Hell in Our Paradise

Chapter 1

4th August 1990

I sighed, analysing my surroundings. Annabelle sat next to me, messing with her hair. She was making little plaits in it, it of course looked cute, everything did on her. Opposite us sat a group of boys, some younger and some only just older than me, it varied. Each boy wore a navy uniform. They went to an all boys school, something to do with the army, I wasn't quite sure because I didn't really care. We weren't even meant to be here, we had gone on a trip with our high school, but the plane was too full on the flight home and, since Annabelle and Jack Merridew were siblings, she was transferred to this flight. I tagged along since there was another free spot on the boys' plane and I didn't have many friends other than Annie. The sight before me was chaotic. Boys shouting and laughing, play fighting and some quite un-playfully arguing. I rolled my eyes at the scene and turned back to my best friend. She turned her head to face me, snapping out of her trance-like state and smiling up at me.

"How much longer do you think the wait will be?" I questioned "The boys are getting restless and they're starting to become extremely annoying." We both shared a chuckle before she opened her mouth to answer me, but she was cut off.

"Flight 480 boarding now!"

Within a few swift movements the group of around 20 boys had disappeared, all piling into the plane that was meant to take us home. After realising we were the only ones left, me and Annie jumped up, quickly grabbing our stuff and heading to board our flight.

Walking onto the plane all of the boys were already seated, we awkwardly looked around for free seats. I looked over to 2 spaces that weren't taken, one next to a brunette haired boy, he had tanned skin and deep, coffee brown eyes. He was quite handsome. The other, oh god no, please no no no... The only other available seat was next to the one and only Jack Merridew. He was Annabelle's older brother, so I knew she would never willingly sit next to him on a flight. A few of his stray fluffy blonde locks fell in front of his face and his ice blue eyes pierced into mine. That's when I realised, he was looking right at me. My face grew hot and I knew I began to go red, he held eye contact a slight smirk resting on his lips... his lips. Annabelle then snapped me out of my thoughts as she whispered in my ear,
"Please Layla, you have to sit next to jack! The boy behind him is pretty hot, this is my chance!" she pretended to make puppy eyes and fluttered her eyelashes, making me giggle. "Pleeeease for me lay, I'll owe you one!" she pleaded, dragging out the 'e' "Plus I cant spend this whole journey with my brother! He'll drive me insane!" I laughed at her remark about Jack, he really was annoying; I'd only spoked to him a few times and I knew that. Rolling my eyes I agreed to her seating arrangement, however I was really not looking forward to having to deal with Jack for the duration of the flight.

Awkwardly, I shuffled over to the seat with my bag. Jack and the boy sat next to him stared up at me, not one of them speaking though. They gave each other a look and started chuckling, it was weird but I brushed it off. I placed my bags in the overhead compartment with ease, I was pretty tall for a girl I guess. Annie however struggled more than me, I was about to help her when the brunette from before jumped up out of his seat to come to her rescue. I rolled my eyes at his dramatic action but smiled at the kind gesture, I was happy for my best friend of course. I overheard him introduce himself to her, his name was Ralph, cute.

All the excitement of Annie and her potential new lover boy had made me completely forget where I was, sitting right next to JACK MERRIDEW. I turned my head to look at him but he was already looking at me. His face was almost fixated on mine, like he was analysing every inch of my face; his eyes dropped down, and my body I guess. My face felt hot once again, when he saw my slight blush a smirk grew on his face. His pair of bright blue crystals stared me down and after a long, awkward minute of eye contact and silence, Jack decided to break the silence.
"Hi sweetheart, I'm Ja-"
"I know who you are." I snapped, but he then chuckled.
"Fiery I see." his statement made his friend snigger so I darted him a glare and rolled my eyes.
"Careful darlin' roll your eyes too much and they might get stuck at the back of your pretty little head." His smirk only grew, sending butterflies into my stomach as we made eye contact. However I forced the feeling away, I knew what Jack was like, and I wasn't going to fall for his charm.