Whispers on a Wing

Chapter Two

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all the love and votes on the prologue and first chapter, it means a lot <3 I'm going to try and update on Fridays from now on (as long as I don't have to do a load of over time at work) so I hope you pop in every week to read the next chapter :)

The rest of the morning thankfully seemed to tick by pretty quickly. I had been late for my second period due to my failed attempt at trying to locate my locker, wanting to store the oversized math's textbook I had been given, but other than that nothing remotely exciting had happened. My history teacher had tried to get me to introduce myself, but after offering only my name and an awkward shrug she relented and allowed me to sit down so she could start the class.

The stares never stopped as I made my way through the hallways, curious eyes looking into mine as they tried to determine who I was and what clique I belonged to based on my choice of clothing. One look around though and I could tell I didn't really belong to any of them.

Where most girls wore flip flops and sandals due to the warm weather, I proudly wore my trusty pair of old combat boots I'd owned since I was fifteen years old. I had bought them from a charity shop one day with the money I'd earnt charging kids for completed homework and essays that they never seemed to have time to do themselves. I never did that often, believing that everyone should put an equal amount of effort into their all-important schoolwork, but I caved every now and again. It was the only way I could make money under the radar and buy the few essentials that I needed to survive.

It wasn't just my choice in footwear that made me stand out, it was also my slightly ratty looking choice of attire. Where most of the students wore perfectly cleaned and ironed tops and jumpers, I wore one of my basic plain t-shirts which sported the occasional hole in the fabric due to the rough wash I gave it in the river or if it snagged on a branch coming to and from my house. The only thing that did fit in were my jeans. I knew that the holes in their jeans were put there for fashion whereas mine were there from pure age and wear, but it helped me feel a little less like an outsider.

I ignored the stares as I pushed my way through the sea of students so that I could get into the cafeteria. I wished it was so that I could buy some form of food for lunch, but seeing as I spent all my money on a new fake ID card, I'd have to wait until I could scrape some cash together so that I could treat myself to a slice of pizza.

I opened my bag, a lot easier than last time seeing as I hadn't re-attached the buckle, and pulled out the bright pink reusable water bottle I had. I'd claimed it as my own when it was left in a classroom not too long ago in my old school. I wish it had been any other colour but pink, but beggars couldn't be choosers.

I made my way over to the water fountain and filled up my half empty bottle before exiting through the open doors and found myself out on the school courtyard. The place was loud, groups of people bunched together and laughing away as they stuffed their faces with all different types of food. My stomach growled at the thought of eating but quickly shook the thought from my brain and made my way over to the far side of the courtyard where I spied a free picnic bench. Thank god they had one spare and I didn't have to sit on the floor somewhere.

I quickly sat down and made myself comfortable on the wooden picnic bench, well as comfortable as anyone could be when sitting on a single slat of splintered wood anyway. I placed my now full water bottle and rucksack on the table and extracted my book from inside, thankful that I had it to fill the remaining forty-five minutes of lunch break before classes started back up again.

I had always enjoyed reading, even before everything that happened with my parents. It was an escapism for me, somewhere I could go where the outside world and their influences couldn't touch me. I had relied on it more in the last few years than I ever had though. When I needed something to take my mind off a current worry, or I needed to feel the familiar acquaintance of a friend, I always found myself reaching for a book. The pages calmed my soul and helped ease the heavy weight of loneliness I sometimes felt pressing heavy on my chest.