The Echoes of Solitude

Chapter Twelve

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As I walked up the pathway that lead down to the beach, I took a slow, deep calming breath. I pulled my jacket tighter around me as the cool sea breeze swept through me, and allowed my eyes to wander past the pathway and sand dunes to where everyone was gathered. The bonfire was lit and people were already gathering around it for warmth. The sun had begun to set in the distance causing the temperature to drop, its light radiating the sky creating a fiery glow that reflected on the ocean turning the waves into a majestic blue.

The sound of laughter and chatter could be heard as I walked down the sandy pathway, my feet sinking into the tiny grains of sand. As I got closer I spotted Cora's blonde hair which stood out like a beacon. She had her back to me and was standing at a foldout table, talking animatedly to two other people, a guy and a girl. She turned around before I reached her, and a huge smile appeared on her lips.

"Ally, you made it!" Cora shouted as I approached the small group, with one hand holding her cup, she used her other to give me a one sided hug.

"I did!" I replied with a laugh.

I had considered not turning up but decided against it as Mrs Webber had made a good point earlier this evening when we were discussing my plans for the night. She had told me not to let my fear and anxiety of experiencing new things get in the way of creating new memories, of making new friends. "Fear is nothing but an obstacle that stands in the way of progress, don't let the sadness of your past and the fear of your future get in the way of the happiness of your present."

Cora pulled me over to the two people that she had been standing with at the table. "I'm so glad you made it, now you can finally meet everyone." She grinned.

"Hello, I'm Kayo," said a small petite Asian girl. She had long black hair and big, bright brown eyes that were magnified behind large black-rimmed glasses, "but everyone calls me Kay. It's nice to finally meet you." A tall, dark brown-skinned guy threw his muscled arm around Kay's shoulder and reached out his other hand for me to shake.

"I'm Darrell. Like Kay said, it's nice to finally meet you." He said as he shook my hand, his calloused one covering my soft one. "It's nice to finally put a face to a name" He added with a toothy grin. Kay wrapped her arms around his waist rested her head against his shoulder, and smiled at me. "Cora and Noah haven't shut up about you since you arrived last week."

"It's nice to meet you both too," I responded with a small soft laugh and lifted my hand to push a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Its-"

"Cora!" An unfamiliar voice yelled, which interrupted me from continuing. Our heads shifted to the direction of where the voice had come from. A curvy girl with long blonde curly hair was standing on a log, waving her arms. "You guys need to hurry up and come and grab a seat."

Cora bobbed her head up and down and brought her hands up to her mouth, cupping them and shouting, "We will be there soon, Harper!" Harper, the girl that had yelled first put her two thumbs up in acknowledgment before turning back to the guy who was standing beside her. Cora rolled her eyes in amusement and shook her head at Harper.

"So Kay and Darrell are in our grade at school," Cora stated, motioning to them both, Darrell nodded.

"We sure are, and hopefully, we will be put into some of the same classes with you. Then at least you will know a couple more people when you start, I couldn't imagine starting a new school and not knowing anyone." Kay said, her voice genuine like she actually cared. She smiled softly, "And after you meet Harp, Ebs, and Mase, you will have at least another three people that will be with you." She added as we began walking over to the bonfire where Harper was still standing.

I didn't know if what they were all saying was true or not, people always leave me, so what makes them different from the rest? I know that starting school will be different this time around. I would have a few people that I would be able to recognise and I am pretty sure that they would help me if I got lost. And I know at this school that I wouldn't be sitting by myself at lunch or in class. But what's to say that they will abandon me on my first day, or that they will get sick of me on my second, or won't talk to me on my third? It's how it has always played out. No one sticks around.

Knowing people and knowing that I wouldn't be by myself were two completely different things. You could know everybody in the school but still feel so alone.

I smiled hesitantly and nodded. "It will be nice knowing people when I start," I stated honestly after a few moments of silence. Kay who was beside me gave me an encouraging smile. "And, I guess it will be nice knowing that I won't be by myself," I added hesitantly, you could hear the uncertainty in my voice.

"You definitely won't be by yourself," Darrell assured with a reassuring smile. He was walking on my other side, Cora beside him. "and you're actually more than likely going to have at least one of us in each of your classes. Who knows by the end of your first week you will be sick of us."

Cora chuckled and nodded her head and Kay just hummed in agreement.

"Really?" I asked, fiddling with the sleeves of my jacket.

"Yeah. Swansea High has only 450 pupils, so the classes are fairly small."

"Oh wow, I don't think I have ever been to a school that small before."

"It will be different from your last high school but I think you will enjoy it." Cora chimed in, smiling, "Everyone in our classes gets along... well besides the not-so-awesome foursome."

Kay let out a loud fruity laugh, "Ain't that the truth. Have you heard about them?" She asked.

I gave her a confused look, "The not-so-awesome foursome?"

"Yeah, Mandy, Tes-"

"She knows, we talked about them earlier today." Cora Interrupted with a grin, "I gave her the whole 411 on them."

I laughed, "She did."

The warmth of the fire reached us before we sat down on the logs. The fire crackled and the flames moved as if they were dancers. Harper greeted us with a squeal and pulled Cora in for a hug, Harper's eyes meeting mine over Cora's shoulder. You could see her eyes widen she realised who I was. She pulled away from Cora and stepped around her, a grin emerging on her face.

"You must be Ally, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm Harper." She let out another squeal and hugged me, I could feel my body tense up at the contact. I awkwardly patted her back and waited for her to let me go.

"It's nice to meet you too," I said once she had let me go, and I gave her a small smile which felt a little forced. I started playing with the edge of my jacket sleeve as she carried on speaking.

"It's so great that you are finally here, and that you can finally meet us all. How are you finding Swansea? How are you finding living with Mrs Webber? She's lovely isn't she..."

"Harper! Just take a breath and stop scaring the poor girl." An unfamiliar male voice said from behind me, causing me to jump and let out a small squeak in fright. I didn't hear him approach.

Another voice spoke, different from the first, "Sorry love, we didn't mean to scare you." I hastily turned around to see who had given me another fright and almost crashed into the guy. I stumbled over my feet and his hands reached out to keep me from falling over. I lifted my head, my eyes meeting his dark brown ones.

"Thank you," I mumbled, his hands still holding my arms. I could feel my cheeks begin to redden under his gaze. A smile slowly appeared on his lips.

I heard Cora from behind let out a small shocked gasp, "Oliver? Why are you here?"

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Two updates in one day to make up for the lack of posting. Next chapter is ready to go.