Clash

Chapter two - India

“Hey, are you signing up for the netball team this year?” I ask Serena as we head towards our new classroom,

“I don’t know,” she replies, “My parents say I can’t do many clubs this year because of exams!”I roll my eyes,

“Well screw them! Come on, the sign up board is over there,” We run to sign up for netball. And hockey. And swimming while we’re at it. I’ve been in the A team for all three since year 9.

“Also are you playing in the orchestra this year?” Serena asks as she finishes writing her name on the signup sheet,

“I don’t know, honestly. I was thinking about it, but it’s on the same day as gym, and if I have to choose between the two I think you know what I’ll choose,” We pick our bags up off the floor and turn around the corner to walk up the stairs.

“Anyway, I didn’t ask, how was Sicily?” she asks me,

“Yeah, it was great thanks!” I reply enthusiastically. When she asked me if it was just a family holiday I told her I was going with an old friend. Technically that’s the truth, it’s just I didn’t say who the old friend was. April Snow. My best friend since birth. Who also goes to the same school as me. Who none of my friends know exists. I really do wish all of us could be friends together. April really is a great girl, an amazing friend, just she’s too shy to ever be friends with the people I’m friends with. She doesn’t speak, she’s just like a ghost. But people move on, they make new friends. I just wish she could accept that and stop trailing after me.

We carry on walking, with Serena telling me all about her holiday and about the boy she had her ‘summer romance’ with. I was too busy with April to have a summer romance. Ok, it was a lot of fun and we had a great time, but we’re not in Sicily anymore, we’re in school, back in the real world, and I can’t afford to lose everything I’ve built for myself here just because of some girl who thinks I’m still best friends with her. I get my head mixed up every night thinking about this. I want to be friends with her, I really do, but what would my other friends think? That I’ve ditched them for some girl who doesn’t ever say anything. So I just stick with her outside of school. Every night I sneak outside and through the loose board in the fence we discovered when we were kids. And we just talk about things. And it's really nice. We just listen to each other, like best freinds do. Except April can't be my best friend. At least, not in school she can't. If I was a decent person I wouldn’t care what people thought of me, I would just tell them to screw themselves and get on their lives. But I’m not a decent person, and what my friends think of me means everything to me. I can’t help it, it’s just the way I am, so sorry April, you’ll just have to deal with that for now.

We reach the classroom. Room 64. “I love this room!” I squeal, “It’s where we had history with Miss Chaplin in year 8!”

Serena nods, “Ah, this room holds fond memories,”

We step inside, where the whole gang is waiting for us. “India!” half of them shout, while the rest run towards me and wrap me in a tight hug. Several shouts of “How are you?”, “How was your summer?”, and “What’s that blue in your hair?” Are heard above the commotion. I laugh, and hug everyone back,“Thanks guys!” I tell them, “Summer was great thanks,” I turn around. In the corner of the room is April, smiling hopefully at me. I turn my head away shamefully to look back at everyone else. I hate myself at times, I really do.