the wolf ; rigel wilde

vi. polaroid shots

❝ He who bears his teeth in every smile ❞

present day
Amaya

Anna had left my uniform on the door of my wardrobe the night before, the navy blue skirt and blazer hanging proudly, the school's crest embroidered onto the left pocket. The Milligan's had told me everything I needed to know about the school, since they frequented it themselves when they were my age. Classes ran from nine to four, all the teachers were nice, apart from a science teacher called Mr. Frieser that Anna had warned me to not get on his bad side.

Once I had taken a nice warm shower, I stepped into my room to put on my uniform. Norman had kindly ironed my shirt last night, so I gently took it off its hanger, sliding over my skin. The white clothing fit me perfectly, just like Anna had said it would. After certifying that everything was on correctly, and that my tie was well tied, I mad Amy way downstairs for breakfast. As I descended the stairs, if found both Anna and Norman already in the kitchen, a small radio playing music as they made breakfast.

"Good morning." I spoke quietly as I made my way over to the couple, who both turned to greet me with kind smiles, "Good morning dear, did you sleep well?" The blonde woman asked gently as she passed me a bowl of granola. It was the first time in ten years that I was having breakfast that wasn't bland porridge, just the thought of having that meal consecutively for ten years staring made me want to throw up, but looking at the bowl of food in front of me, my idea of vomiting disappeared. Anna truly had magic hands when it came to food, just with yesterdays dinner, I felt completely at home.

It felt like I was eating my mothers cooking all over again. Feeling the love she put into each meal and how she happy she always was. Father called her the sunshine of the family, that her happiness and kindness could light up even the darkest places; and I was the rain, that with my generosity everything around me would grow. I liked my fathers analogies, how he could look at something as simple as a butterfly and create an intricate story.

I thanked the woman as I began to eat, while my mind wondered back to Grave. In the twenty four hours since I had left, I had been worried about Cecilia. When we became friends I promised I wouldn't leave her, and now I had, but I also promised I would visit her a soften as I could, and that was a promise I wasn't willing to break. We had been each others source of comfort and consolation at that hell hole of a place.

A hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts, "Finish up, we have to leave soon." Norman looked down at me, and I nodded as I spooned the last bits of the granola into my mouth in a hurry, before I rushed upstairs to retrieve my school bag.

The drive to Barnaby High School was calm, apart from the big groups of students walking down the streets. Anna and Norman insisted on driving me on the first day, so that I could learn the route. The streets near the high school were already packed with students walking to school. Groups of girls giggling as boys walked past, winking at them. Some students in coroners with their eyes glued to their phones. The car pulled up right in front of the school, and I stepped out onto the pavement.

"Have a good day, Amaya. And don't be scared, everything will be fine." Anna spoke sweetly from inside the car, leaning her head out the window. I smiled softly at the woman before I took a deep breath and turned to face the building starting to walk up the steps as the Milligans car drove away. My legs carried me up the stairs toward the entrance, my anxiety growing with each step, but I pushed it down.

There's nothing to be nervous about, I'll be fine.

As I entered the main building, a girl with a camera intercepted my path, the flash and click of the camera startling me. "Hi my name's Billie, I'm part of student council. You must be Amaya." The redhead girl smiled brightly at me, her bubbly energy practically radiating off of her as she took the polaroid out of the camera, "I have a photo of everyone at this school, but more than one of him." Waving the picture around to develop as she spoke, Billie slightly hinted towards a dark haired boy leaning against a locker, a blonde boy at his side as they both eyed both me and the redhead girl.

"Yes, I'm Amaya. Don't you think that's a bit creepy to have pictures of all the students?" I laughed lightly at the girl, but she didn't seem bothered at all, "Not at all, I think it's an excellent way to know everyone and see their evolution over time. Plus if I even develop a crush I'll already have a picture to swoon over." The girl linked her arm with mine as she laughed, walking us towards the classroom.

Looks like I've already made a friend.

As we walked to the classroom, Billie gave me a small tour of the school; giving me ahead up on all the bathrooms with broken locks that I should avoid, and boys for that matter. Some had a bit of reputation, one that I would not want to find myself tangled in. "Can I see your schedule?" The girl questioned, and I pulled the sheet of paper out of the pocket of my skirt- yes, that's right, the skirts have pockets -and handed it to her. After assessing the paper for few seconds, Billie turned to look at me with a wide smile, "We have all our classes together, that way I can introduce you to Miki, come on." And with that she pulled be towards the classroom, and I was internally praying that this day would go by smoothly.