Sleepless

Supply Closet

Bethan joined the huge throng of people making their way impossible slowly towards the assembly hall. She grimaced as she looked around at the other people wearing the same uniform as her - a green blazer, white shirt, green and black tie, and black pants. Only of course, they called them trousers. Friggin' Irish, thought Bethan to herself.  

Eventually, the crowd had all squeezed into the assembly hall, and Bethan took the nearest available seat, looking round as she took off her horrific blazer. A boy tapped her on the shoulder and whispered, "What do you think you're doing?" She looked at him.

"What, I'm not allowed to take off my blazer?" The boy smiled at her pityingly. 

"You must be new." He held out his hand. "I'm Evan." Bethan smiled. 

"I'm Bethan. This place is really -" Bethan was interrupted by a loud booming voice from the front of the hall, on the stage.

"Stand!" they hollered. Bethan snapped her head towards the front just as her view was inhibited by the rows of people standing up in front. She remained seated, confused, until Evan pulled her up by her arm. She tugged her arm away indignantly, but said nothing. She had a feeling that wouldn't go down too well. A man entered; he was quite short, and had badly styled brown hair. Bethan couldn't help but think he kind of looked like a goat...  The man walked up to the lector at the front of the stage and spoke into the microphone. 

"Please be seated." Bethan blinked but sat down slowly like the rest of them. The man spoke slowly and clearly, but Bethan couldn't concentrate on anything he was saying. She looked longingly at the clock, wishing it was already the end of the day. This was not her scene at all.

★★★★★

"Jesus Christ," complained Bethan as she finally finished her final lesson and walked to her locker. The corridors were crowded and she found it difficult to navigate her way through all the teenagers milling around. 

Suddenly, she was elbowed roughly in the stomach by another student not paying attention and she stumbled backwards, taken by surprise. She crashed into a door that was open a crack, and fell inside. Almost instantly, the door was shut. 

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" hissed a voice. Bethan's eyes widened as she straightened her self up.

"Um, sorry; I just fell in -" 

"Cut the apologies; we've got to get going." Bethan looked confusedly into the darkness as she felt someone grab her wrist silently and pull her along. When she fell, she hadn't had enough time or light to see that this was more than a simple supply cupboard. "Watch your step." A small light from one of those torches that seemed so ridiculously small lit up a tunnel that had previously been covered by a trap door. This place must be pretty old, Bethan thought as her feet scraped against the dry wood floor, until she starting following the anonymous stranger and realised that this tunnel she was now going down was made of clean, shining metal. Their footsteps echoed with every rung of the ladder.

When she finally reached the bottom, the lighting was not much better, but she could see the rough outline of the person she was with. Wait.... She'd know that lame haircut anywhere.

"Evan?" she whispered. The person standing ahead of her turned around sharply. 

"What?" he asked. "How do you know me?"

"We... We spoke in the assembly hall." Evan was still for a moment before marching up to her and shining the torch in her face. Then he cursed.

"You're not supposed to be here. We'll both get in trouble if you're found." 

"I won't get found," Bethan said. 

"Ha," scoffed Evan. "Easier said than done. There are cameras every way you turn down this route." Bethan frowned.

"Well how're you going to make it?" Evan shook his head.

"I'm sorry; my job forbids me to disclose anymore information, Bethan. You've got to go back. I have to be alone." Bethan frowned.

"Just tell me what you're going to do?" wheedled Bethan. "I'm really interested now." Evan sighed.

"You wouldn't understand. It's... sciency."

"Okay, well, I doubt that's a word, and also, I am very sciency. We moved here because my father got a job with scientific research project." Evan looked at her.

"He did?" he said. He seemed interested. Could her father have something to do with this? But that was impossible. Surely. "Do you know what they're called?" Bethan shook her head.

"I'll ask him tonight." Evan nodded.

"Do that. But in the meantime, you have to go. We've already been still for too long; we must've been spotted by now." They both headed back up the ladder and to the lockers which had now been all but abandoned. Evan grabbed her shoulder. "Don't tell anyone anything." Bethan nodded but gave no response. Mostly because Evan hadn't given her the time too before darting off outside, his school bag already slung over his shoulder. Bethan frowned.

"Weird."