School, Prejudice and Survival

Chapter 5, Part 2

***************************************************************************

Doing my best to enjoy school is a good survival tactic. One day, I will have to leave this place and start organizing my own life, and there is no way in hell I am ready to do that! I can barely control the mess inside my own head, let alone making life-long plans. Time goes much quicker than it used too, and eventually I am walking out of my constrictingly small maths room.                                                         Me and Emelia walk slowly to the restaurant across school campus, a privilege we will only have in year 11. All other years have to share lunch times with at least one other year group, and our first four years at Oak Academy left us fighting over both food and tables.                                                                       "...going on with Scarlett and Chrissie now?" Emelia continues beside me.                                                         "I just... don't even know. Girl drama." I reply. Avoiding drama is one of my specialties.

Clinks of plates and chatter of students emit from the restaurant. The line is fairly short, meaning I can walk straight inside and up to the counter easily. Eyes rest on me as I pass tables, making me nervous. Why are people staring?                                                                                                                                   People used to stare at me because of my hair; being a twin also seemed to pull attention. Now   though, everyone is used to it. Stares always land when I enter a room, but they break after a second or two. Not today. It isn't everyone. Just a girl here and a guy there, some small groups gossiping. Self-consciously, I turn my face away and- picking up a chicken panini- make my way over to the till.

Everyone seems to have lost interest by the time I spot my friends sitting on a large table in the corner. Ellie looks up from her grapes and waves me over; Emelia smiles at me as she opens her fruit pot.                                                                                                                                                                                            Snaking my way through smaller tables full of different groups has become systematic for me. I pass the small table with way too many chairs belonging to the Lads, multiple tables with up to six people sitting at them, two large tables pushed together for the Queens, and the large table littered with orange makeup and hairbrushes. Any guesses?                                                                                                Stroking Carly's face as I pass to freak her out, I eventually weave my way into the corner where my friends are eating, chatting and doing last minute revision. Annie picks her bag off a chair next to her and gestures for me to sit.                                                                                                                                                   "...didn't even know..." Kathy mumbles, clearly annoyed at the French book open in front of her. "Indie, how's Matt doing?" Em asks, concern in her eyes.                                                                                      "Pretty good, as far as I know. If I were you I would be more worried about what will happen to the pricks who beat him up." I reply confidently, beginning my revenge plans. Ellie laughs quietly at this, and Em looks genuinely worried, bless her.