The Story of us

Chapter Five: The Declaration

I've done something big... something that I never thought I would be brave enough to do. To be honest, when I think about the consequences... I'm absolutely terrified.

"There she is!"

"Get her!"

"What's the matter, Layla? Is your desk missing?"

"I think it is, Perrie. Oh dear, how are you going to study with the rest of us now, you little commoner?"

Layla Hennessy you poor beggar. You aren't gonna last three days.

In years to come, I would wonder how I survived the first day of my red card.

I spent most of the day dodging students and any object they fancied throwing at me - food during lunch, pens, books, rolled up bits of paper during class. Every step I took I feared for my well-being. It was safer running to classes than walking discreetly - the news about me had spread like wildfire, I may as well have had neon letters screaming "LAYLA HENNESSY" across my forehead.

But even in classrooms I wasn't safe. When I walked into English my desk was missing; it took me half an hour to find it again outside in the courtyard, defaced and graffitied. In Spanish, my name was maliciously whispered with other hateful phrases in the language, students knowing full well I understood every word. In chemistry the usual paper balls and pens came flying at me, but when a beaker exploded on the side of my desk I shrieked my head off and Mr Phillips gave me detention for disrupting his class.

By the end of the day I was bitterly regretting my rash action yesterday.

I emerged cautiously from the bathroom, having made up my mind to sprint to my sanctuary - the music room - and wait until everyone else had gone home; there was no way I was leaving when students were still mingling outside.

A group of girls were lingering by the doors. Go outside, I pleaded, Please, just leave. I took a step backwards and - "AH!"

Walked right into a bucket and mop.

The girls instantly looked down the corridor, "Hey, there she is!"

Yes, Layla. Your clumsiness will be the death of you one day.

"We've got a surprise for you, Hennessy. Do you like eggs?"

"Hey, did you guys find her?" My heart thudded. More people were coming into the corridor. This was the ambush I dreaded above anything else.

There was no other help for it, I had to run. But before I did, there was a familiar face standing by the stairs that caught my attention. Jade looked troubled as she watched me, but as soon as we made eye-contact she gave a little smile and walked away. My smile slid off my face as she ran off, and all of a sudden I felt like surrendering. Surrendering to the students waiting for me with their eggs, to Kensington, its pathetic teachers and to 1D...

But I couldn't do that.

Taking a deep breath, I ran right into the fray, shielding my head as they cheered and threw eggs at me. This morning I might have felt proud that I only got hit by three out of a dozen, but I was too tired and miserable now to care.

I tore across the courtyard, running past the trees and the fountain until I reached the music department. Gasping, I stumbled inside and slammed the door behind me.

Out of nowhere, someone threw their arms around me and pulled me to them tightly. I shrieked, struggling to get away. Then I saw who it was.

"Danielle? Danielle!"