The Super Enrichment Programme

Hey Gem Gem

The first day of school came sooner than I expected.

As soon as my alarm went off I leapt out of bed and into the bathroom. I had a quick shower, pulled on my dress and jewellery.

I did my make-up: dark grey eyeliner, pale pink eye shadow, mascara and applied my signature taffeta lipstick.

I slipped my feet into my bow pumps and ran downstairs to get some breakfast.

Tom was already in the kitchen.

‘Hey Gem Gem,’ he grinned at me cheekily and I gave him a sarcastic smile back. Tom’s a year older than me and has always had that nickname for me ever since I can remember. My parents thought it was cute but now it’s just annoying.

‘Hey Tom,’ I said as I ruffled his hair on the way to the fridge.

I heard him trying to flatten his hair as I poured myself a glass of apple juice.

I sipped at it whilst popping some bread into the toaster, watching Tom out of the corner of my eye in case he made an attack on my hair.

I buttered the toast and ran back upstairs, eating as I went.

I rummaged through my cupboard and pulled out my curling tongs.

10 minutes later I was spraying hairspray all over my hair, in a desperate attempt to make it stay curly. I clipped my fringe back with a tiny white flower clip and redid my lipstick, before dropping it into my bag just in case.

I pulled the blazer around my shoulders, slipped my feet into my heels and grabbed my letter before heading out to meet Emma.

She was waiting on the same corner, wearing exactly what she said, except one thing.

‘Moustache!’ I squealed, pointing at her necklace.

‘Yeah, finishing touch…’ she grinned then looked at my hair.

‘OMG your hair looks lush,’ Emma said and I giggled.

‘I guess it was worth getting up early then,’ I joked as we started walking.

It felt like we’d walked miles when we finally turned onto his last road.

There was a small white building on our left that had a sign saying ‘SEP Student Entrance’.

Emma walked up to the door and pushed it open.

Behind it was a brightly lit corridor with a staircase at the fair end.

I followed Emma as I proceeded hesitantly down the stairs.

After a few minutes I noticed a door at the bottom.

It seemed very insignificant, plain steel with a big lock and chunky handle, and yet my heart started beating with every step I took.

Emma reached it first. She turned around to watch me as I came to stand beside her.

‘This is it,’ I whispered as I reached out for the handle. Mt hand clasped it tight and slowly began to turn it, its icy coldness biting into my hand.

The door clicked and I pushed against it with all my might. It swung open with ease.

I was not expecting what I saw.