Silence

Chapter Six

Oakley

I woke up in the morning to the sunlight streaming through the middle of my curtains and someone gently shaking my arm.

"Oakley, time to get up," Mum whispered softly. "Are you feeling okay? I don't normally have to wake you."

I rubbed my eyes to try to wake myself up properly. Last day of school today. Finally. I pushed myself up and smiled. My head was pounding and I just wanted to stay in bed, but Dad worked from home on a Thursday and Friday, and I knew he wouldn't be happy if I missed another day, even if this was the last one. He would complain about my grades. It wouldn't look good for his perfect family image if his daughter's grades were anything less than A's.

"Okay. Well, breakfast will be ready soon. I'm making scrambled egg on toast. You need a good breakfast for your last day at school."

She left me to get ready, and I wasted no time in packing my bag and changing into my uniform. It was far too hot for the school blazer, but the teachers didn't seem to care about students dropping like flies in the heat. I took a deep breath before brushing my teeth. Just this one last day to get through.

When I got downstairs for breakfast, Cole was already sitting at the table, eating scrambled eggs. "Morning, Oaks," he mumbled, chewing on his food. I hated my name being shortened, and he knew that. Arse.

I sat down next to Cole and smiled at Mum, thanking her for the breakfast she just placed in front of me. "So are you two doing anything after school?" Mum asked, grinning at us both. She has a stupid fantasy in her head where me and Cole would be together.

I had the same one.

"Probably get some ice cream or something, right?" He glanced at me and shovelled another forkful of egg in his mouth. I smiled in agreement. That sounded like the perfect way to end the year, unlike some of my classmates, who would be at the park downing cider from the bottle.

"Okay, come on, we're gonna be late," Cole mumbled, grabbing my hand and pulling me off the stool. I gasped in surprise but didn't pull my hand back. It felt too nice.

***

We parked outside the sixth form building as usual. It hadn't taken long to get to school. Unfortunately.

"Look, if anyone says anything to you today just come and find me. You know what lessons I have, and if I have a free one I'll be in the sixth form block."

The only reason I knew what lessons he had was because he constantly shoved his timetable in my face so I would know where to find him. It was sweet but completely unnecessary. I would never go running into his lesson to get him.

"You could even text me, you know. I'd come and find you straight away," he added quietly, staring out of the window as he parked the car.

I dropped my gaze to my lap. That couldn't happen, ever. Cole sighed and flopped back into his seat. "Okay, just come and find me then."

I felt so horrible that I just kept staring at the floor. I hated disappointing him.

"It's okay," he said reassuringly. "I'll see you later, yeah?"

Finally looking up, I nodded and smiled appreciatively. We both got out of the car and waved to each other as we went our separate ways. As always, I hugged myself and walked quickly towards my form room. One more day, that was all.

My hope for an uneventful day was nearly crushed when I saw Julian standing just ahead of me, in the middle of the corridor. He was messing around with his friends, pushing and punching each other. Thankfully, there was another way I could go so I wouldn't have to bump into him, yet. Julian's lip looked a little swollen and bruised, but I couldn't see properly from standing so far away, and I certainly wasn't going to get a closer look.