If Only You Were Here

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨

St Francis College first opened in 1980. It started small, with only under ninety students enrolled when the school opened its doors to the public. Now, it's one of the best private colleges in Melbourne and Saiph's new school.

The uniform felt suffocating for her. A dark green skirt that was tense on her hips, a white shirt hugging her rib cage and a tie the same colour as her skirt choking her neck. Saiph had to loosen it so she'd be able to breathe.

It's not Saiph's first private school. She knows what will be expected of her to be a student at St Francis. But her last one was most definitely more relaxed than this. If her uniform was suffocating, she couldn't possibly imagine what it would be like once she was there.

Saiph takes out her phone and snaps a quick picture of her brother with the text:

first day and i'm already dying in this uniform :,) wish you were here! x

Satisfied with the message, she sends it to Alcor and looks up at his glow-in-the-dark star before she leaves. As she walks past his room, she can't help but smile as she imagines he would probably tug at her plaits while they walk down the stairs.

If he were here, Alcor would've been the one to take her. The two would always travel to school together, even when Saiph could drive and had her car. But they enjoyed their mornings together. Alcor only graduated last year but promised, as a tradition until Saiph graduated, that he would take her on the first day of the school year.

Of course, he was unable to keep that promise. But Saiph understood under the circumstances.

"I'm more than happy to take you today, Saiph." Gwen, her mother, offers.

"It's okay, Mum, really. I don't want you and Dad to be late on your first day, too." She kisses her forehead. "Ex-astronomers, now astronomy teachers at the University of Melbourne. That's so exciting!"

Gwen squeezes her daughter's hand out of appreciation and worry. Indicating discreetly that if Saiph needs her mother, she will be there in a heartbeat. Saiph squeezes her hand back, but let's go soon after. Swiftly, Saiph kisses her dad's cheek and runs out the door. If she had stayed any longer, she knew she would have never left the house today.

Alcor's star wasn't out, but she could feel it watching over her. It brought Saiph a sense of comfort while she was driving. Her nerves started to ease, and she began to feel a little more confident. Saiph could hear her brother's comforting words. Telling her that she would be okay, that she'd meet friendly people and that he was here if she needed him.

With those thoughts in mind, she felt a lot better. Saiph found the student parking and swung her car in. Buildings were scattered across the plot of land St Francis was on. The main building standing tall in front of Saiph. The doors automatically slid open, and the cool aircon saved her from the Australian heat. An older woman sat behind the reception desk and smiled as Saiph approached her.

"Hi honey, how can I help you?" She greets.

Saiph adjusts her backpack on her shoulder so it doesn't fall off. "I'm Saiph Edwards, today is my first day."

The woman's face lights up, "oh yes, that's right! I'll walk you to your PC room and introduce you to your PC teacher." She gets up and walks around with papers, "I'm Mrs Doherty, but I get all the students to call me Ellen."

"Nice to meet you then, Ellen," Saiph smiles.

She follows Ellen out of the building and around the corner. Students run around them as the bell sounds it's time for PC. Some greet Ellen as they walk past, and she gives them all encouraging smiles.