The Paper Trail

Chapter One

It was 1:30am. Reece wasn't normally the type to stay up way past his usual bedtime of 10pm, but he was staring out of the window, watching the streetlights flicker and the occasional car drive past. He liked to observe the world around him and right now, this was the most peaceful thing he could think to do to block out the screaming from downstairs. Sophia, his older sister, came home exactly 26 minutes before this moment. Dad wasn't happy, this was the third time this week she arrived home in the early hours of the morning. She didn't talk to Reece much, she preferred to keep to herself, this always upset Reece, he was only 12 and sometimes needed his big sister's support for the trials and tribulations of teenage life, she, after all, was a lot older than him at the age of 17 and seemed to have everything figured out. She was completing her A Levels, and difficult ones at that, she wanted to be a vet, mainly because she liked animal more than people, she begged her Mum to adopt a dog when we were 10 and, being the generous person she is, she gave in. Rupert, the shaggy Old English Sheepdog joined their family and made them all closer for a while but the family became distant again after time progressed.

The shouting had stopped now, it was 1:39am and Reece no longer felt comforted by the security of his observations. He was tired. He moved into bed, holding his trusty teddy, Eddy and soon drifted off into the quiet of his own imagination.

The next morning, Reece was awoken by the sound of his alarm on his brand new iPhone 14. His parents had given him and his sister matching ones for Christmas which a joke sticker on the back that said 'I'm an iPhony'. Their Dad found the joke hilarious but they were eager to erase the embedded pun. After hours of trying, it came to no avail and the pun was there to stay.
He switched off the alarm and rolled out of bed to get dressed for school. He hated his uniform and refused to look immaculate in it, his blazer was blue, his least favourite colour, and had an awful red tie to place on top of a bright white shirt, he looked like something out of a Haribo commercial. As he trudged down the stairs, anxiously awaiting his well needed breakfast, he overheard the conversation between his parents.

"We can't keep letting her go out Paul, she is not respecting our curfew and who knows who she's out with." He heard his Mum say. His dad took a few second pause then replied, " She works hard at college, Dana, gets all A's. You know how hard that can be under the pressure that she is in, she needs to maintain her social life." Reece didn't want to hear the rest of the conversation and entered the kitchen in the hopes it would end it. He sat down at the table next to his Dad and was asked the worst question of all; "Good Morning Reece, how was your sleep?"

Reece could have lied and go upset with his parents, but he figured that after last night, they were stressed enough as it was so replied with a simple; "Great, thanks."

He expected Mum to serve up a half pint glass of orange juice and scrambled eggs on toast, a special Friday treat, but instead she placed down a bowl of shreddies and handed him the pint of milk. Reece guessed it was because she was tired too after last night, but her face never let it slip. Reece was happily eating his cereal and chatting to his Mum and Dad about what lessons he had that day and what drama is happening in his friendship group when Sophia made a groggy appearance into the kitchen. Her long brown hair was draping down the sides of her shoulders and her usually pale blue eyes donned a cloudy tired grey, Reece figured she had less sleep than all of them. She proceeded to sit at the table, all whilst an awkward silence drifted through the kitchen. As if saved by the bell, Reece received a phone call from his best friend, Jordan, and promptly answered it.

"Hey bro, me and some guys are walking to school and we're coming past yours, wanna meet us?"

Reece praised Jordan for his unknowing offer of relief from the situation he was trapped in and quickly agreed he would meet them outside in 5. Tie slung around his neck and the corner of his shirt sticking out of his trousers, he swung on his backpack, waved to his family and escaped out of the front door.