Saving Persephone

Chapter 1

I woke up in a complete and utter daze, utterly unaware of what had transpired the night before. That was of course before I took a look around my bedroom, that was enough to tell me everything I needed to know. There was empty alcohol bottles everywhere, cigarette butts put out wherever they'd dropped. I recoiled in horror as I noticed one little princess clearly couldn't handle her drink and had passed out in a pool of her own putrid, disgusting smelling puke. Taking note of who she was, I told myself if she didn't clean it up, she'd be coming back round to do it.

Looking at the clock on my bedroom wall soon put me in a hurry, my first day of my second year at sixth form was about to start, and I was still wearing a skin tight, black dress from the night before! I couldn't be late for my first day.

I threw on a pair of skinny jeans that hugged my small but curvy figure in all the right places, a lilac chiffon top and a simple cardigan. Not having a lot of time to play with, I just threw my long and very unnatural bright red locks into a messy ponytail.

When I arrived at the hell hole some people affectionately referred to as school, I was already 15 minutes late. I walked into my form, knowing all eyes would be on me and not really caring, I was used to it. I wasn't wrong, as I entered a sea of 30 nosey faces stared at me. I could hear the whispers:

"I wonder what she was up to last night."

"She probably had another party."

"I went, it was insane."

"They always are."

"I was grounded, I love Sephy's parties."

I ignored the chat of the mindless idiots who only cared about me because I always had a free house to throw these parties. I sat down on my own at the back, not wishing to engage in conversation with any of them.

"Is there a particular reason why you're late today, Miss Ranger?" My form tutor asked me.

The bell rang before I could answer.

"A minute of your time please, Sephy," Mr Barker said, over the sound of over excited elephants hurdling to their first lesson. I smiled sweetly at him, knowing I was in trouble already.

"Now you see sir," I smiled once everyone was gone. "This is pointless as now I'm going to be late for my first lesson."

He smiled back at me, knowing I'd well and truly caught him out there. Normally if a teacher would have kept me behind, I'd have acted like a toddler not getting their way in a supermarket, Mr Barker was very different though, I craved every conversation I had with him. He was the only teacher who ever believed in me and actually saw something out for me. He even fought to get me accepted into sixth form when I was rejected for my behaviour throughout school. I always felt bad when I let him down.

"Luckily for you though, I have a free lesson," I smiled back, before he could even reply. Of course, I didn't actually have a free lesson, I could just think of nothing worse than double maths, I would go to the other half.

"You always have a free bloody lesson!" He laughed, his bright blue eyes creasing as he did. Those eyes. Those glorious, glorious eyes.

Every girl in the school thought he was the best looking teacher and I could see why; he had the most amazing hazel hair that fell just right, magical blue eyes and the kindest smile I'd ever seen. Not only that, but he was the best teacher in the whole school, he just had a way of getting through to students, no matter who the were.

"How's everything at home?" He asked carefully. I hated that question, it was my least favourite question of all time.

"Oh you know how it is, cheating bastard of a dad left my mum, traitor of a twin sister left with him, mum's never at home, same old."

"She's still working away a lot?"

"I saw her twice this summer."

"How have you coped?"

"The perks of having a mum who works away a lot is that she feels guilty and sends me lots of money."

"Have you had a good summer then?"

"Lots of parties."

"Oh that does sound fun."

"I'd rather have a family again but whatever."

"Did you see Cami this summer?"

"A year ago last month they left sir, and a year ago last month since I saw her."

He looked me in the eyes for a second, making me feel self-conscious and vulnerable. I didn't like it.

"Enough about me," I plastered on a smile. "How's the love life?"

He laughed out loud at this, a beautiful laugh at that.

"No one wants me Seph!" He chuckled. "Destined to be alone."

"You're only 25 years old you sad man!" I laughed back, genuinely this time.

"Hey," He scolded me. "I'm not 25 until Firday!"

I quickly told myself that he was only 7 years older than me, not knowing why it mattered or why I cared.

"You can come to a party at mine Friday night then!" I laughed.

"I wish, my parents are trying to set me up with one of there friends daughters." I felt a pang of jealousy when he said that. He didn't need a girlfriend and he was far too good looking to get set up by his parents!

"I'm sure I know your type," I smiled, a big , fake smile. "Blonde bombshell?"

"Oh God no," He laughed. "I like a geeky girl, who loves a good book."

This made me smile ear to ear. Most guys just want a blonde slut, he actually wanted someone special to settle down with. Mr Barker really wasn't most like men, I guess that's why we got on so well, I had serious trust issues when it came to men after my dad left.

"Anyway, I've got papers to mark," He made his excuses. "I'll see you in Business studies this afternoon, and you best have gone to all your other lessons!"

I smiled as I walked out of his classroom, knowing that he didn't talk to any other students like he spoke to me, knowing that I was special to him. I sometimes heard some people whisper that I had a crush on him. It wasn't like that though...he just got me.