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Six Days Before: Chapter Three

Today is Friday. Today I do not have to wear uniform. Today is own clothes day at school. I pull on a black shirt, sleeveless, with a white collar and gold stud buttons. I tuck it into my leather skater skirt and pull on four inch heeled brogues. I use curlers to make my hair wavy. Gosh, the way I looked today was going to pull so many eyes. I do my usual makeup routine, and leave my house, eating only a box of Jaffa cakes. Mina leaves just after me, and I see that she's wearing her hair in it's usual puffiness. She is wearing a long vest top that reads, 'You don't know me' and black skinny jeans with cutout holes going all the way down. Mina is also wearing her trademark black Doctor Martens and oversized beanie. As usual, she's got her guitar strung around her back.

When I arrive at school, I see Jamie-Leigh waiting for me outside the main building. We walk inside, not saying a word. Then she says, "Hey, I was thinking if- " I cut her off mid sentence by saying, "Sorry, I've got to rush, but I'll catch you later and you can tell me then." I speed off, catching up with the thing that has caught my eye. It's the new boy, and when I see him, my heart thuds like mad. He's at his locker when he finally stops walking. "Hey," I say, using my charm that most people fall for. Unfortunately, he is not most people. "My mother warned me about strangers," he responds, blankly. I stare at him in disbelief, and retort, "I'm Nina Grey, and I basically run this school. And you just treat me like that?" He stares back at me, his mouth wide open. "You're Nina? Sorry, I didn't know," he apologises, "I'm Daniel, by the way, Daniel Joy." The bell goes off at that moment, and I promise him that I'll catch up with him later. I make my way to tutor room, surprisingly looking forward to the day.

At lunchtime, I go to see Jamie-Leigh, first. "Yeah," she says, "I was trying to tell you that I'm throwing a party tomorrow night and you might want to come. Nearly everyone else is coming. I'll send you the details later." I thank her then rush off to find Daniel. It turns out that he's sitting with a bunch off people I recognise as sixth formers. a Then that's when I realise. Daniel is a sixth former. But he's still within my age restriction, as I'm only in year eleven. "Hi, Nina," he says, "Are you going to Jamie-Leigh's party?"
"Oh, yeah. Of course. She's my best friend. Are you going with anyone?"
"Yeah, I've actually been asked by this girl in your year called Shantelle."
"Oh." I say disappointed, "Well, I'm going with... with Chris anyway."
"Cool, I'll see you there, then"
"Yeah."
Why? All the time, Shantelle always gets there first when it's someone I actually like. Of course, I can't blame her, but just why?

Later on that night, I drift off to sleep.

Yet again, I was in a pretty setting, but this time it was a rose garden. I was in the same outfit as today, then Daniel strolled up to me, and we just stood there until Mina came running to us screaming, "They're coming for me Nina! Don't let them think it was you!" And then I hear a gunshot, but instead of any of us getting shot, it is an innocent, young dear.