Searching for Sophia

"I wanna scream and shout, and let it all out. Scream and shout and let it out."

-Leon-

The bus ride to Hillsworth was 'interesting' to say the least.

Chloe had quickly informed me that the back of the bus was where people of popularity sat. I sat in the middle, wedged between Logan and Jay. On the other side of Logan was a guy who looked almost identical to Jay, except his hair was ginger. Logan introduced him to me as Kale, but everyone else just calls him 'Ginge'. There was a girl perched practically on Jay's lap, who smiled at me tenderly. Unlike Chloe and Sarah, she hadn't layered herself with make-up. She had long brown hair, which fell around her shoulders in a shower of soft chocolatey curls. Her eyes were a melting brown, and cinnamon coloured freckles were flecked across her cheeks. She had a dare devil look around her features, as if nothing feared her.

"I'm Melissa, most people call me Mel. Who are you?" She suddenly said, taking me by surprise.

"Leon." I responded. She was the most interesting girl I'd met so far, apart from...

Sophia.

I turned around to face forward, ramming up my IPod's volume, so that Greenday pounded through my head. I tried my best not to make it obvious, as I craned my neck in hopes of seeing her. I scanned the rest of the bus, until suddenly, there she was. She was sat third row from the front. Her hair fell across one shoulder, keeping her face hidden from view.

I hope she was okay.

Anger swept through me in a sudden rush. Why do I care? She was unimportant to me, just another easy target to portray my rightful authority above others.

An easy target.

***

"Who's your registration teacher, Leon?" Asked Logan, as we stepped down from the bus. His words didn't seem to register in my mind, as I saw Sophia hurry away in the opposite direction, her eyes glued to the tarmac surface.

Give it a rest Leon!

"Uhm, Mr Henderson I think..." I muttered, my voice distracted. After a slight lack of response from Logan, I looked up to see him also staring at the direction Sophia had gone. He looked as if something was breaking inside of him, his green eyes dark. Not removing his gaze, he replied coldly.

"He's mine too. Follow me." He stalked away briskly. I followed him, trying to keep with his solid pace. Mood swings, much? We entered a building, with a sign outside pronouncing it as the History Wing. Logan led me down to the end of a long corridor of classrooms. Different form groups were assembled in each one, screams of excitement from the young kids echoing down the hallway. He finally came to a halt outside of the final classroom. Logan's expression became alike the nonchalant one he'd had this morning. Again with the mood swings!

"This is it." He murmured in a monotone voice, gesturing at the room. He strolled inside, myself following in quick pursuit. Before my eyes had time to focus on my surroundings, a man with a knitted yellow tank top, a knitted yellow tie, pink shirt and black trousers appeared before me. He appeared to have a slight avalanche of nose hair protruding out of either of his nostrels, and a pair of Harry Potter specs rested on the bridge of his nose. He had next to no hair, apart from a few receeding strands clinging to his bald scalp. To top the appearance, his breath smelt like sour milk and mould.

"Ah, you must be Leon. Welcome to Hillsworth. I'm Mr Henderson, and I'll be your registration teacher throughout your time here at Hillsworth."

"Uh... Okay." I responded awkwardly.

"So I'm afraid we've only got one seat available, over in the corner, by the window., next to that girl with the dark hair. That's..."

"Sophia Moon. I know, sir." I finished with gritted teeth. Of course something like this would happen to me. Why her? Why, God, WHY?

"Have you met before? She's a lovely girl. From my knowledge, she hasn't had the easiest of lives. It'd be nice for her to have someone to talk to, Leon, she seems to me as a very lonely person. And loneliness is an awful thing." Mr Henderson babbled. Guilt prodded my ribs sharply.

"Sure." Was all I could think to reply. This seemed to satisfy Henderson, as he waved me away. I was just beginning to trudge over to my seat, until Logan stopped me in my tracks.

"Don't be too harsh on Moony, it's not her fault she's not quite there." I looked up expecting a smirk, however Logan's eyes were more serious than ever. Surely he was just messing around, just kidding? I nodded, chuckling easily. He smiled back. His smile was false.

As I reached the table, Sophia had her head bent over a piece of paper. Her pencil was flying across the paper in an almost aggressive way. I noticed a dry tear drop staining the top of the page. It appeared to be some kind of letter, but I could only make out 'Dear Mother'. I threw my bag on the table, and slumped into my seat. I looked up to meet her astonishing gaze. Her eyes looked at me endlessly, they were empty, expressionless. She spoke before I had a chance.

"Why are you sitting here?" She murmured almost inaudibly, her eyes not leaving mine for even a moment. Her constant gaze was extremely uncomfortable, forcing me to look away.

"That's a bit rude, isn't it?" I replied, desperately trying to keep my carefully made mask from being torn from my true face. She didn't reply, but simply turned back to the paper. This annoyed me greatly.

"What's that, a love letter?" I said, a smirk forming.

"You could say that." She whispered. Woah. Wasn't expecting that. Come on Leon, keep your cool.

"So it is?" I pressed. Her pencil paused for a moment, before continuing to fly across the page.

"Tell me, do you love your mother?" She stated, her voice still eerily quiet.

"Uh, yes, obviously." I responded sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

"Well, in that case, Leon, it is." My breath caught. That was the first time I'd ever heard her say my name. It rolled off her tongue in an extremely enticing way.

"So... Henderson tells me that from his knowledge. You've 'Not had the easiest of lives'?" I inquired. Her pencil led broke, as she slammed down aggressively to make a full stop. She turned slowly, facing me with those contiuously expressionless eyes.

"I met you only an hour ago. Yet within that time, you've slammed me against a wall, threatened me, humiliated me and now you're asking about my dog shit of a life. Listen to me Leon Hemming, and listen well. I don't have a life. I'm worthless, a whore ... Um, what was it... Oh yes, 'you may as well die'. Hah I wish. My point is, why ask me about my life when there is none to ask about? My life was lost long ago, and it won't ever be found. You want to know who I am? I'm nothing."