The Fire Of Our Hearts - A One Chicago World

The Locker Fiasco - Chapter 1

I laid on my back for a while, blinking sleep out of my eyes, and fighting the urge to go back to dreamland. After i've woken up a bit more I get out of bed, already knowing my parents were out like they always were. Today's the job fair, which is exciting, I guess. I throw on a hoodie, which like all my others, it practically swallows my whole body. It's an S but apparently not even they fit me, and i'm 16!I slip on a pair of sweatpants and roll the ankles up so I don't trip over them, and I start making my way to the kitchen. I quickly swipe a couple dollars from the counter and I start pulling on my ratty trainers. I walk out my bright blue front door and start my walk to the bus stop.

I lived in one of the bad neighborhoods in chicago, but had won a scholarship to Clashfield High in middle school. I reach the bus stop and don't wait for long, as the bus is already pulling up. I fish a dollar out of my pocket and grab my bus pass for the day before making my way down the isle. I see an empty seat next to two doctors but quickly decide against sitting there, and hold on to one of the neon yellow poles instead. They both shot a smile at me, but I quickly look the other way.

Soon it's time for me to get off, so I do, and I pull my phone out. I put one of my headphones in and put on some music as I start walking. I note to myself that 3 doctors, one who I hadn't noticed before, were also walking my way so I speed walk a little. It's not that long of a walk, roughly about 10 minutes, but I meet my best friend Hallie half way through most of the time. All of a sudden someone leaps onto my back and I squeal in surprise, seeing Hallies long hair fall against my shoulder. She slips of my back and places and arm around me dragging me the rest of the way to school while I scold her for scaring me. We were a little late this morning so we decide to race to homeroom. 

As we near our class I realise there's a group talking rather loudly down the other end of the hall, so I turn to look at Hallie to ask her about it, when I trip over my own feet flying head first into a locker. "For fuck's sake!" I shout as I stand, rubbing my nose. Hallie has skidded to a stop and hands me my bag as she fails to stop laughing. I smile at her and jump when I feel someone's hand on my shoulder. Hallies now looking dead serious and I turn to look behind me. It's a man with ginger hair in red scrubs, like the two I saw on the bus, and I see a group of people staring in concern behind him. "You alright there kid? Took quite a nasty fall there." He asks, studying my face for any visible injury. I nod slowly, "Think my pride hurts more than anything else" I smile, and Hallie snorts behind me. "Thanks for checking though" I slip away and grab Hallie running to class. The bell goes as we get there, but we walk in anyway. Our teacher smiles at us when we walk in and we start explaining why we're late. He offers to let me go to the nurse but I decline, shaking my head. "I'm good thanks" I laugh quietly. We both exit the classroom, and I keep the sudden wave of nausea to myself. When we get to the hall were sorted into groups, unfortunately I don't get Hallie, instead I get the stuck-up popular girl Maddie. She sighs as she leads me around for the first hour where we reach the back of the hall. This is where the first responders are located, so I slip into the back and don't pay to much attention. All of a sudden everything's  a blur and when I can question why i'm sat under the willow tree curled up in the roots, shaking and hugging my knees.

Hallie's Pov

I saw Abby walk quickly out of the hall, clearly unfocused. Apparently so did the ginger doctor, who checked on her earlier, as he tried to follow her. However he was swarmed with questions but slumped his shoulders in defeat, answering them. I walk away, towards the exit, when I hear my headteacher shout my name and it goes silent. Everyones looking at me and I turn around, "Yes..?" I question. I was confused. "Where do you think your going?!" She storms towards me. "Africa!" I shout and run out. I hear him running after me, so I put more leg power into it. I pushed my way through doors, and ran into the girls bathroom. I run through the back door, making my way to the back of the school.