Breaking the story

Extreme trauma on the bus

I stared out at the city lights, bright against the night sky. I loved our view. The multicoloured roofs made the city seem like a tapestry. I heard my Dad's loud snores and grinned. God knows how I ever got any sleep.

"Psst!"

I glanced down from the balcony and saw Iris gesturing quickly with her hands.

"What?!" I shouted loudly.

"Shh!" She hissed. "Do you want everyone in the street to hear you?"

"Yes!"

"Shhh!" she said again, but her mouth twitched. "Come on, we're meeting everyone at Lucas's place."

I nodded and checked that my Dad was still sleeping. His snores shook the bedframe and I knew I wouldn't get caught.

I snuck out of the apartment and met Iris at the door, her arms full of shopping bags and I was free, doing anything I wanted-

I gasped and opened my eyes. What was that?! Iris, with her brown hair again. A city? It had felt like home and yet I couldn't remember anything about it. And I'd felt completely free. Not like some spelled puppet in a terrible comic book.

"I'm glad you're awake, Beatrice."

I repressed a groan. I'd been faking sleep on the bus to the island but apparently it had become real sleep. Now Elijah grinned at me, his melon muscles creepily close to my arm.

"I wish I was still asleep," I replied, giving up on tact. This boy just did not get the message.

"But now we can talk," he said, staring at me expectantly as if I was supposed to summon up a conversation.

"Eh...what do you think of Grace?" I asked with a winning smile.

"I don't think much about her," he said, resembling a robot.

"Brilliant," I muttered, my eyes searching for an unlikely saviour. But everyone on the bus was happily coupled up. Except, of course, for Lucas and Jenny. He sat next to Bloom, scowling at Nathan, who was speaking softly to Jenny. Iris and Grace were safely at the back, no doubt still shooting daggers at me. Which was depressing but I pushed the negative thoughts to the back of my mind. I had a Prince Charming to pawn off.

"Why do you even like me anyway?" I asked, wondering if aggression would be the key.

"I just do. You're exactly what I want," he said happily, leaning closer to me. Ugh.

"But you're a player and you have loads of girls...so I don't want to be with you," I said and his eyes went wide in dismay. "I'm into...guys who are good to girls. So sorry. Not interested."

I attempted to get up but he grabbed my arm.

"I am a good guy. I'll be one for you." His voice was getting increasingly desperate and I wriggled away from him, hoping for help. Just as I was about to shout like a maniac, I felt my body freeze.

Oh, here we go.

Fake Beatrice invaded my senses and I could feel her happiness and nervousness around Elijah. It was like being possessed by a deranged hormonal demon. She forced me to smile in a cutesy way and I felt like throwing up.

"Who is it that you like?" I asked, fluttering my lashes. Oh brother, he liked bloody everyone. You want to know who he wants to-

Fuck, I thought, as a horde of butterflies exploded in my stomach. I hadn't thought I could swear much here but apparently I could.

"I like you," he breathed and I could feel myself blush, the butterflies threatening to shish kebab me.

"Oh," I replied shyly, looking down. "I-I like you...too."