend a final day before the exams started on Monday. In no time at all her exam results would be on her doorstep. The thought that she was about to embark on her last day in education was kind of jarring. School had always been a part of her life, it was just another thing in her life changing, but her parents wouldn't be there to wave her off; celebrate her results with her. She felt her eyes fill but resolutely shook them away. She'd cried too many tears of late.

Anson was stood in his usual spot on the corner of his road, attention buried in his phone. They'd walked to school together every day for seven years. Ever since they'd been paired up together on their first day, Anson had waited on the corner of his road for her and they would walk in together. Another thing about to change.

"Hey," she greeted him, linking her arm through his.

"Hey, back. So, are you ready for our last ever day in school?" he asked.

"Not quite our last day," she corrected him. "We still have to come in for exams."

"That's not the same. Stop being such a Debbie Downer and mentioning the 'E' word." Anson scolded her in mock anger. "Besides, today isn't really a school day. It's a goodbye school day."

They arrived to form to find their form tutor had laid out a mini breakfast buffet of croissants, pastries and fruit. He had music playing through the smart-board and greeted them warmly when they arrived. There was no talk of exams and no expectation to revise, just some time to chat and say goodbye to those who would undoubtedly drift from their lives.

Tasha and Anson began discussing 'The Tempest's' latest track.

"We've gone for a more grungy feel with this one." Anson told her, "It's a little more angsty."

Tasha laughed, "Because you and Simon have both had some terrible experiences." She rolled her eyes a little. 

Anson paled, "Oh God Tasha, I'm sorry...I didn't..."

"Shut up you weirdo," she laughed, playfully pushing him in a bid to say, it's okay.

"Tasha Gionetti," Mr Barker's suddenly called out and she jumped. One of the school runners had come in with a message. Tasha glanced nervously at Anson who shrugged. She went the front. "Miss Danson wants to see you."

Tasha nervously went to Miss Danson's office. She'd never been called to see the head of year before, ever. She was a good student. She racked her brain as she walked. What could she have possibly have done that would necessitate the head of year 13 demanding to see today?

"Come in," Miss Danson called when Tasha knocked. When she entered she was surprised to see her grandparents sitting there. "Tasha, sit down." 

"What's going on?" she looked from her grandparents to Miss Danson, worry piquing.

"Natasha," Miss Danson began and Tasha frowned, she hated the use of her full name. It just showed how much Miss Danson didn't know her. "We are very aware that you have suffered a tragic loss recently, and that it has had an impact, understandably so, on your work. We," she gestured to herself and her grandparents, "feel it wouldn't be fair to you to sit your A levels right now."