Evergreen

Chapter 2

I swallowed and stepped onto the train. My fiery red hair was braided into a single plait that tapped my back every time I took a step, and I was wearing the green Pineview uniform, which I couldn't decide if it was too big or too small. It was difficult to get onto the train, I had a suitcase, a cardboard box with holes carefully punched in the top, and a black backpack.

Barely managing to haul my massive suitcase onto the luggage rack, I sat down carefully onto a seat, keeping my cardboard box close to my body. There was no trace of crusty bits or weird marks on the perch, however, I still stayed unsure of whether it would be fine to get comfy or not.

I sat for a while and finally decided to plug in my earphones and relax. Shoving them in, I picked up my phone and let My Favourites!! play for a while. There was only one thing missing; a book. I fished A Good Girls Guide To Murder, and picking up from where I left, I read.

It must've been half an hour before I heard somebody sit opposite me. I lifted my head and saw a girl with dark brown hair and dark skin sitting opposite me. Is she a girl though? Or is he a boy? I wondered, accidentally staring.

"Yeah, I know, I'd stare at this all day too." He or she said, gesturing to her or himself.

"Hm? Oh, um, sorry!" I blushed with embarrassment.

"Today, I'm neither." The person replied to the unasked question, it was like they had just looked into my mind.

"Ohmygod! Sorry! Argh, I shouldn't be so assuming!" I exclaimed, ignoring the fact this person probably was telepathic, turning redder by the second.

"Don't worry, I get it all the time. I'm genderfluid." They smiled, "My name's Alva. Alva Sinclair-Thorn. Also, I'm a Pineview as well!!!"

"Hi Alva," I couldn't help but grin back, their smile was contagious, "I'm April Fox."

"Bit of a bummer there's no trousers for girls," They said, noticing how uncomfortable I felt in my new skirt, "Fortunately they let me wear them when I'm a boy and when I'm neither."

"Yeah. I really do hate skirts. Wait, you have to wear a skirt when you're a girl? That's two lots of uniforms!!" I tugged at my grey skirt, which was too short for my liking.

"I know. I wish the school would let girls wear trousers. Stupid Pineview." They growled, before seeing my earphones and music.

"Ooh, watchya listening to?" They ask, and try to peer over and see my phone.

"Nothing! Just some songs." I replied with a laugh. There and then, I decided I really liked Alva.

"Oh good, because I was just making sure you weren't listening to any serial killer podcasts, as that might confirm my theories!" Alva prodded my book, "Y'know, you can't trust people these days." They were grinning like the Cheshire Cat would, from ear to ear. It would be intimidating, but Alvas' chocolate brown eyes made her smile more friendly, rather than threatening.

"You never can." I agreed, putting away my book, phone, and earphones in my bag.

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"Well, this is nice," I muttered as I stared up at the black gates that kept the students in, or outsiders out, of Pineview Boarding School. There were high stone walls around the school grounds, ivy and moss creeping over them, and a forest of coniferous trees that spread around the border of the school grounds hugged close to the wall. I couldn't decide if it looked like fairytale lands or an ogre's home.

"You could say that." Alva made their way to the gates and reached out to touch the black metal. They flinched as the gates swung open before they could touch it.

"Not creepy at all." Muttering, I walked through, and couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in comparison to the school. It was large, to say the least. It was a castle-like building, made from grey stone similar to that of the walls, plants growing and twisting on the outside like green ropes, a neat row of pines bordering the pathway to colossal double doors that are a dark brown with intricate carvings of forests and animals on them.

"Woah," We say in unison, staring up at Pineview.

"I feel like some kind of protagonist in a book!" I laugh, knowing it's not exactly funny.

Alva stays quiet in what I'm assuming is awe, and we both just gape at it. I never thought a building could be as beautiful and big as this.

Surprising myself by walking towards the double doors first, I beckoned for Alva to follow. We stepped inside, and it was almost old-fashioned. There were a few chandeliers hanging above us, and wood-panelled walls that were slightly darker in colour than the wooden floor. A girl stood before us, she was clutching some paper as if her life depended upon it.

"Hello girls-" She began, but Alva stopped her.

"I'm not a girl. Today I'm non-binary." They corrected, not getting angry. Alva is so confident and calm with their gender, I noticed, admiring their courage, they're not afraid to correct anyone.

There was a flash of annoyance across the girls' face before she replied with a "Terribly sorry," before continuing.

"April Fox and Alva Sinclair-Thorn, correct?" She questioned, a new sharp edge to her voice, and once we both nodded, she continued, "I am Chloe, and I will show you your dorms."

"Um, about the dorms.." Alva trailed off.

"You'll be sleeping in a single dorm." Chloe waved her hand dismissively, and I couldn't figure out if Alva looked disappointed or relieved.

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Soon I found myself following Chloe up the stairs, Alva close behind me. We stopped at Dorm 25, and Chloe turned to me and Alva.

"So, April, this is your dorm." She said, pointing out the obvious.

"I guessed that." I muttered, and I heard her say under her breath, "typical redhead," I barely managed not to swing my fist in her face. I suppose I am a perfect example of a redhead stereotype, though.

"You are sharing a dorm with Sapphire Hills." Chloe continued, "I will show you around tomorrow before lessons, alright?" Alva and I nodded. "We'll be off then."

As they left, I saw Alva give me a look that said 'Please don't leave me with her! ' I stifled I giggle (I couldn't help it, she just looked so funny!) and waved.

I got in and set down a box that was under my arm on the bed. Opening it carefully, an alarmed Tufty popped his head out and stared at me with wide amber eyes.

"Aw, my poor Tufty boy!" Cooing pulled him onto my lap and stroked his long fur, "I know it was a horrible journey, but I couldn't leave you with my parents."

Then, a creaking noise rang out, and I looked up. A girl with wavy, blue-black hair and pale skin was standing at the door, her dark ocean-like blue eyes widened in surprise. She seemed to have already ensured her uniform was a good mix of cool and pristine, short skirt, neat blouse, and platform boots rather than the flat ballerina ones that were mandatory.

"What the f- Why is there a bloody cat in my dorm?" Sapphire Hills doesn't seem as nice as I hoped, I thought with dread as I watched her expression change from curiosity and surprise to fury.