Blossom [Watty Awards 2015]

Chapter Two : Lord Of The Flies

Most of the boys at my old school looked like something out of a freak show, and although that wasn't very different for my new school, there was some gorgeous beings in my year. Jack for example, although he seemed to be afraid of everything that moved, and Sebastian, although he had to change his tampon. And the boy I was seated beside in English.

He was from somewhere exotic, maybe Brazil or Portugal, and he smelled like coconuts. He had his hair tied in a bun at the back of his head but some loose curls spun down from the back. You were very lucky if you suited a top-knot; most guys ended up looking like Pepper from American Horror Story, but not this boy. I would sneak glances towards him whenever I could. I couldn't wait to tell Katy about him.

"Would anyone like to explain to Daisy what we've been learning about?" Mrs Chalmers, the English teacher, asked the class, but no one volunteered. Then a familiar voice spoke up from the back of the classroom and I tried not to visibly cringe.

"We're reading Lord Of The Flies," Sebastian said, and I turned to face him. He sat in the back corner by himself, his feet up on the seat next to him. He was leaning against the back wall, looking casual and laid-back, not like how you should look in a learning environment. "It's basically about a snooty blond who thinks she - oh, sorry he - can go around doing whatever he likes, bossing everybody around, when in reality he's really sh- bad at what he's trying to do and everyone thinks he's pathetic."

I nodded. "Sounds good." I smiled mockingly, trying not to let him get to me.

He smiled back in the same manner. "I bet you can really relate."

I smiled again and rolled my eyes, turning back to face the front. Mrs Chalmers smiled awkwardly as if she knew there was something going on but she was too tired to mention anything. "Okay...um... can anyone tell me what the main themes of the book are?"

The boy next to me raised his hand. "Rory?" Mrs Chalmers said. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed. I expected his name to be something like Julio or Jesus, or something else that started with 'J' but you pronounced with a 'H.'

"The main themes are civility and savagery." Again, I was disappointed. He wasn't Spanish or Portuguese. He was Glaswegian.

"Very good, Rory. Can anyone give me the definition of civility and savagery and compare the two?"

"Civility is basically politeness and morals and understanding of what is acceptable to be said and what should be kept to yourself," Sebastian spoke again from the back of the class. I turned to face him and was faced with a smirk. "Savagery is basically the opposite; barging into conversations you weren't invited to, not knowing when to keep your mouth shut-"

"What is your problem?" I blurted in the middle of the class. Everyone who was originally looking at Sebastian all turned to face me instead.                                                                                                                    "Now, Daisy, I'm pretty sure Sebastian was just giving an answer-" Mrs Chalmers tried to but in, but was rudely interrupted by Sebastian.                                                                                                                               "What's my problem? I have you sussed out. You're pretty and blonde and you love yourself so you think everyone else should too. You think because you're perfect and you're an innocent little girl that you can say whatever you want and no one's going to put you in your place,  but you're wrong. You've got everyone falling for your act except me. And except Jack. It's pathetic. You're pathetic."           "Guys, do I need to speak to you both outside?" Mrs Chalmers interrupted, but it didn't stop me and it certainly didn't stop Sebastian.                                                                                                                                               "I just got here this morning, I didn't even say anything to Jack. I don't understand why you're so mad at me."                                                                                                                                                                                         Sebastian scoffed. "Jack's too polite to tell the truth but I know what you were saying to him. I don't want you or your little friend to go near him again."                                                                                               "You sound like a jealous boyfriend. You got something to tell us, Sebby?" The class went silent except a few audible gasps. Sebastian looked like his head was about to explode.                                   "You take that back."                                                                                                                                                                     I shook my head. "Not after all the mean things you just said about me."                                                           He stood up with such force that his seat toppled from under him. "Take that back!"                                    I folded my arms over my chest and stood strong.                                                                                                           "If you don't take that back, I'll pound your perfectly styled head into the ground!"