NIGHT CHANGES || Oscar Piastri

Blue Days

The sound of children's mumbling could be heard. 

Alissa sat in her seat, silent and staring at the empty chair next to her. Amelia's pencil case was still on her table, although the person was gone and vanished from the earth. All the girls were talking and whispering while staring at some of the cutest boys in class. The boys stood in groups, chatting about the karting championship on Sunday and the football clubs they wanted to play for. 

The teacher snapped her fingers as everyone hurried back to their seats. Ali was the only one still in her seat, looking blankly at the lined sheet in front of her, unsure of what to do. They were supposed to write a poem about their best friends. She sensed a weird feeling as the screams of Amelia could still be heard inside her mind. 

"Now, everyone should be finished with their poems by now!" The teacher clapped her hands together in a rythmn after ten minutes. Ali had finished all of it, but except the fact she instead wrote about her own brother instead of  a girl who was a ghost now. "I want you to hand all your sheets in as you line up by the door for break time."

As they all headed out, Ali's name was called by the teacher. "Can I speak to you about something that happened... yesterday?" Some of the girls giggled and pushed her back while the boys stared intently and made funny faces at her. She stumbled across the room, sitting on the chair the teacher arranged for her to sit on. 

"Hey, so I've heard about Amelia," Mrs. Rose placed an arm on her shoulder gently. "I know you are to blame yourself for her tragic death, but don't place another burden on yourself again. It will only make your mental health worse." Mrs. Rose was the only person who knew how she was shadowed by her karting brothers her whole life. Although moving away to her Aunt and Uncle so she wouldn't disturb Lando's career, it was tough. 

"I advise you to talk to your parents if you return to Glastonbury this weekend, and they might get you to do Therapy or something to help you out," She gave her one of her sweetest smiles Ali had ever liked. "Maybe I could tell her if you're not comfortable."

"I-it's fine, Mrs. Rose," Ali whimpered as she stood up and walked outside of the classroom. On the playground, some girls pointed at her and accused her of murder. Immediately she knew she was uncomfortable there, and ran to the school office. Te receptionist sighed deeply as she knew who it was again. "Miss Mariam? C-can I use the school telephone again?" 

Without hesitation, she held out the phone for her as she dialled Lando's school number. They had been welcoming enough to let her have two free calls everyday. Miss Mariam let the timid girl in as she left the office to herself. "Hi, I'd like to speak to Lando Norris please. I'm Alissa." 

Lando's voice came through the receiver as Ali broke down once again. "Oh, please don't tell me they've been bullying you once again." He muttered, as his sister agreed that they had. "You're only in Year 2, sis. They'll bully you even more once you get older and understand the meaning of death. You need to be stronger."

"Lan, I can't be stronger if they keep doing it," The small girl whispered. "Anyways, break's almost ended - I'll call you at lunchtime if I can." Before her brother could report anything else to her, she slammed it down and raced out of the office. 

"Poor girl," Miss Mariam shook her head as she ran out, taking in the fresh, Summery British air which was quite rare to be witnessed in the city of London. A small spot where she reserved a seat everyday was blank again. She took her small notebook and pen out of her notebook and started sketching out Lando's kart from the Karting Championship. 

"Hey, Alissa Norris," One of the rude girls marched up to her, as she stayed hidden in her sketchbook, trying to draw the details. "Hiding in your stupid sketchbook again? Such murderers like you will never draw better than a four year old drawing!" Her friends cackled with laughter. Tears burned in her eyes as she tried to blink them away. She hid the sketchbook back in her pocket blankly. 

"Tell me how the funeral goes!" They all turned away, laughing like witches. 

"Am, I wish you were here," Ali whispered under her breath. "I'm really sorry. I am." 

~~

"Come on, kids! Cheer up!" Mrs. Norris's voice rang out. "It's your only chance to be at a waterpark like this after school! Oli, Flo and Cisca, why don't you join your friends?" The three Norris siblings all ran off to join their friend groups. Lando and Ali were sat together on the concrete grounds, their father in the pool swimming around while their mother tanned in the sun. 

"I miss Am," Ali choked back a sob as Lando pulled her in for a tight hug. "She would've been here if it wasn't for me. I hate myself. I'm useless. I'm rude. I'm a freaking murderer." Silence took over her brother's voice as he heard those words. 

"You're not useless, rude or even a murderer, sissy," Lando whispered back. "You're my sister, Ali! The best role you could take after two years of my birth!" The sweet boy stood up and held his sister's hand tightly. "Let's ask mummy to get some ice cream, shall we?" Ali nodded blankly as she tumbled straight into the water, being pushed in by someone. It was some of the girls in her class. 

Lando's anger took over him as he grasped one of the girls' arms and threw her straight in there while holding her head in the water. It was until the girl started protesting and floated back onto the surface, gasping for air. He pulled Ali up, who was crying, frightened by the sudden move of her classmate. 

"That's what you get, murderer!" They hurried away. 

"Don't listen to them." Lando soothed her. 

Don't listen, her trauma seemed to say. Don't listen. 

But she couldn't.