Under Your Skin

Chapter 1

Wait, what, Lana? Like wool? 

Lana stared out the window, watching the blurred surroundings whizz by. Her mum and dad were in the front of the car, and every now and then she saw her mum turn around and give her a reassuring smile, then dab at her face with tissues when she thought that her daughter couldn’t see. Every time her mum did that her dad burst out laughing, but Lana could see that his hand also strayed over to her mum’s and took hold of it at those times.

It was going to be hard for them, she knew that. But when Mrs Locks had called her into the office and told her the news, there was no way she was going to let the opportunity go without a fight. A lot of slamming doors and thousands of tears later, she was on her way to the airport to catch her flight to Spain. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she slipped it out, and looked at the screen. ‘Hola, Lana, have a great time in Espain (what’d’ya think of my spanish, ey?) Don’t forget bout us, & keep in touch. Love ya, Jake xx. P.s. d’ya think I cud borrow ur notes for b.s from last term. Think I failed so Coops gonna have my guts if I don’t do well in res-sit. Thanx babe x' the text read, and she sighed. Jake was her ex-boyfriend slash best friend. They’d split up only a few months ago, when he’d decided that the new girl at school, Felicity, was more interesting than his girlfriend. They were still friends, and Lana’s feelings for him had never gone away. Hence how he could still manipulate her into doing what he wanted. He had always been able to, and Lana knew that he probably always would. Well, as long as he was in her life. She had known Jake for six years, and they’d been together for two of them, and in that time Lana had never once said no. If he wanted her to do something or get something for him, then she would do it. Without a doubt. She had always been a pushover anyway, not just with him, so she never really could say no to anyone.

Her fingers attempted to type a reply, and her brain was screaming at her to say no and tell him he can find someone else to be his doormat, but her heart won the battle, like always, so instead she replied ‘Haha, sure, its in the blue folder on my desk, just ask mum & she’ll get it 4 u. Speak soon, Lana xxx’.

“Mum, Jake’ll be popping round some time to get my business studies notes, if he can’t find ‘em then can you help him out,” Lana told her, and her mum nodded in reply, her face still tear-stained and obviously not able to speak. Still, she was smiling and Lana could tell she was putting on a brave face just for her.

It wasn’t long before they reached the airport and the goodbye’s started. Her dad, who was usually so calm and cool, wrapped her in a tight hug and seemed to let his defences down for those few split seconds. He didn’t say anything and neither did she, but both of them understood the words that weren’t being spoken, and afterwards he was back to his normal self. Then it came time for her mum to say goodbye. Tears were pouring down her face and once she’d grabbed hold of Lana she refused to let her go. It was only when the call came for her flight that her mum loosened her grip ever so slightly.

“Mum, it’s okay, I’m only gone for a year. And you’re coming to see me in a few weeks, and I’ll be back for Christmas. I love you, mum,” Lana told her, by now also crying.

“I love you too, baby girl. Have a great time. Ring us any time, day or night, and let us know when you get there tonight, ok?” her mum replied, and Lana gave them one last kiss goodbye before she went through to board her flight. She turned and waved at them as she came up to security, and then she couldn’t see them anymore.

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“Pero, Señora Carlson, no quiero hacerlo.”

“Carlos Garcia Ortega, you will do this. You have no choice in the matter. She will be arriving in a couple of hours, we are going to head down to the airport and meet her. I will not tolerate any bad behaviour from you, Carlos,” Mrs Carlson told him, and he nodded in reply, before she started searching her desk for the papers she needed.