Definitely Not Attached

Chapter One

The dream's always the same. It has been for quite a while now.

I'm alone on a moving train. It moves staggeringly slow and I keep looking down, as though I am ashamed of something. I see myself, holding on to the railing and I break down and cry.

Then, I feel a cold hand which grabs my arm. I shiver at the suddenness of this action, but as I look behind me, I began to smile from ear to ear.

'RITA! YOU'RE ASTRONOMICALLY LATE!'

'..Please'

RITA MASCHERANO! Just because today is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday, does not mean you go skiving off! Lo que está mal con usted?' (What's wrong with you, girl?)

'..No, wait.. Who are - are you?' I grumble and I turn in my sheets.

My eyes become accustomed to the frantic figure dashing about the room, hopping about like a demon, and to the sun peeping through the drapes as I begin to stir. The figure draws them open, to which they make the most ear-piercing sound.

'MOM! OK, I get the message already!' I sit upright on my bed, slouching a little. Shaking my head to wake myself up a little, I pick up my BlackBerry. The time is 08:29. Much more importantly, I notice the tantalising presence of 2 texts flashing brightly at the corner of the screen, both from my best friend Miguel.

Miguel is probably one of the best people I have ever come across. I'm so glad I met him, he's a top mate. I've known him since Nursery, when he came new to my school and having come straight from Mexico, it transpired that he didn't really know any English. Now that we've grown up, he has blossomed into a witty, humourous character and I wouldn't change him for the world!

'No time to check them now..' I think to myself.

After I've taken the shortest shower in history, brushed my teeth, wolfed down 3 pancakes and a cup of milk, gotten changed into my hideous green uniform AND brushed my hair, I give my mom the sloppiest kiss on the forehead and rush out of the door. As soon as I shut it, I see my bus whizz past. I run for my stop. I agitatedly insert my earphones to the song Stay by Rihanna. It calms me down. At the minute, I need all the calm and quiet I can get as I begin dashing towards the bus stop, praying to God I make it. Seemingly many, many years later, I reach my destination, to which I grab my compact mirror and gaze wide- eyed at my now dishevelled hair and sweaty brow.

Oh no, what's Miguel going to think ?

Who cares what Miguel thinks? Bloody hell. My brain is hyperactive this morning with thoughts only of him. This is weird indeed.

To take my mind off my.. well, my mind, I check the texts. 'How you doin', Spanner x' and 'Rise and Shine, beautiful x' adorn my screen like the lights in New York City. I smile at the word 'Spanner', a corny abbreviation of 'Spaniard' which he knows full well I hate. It immediately brightens up my morning and leaves me with too wide a grin on my face as I enter my school.