When you were torn away

chapter two

'C'mon' Aimee honked the horn of her car, repeatedly as I shut the front door and took a step into the leaves of autumn, which gave a nice crunch under my boots. Satisfying. The air was cold, but not too cold.

Aimee was never one for patience. Whereas I was.

'Alright chill pinkie.' I laugh and I open the door to her car, feeling the need to explain myself, I went on a slight rant.

'Sorry, I had to feed ghost and do all sorts, eat breakfast and rush to get ready.' I sigh and get into the front seat and put my seatbelt on.

Pinkie was a nickname I have to Aimee as she dyed her hair to a sort of pinkish-red colour. It suited her.

'That's all right. I know when I beep my horn it annoys you and gets you out quicker.' She winked. 'So, I'll continue to.'

Smooth radio hits played from Aimee's car radio.

'Art first.' She smiled at me as we started the drive to the school. 'Exiting.'

Art, yes. Very exciting.

As we pulled up to a traffic light, Aimee sung along to the song.

Aimee was a good singer, I remember as a child I would always ask her why she didn't pursue singing as a career, she was more adamant about art.

She had also been my best friend since preschool. Do you know when you have such a close bond with someone you feel like nothing can break? That's Aimee and me.

'Alright, we made it here with ten minutes to spare.' Aimee smiled as we found a parking spot.

⚜️

'My god.' I huff, climbing up the top of the stairs. My lungs burned. Like seven flights of the steepest stairs ever!

Grabbing my bag, I take a puff of my inhaler.

'We made it.'

Aimee laughed as she leaned against the wall, looking energised as normal.

'Why can't we take the lift?'

Aimee opened her mouth to speak. I put a finger up to stop her. 'it was Rhetorical. I know the reason.' We couldn't ride the lift without a pass. As people tend to use them without having a pass, and sometimes they'd get stuck.

Sighing, I hauled myself to art class, with Aimee happily walking beside me. Aimee stopped in her tracks, almost walking into Aimee. 'why did you stop?'

'New girl.' Aimee smiled and pointed to someone who was talking with the teacher. I stood next to Aimee and looked.

She had cool brown skin and wore a gothic outfit.

A light mesh top with dark velvet moons with a long black skirt, not to mention the most awesome platform boots.

This new girl had style. That was also another good thing about our school. We didn't have uniforms; we could wear our clothes.

'Trad goth.' Aimee smiled and hung onto my arm. 'Anyways, C'mon we can't stand here all day.' She smiled and sat down at our table, me following suit.

When I put my bag on the table, Aimee rose an eyebrow as she unpacked her own bag. 'your art stuff?'

I sighed; I knew I forgot something. 'I forgot it, but luckily I have a drawing of ghost I need to finish, it's over at the drying rack.' I walk over and grab my drawing and some paints before sitting down at the table again.

⚜️

'Hi.' The girl appeared at our table. 'I'm supposed to sit here, the teacher said.' She shrugged with a little smile. 'You mind?'

Aimee pulled out a seat. 'Course not.'

'So, do you know what you're doing?' I ask, sitting back at the table with my picture of Ghost, he was posing with a pumpkin. He had one eye shut for this photo which made it look better.

'Yeah, I had art in my old school, and I've caught up with the teacher.' She smiled and opened her case. 'I've all my art stuff here so I'm good, hopefully.' She smiled warily.

'are the people nice here?'

Aimee and I looked at each other before looking back at the girl. 'yeah, they're quite friendly.'

She smiled and brought out an A3 picture of a dog. 'I'm glad to hear at least some schools here are.' She sighed.

A black poodle with a spiked collar. The dog in the photo was looking to the side, the background being a red velvet style with black fleur de lis all over the background.

Link smiled as she caught my eye. 'The collar is just for the photos,'

'I didn't say anything.' I laugh nervously. 'I just think it's cool. Who's the dog?'

'My own. He's called Scar.' She smiled proudly.

'Ooh, a gothic dog for a gothic girl.' Aimee giggled.

Link smiled shyly. 'yeah, he's a good friend.'

~
Lunchtime came around and we both invited link to sit with us. 'So, have you guys got outfits for prom yet?' She gasped and leant forward. 'Are you even going?' her brown eyes were wide.

Aimee laughed. 'Of course, we're going, Mary and I are both on the prom committee, with a few other students, piper, Jillian, and jack.'

'Huh. Awesome.' She smiled and opened her juice bottle. 'it might be too late, but I'm interested, are you all full for the prom committee? Or do you need any more people?'

Aimee glanced at me, and I shrugged. 'i'm not sure, maybe we could fit one more in?'

I nod. 'we'll have to ask the headteacher. As we're not sure.'

Link smiled. 'that's fine, no biggie if I can't.'

'You'll hear all about it in well-being.' I let my head fall to the table as I put my fist in the air and gave a sarcastic cheer. 'Woo well-being. My most favourite class ever.'

'Oh lordy. I remember well-being.' Link laughed 'Let's hope it isn't as bad as my old school. Honestly, my old class could never think straight.' She paused, taking a sip of her red fruit Fanta. 'Wonder what it's like here.'

'Probably not very different.' I rub my hand behind my neck. Well-being was like being in a pack of excited wolves.

It got calmer when we were doing work, but come to the midterm and end of the year when everyone was relaxed, that's when the whole ruckus began.

'well, we'll see.' She smiled and glanced around the cafeteria like she was looking for someone.

'do you know anyone else here?' I ask. 'or is it just us?'

She turned towards me. 'there is someone else I know here but I can't see them.' link pouted. 'oh well, I can catch up with them after school.'

'would we know?' Aimee asked. 'this person that is?'

'i'm not sure, possibly. He's called Alistair.' she sipped on her drink and placed it down again.

Aimee and I exchanged glances.

This could be one person or another. And one of them, wouldn't be good.