Ashes to Ashes

Chapter 5

The week passed by in a blur.

Tuesday. Arms laden with books, we decided to go to the apartment first, and freshen up, before Crystal and Ellen took us out to explore the town.

The town centre was a small quaint, almost village-like place. With mini boutiques and cafe's scattered about, it had a rustic, welcoming feel. As we made our way through the long road in the town centre, we cam across many people that Crystal and Ellen knew - proving that everyone knew everyone in this small town.

The first stop we made was the grocery shop. We stacked bags high and full of necessities - milk, bread, toilet paper, chocolate... and anything else we thought it would be a good idea to buy - including a cute scooby doo nightlight and a set of candles, even though neither Vi nor i were afraid of the dark.

After spending a lot of time and a lot of money in the grocery shop - and with only 2 more hours till dark and the shops closed, i suggested we buy some clothes for the bonfire on Friday night. Crystal decided that we should drive to the nearest city - 15 minutes away, because there were no decent clothes shop in Beechwood. i decided that i needed to hurry up and buy a car, because otherwise i dont know how i'd live without being able to shop atleast twice a month.

The car ride was pleasant - except for the part where Crystal would sing along to Rihanna in an absurdly high, squeaky voice - i think my ears bled. Once we reached the mall, we parked our car in the parking lot and headed in - now with only 1 and a half hours to shop.

We visited nearly all the clothes shops, and with only half an hour left, we were running out of options on things to wear Friday. We came across jeans, and tops, and shorts, and skirts and dress after dress, but there was nothing that caught my eye. It was still summer, so the night would be hot - especially if there was going to be a bonfire - so i decided to wear either a dress or shorts. It was in the last shop we visited - a small boutique in the far corner of the mall - that i finally saw something that caught my eye. A flowery lace white dress - kneelength. As soon as i saw it, i kmew it was perfect. It wasnt too expensive, but it was slightly out of my budget, but nonetheless, i decided to treat myself to the only decent looking thing i had seen all day. I quickly paid for the dress and exited the shop - a mere 2 minutes before 8, and the closing time.

With shopping bags in hand, and our hunger for fashion sated, Ellen bought up a different type of hunger.

"There's this really great ice cream parlour on the next street that doesnt close till 10, and since we're here, we should drop by." she suggested

"Yum, ice-cream!" Crystal cheered.

"Sounds like the best thing i've heard all day." i agreed, "Vi and I have had to put up with canned soup and stale bread for the last 3 days - ice cream sounds amazing."

Vi nodded enthusiastively in agreement, and we headed off to the ice cream parlour.

Once seated in a corner booth near the window, we each ordered our choice (i chose the bubblelicious surprise - a fusion of vanilla and bubblegum flavoured ice cream with sprinkles, bubblegum and strawberry flavoured ice cream sauce, and round bubblegums - yummmm).

"So give us the downlow on everyone in school," i started off the conversation, "any bitches to look out for?"

"Where to begin!" Crystal remarked, before diving into an indepth analysis of all of the characters the school had to offer - including Belle, who was the biggest gossip this side of North America and part of the infamous trio - the bitchiest, sluttiest girls in the school. Along with Belle was Alice - the hardcore badgirl with an emo personality, a diehard attitude (not the good kind) and a crackhead persona overall, and Sierra...the slut who slept with everybody's boyfriends. I have no hate for 'sluts' - to each their own, but sleeping with other peoples boyfriends was trashy. We lovingly named the trio 'The Zits' (apparently because theyre annoying and always pop up from nowhere [in the case of sneaky gossip Belle]).

Bitch session over, we moved on to the next hottest topic - boys.

"So do you have any boyfriends?" i asked Crystal and Ellen in turn.

"No, we're waiting for our ma.. the one" Ellen shyly replied.

"You don't really believe in 'The one' do you?" i responded cynically, "like soulmates? That sounds like bull to me. I don't think we really have another half, someone that completes us, blah blah. Personally, i think the human mind is easily manipulated, and the heart easy to win. I've fallen for soo many guys, and personally i think anyone can fall in love with anyone, given the right conditions - a guy just needs to act right, buy flowers and chocolate and he can have any girl drooling." I explained, "if he's decent looking" i added as an afterthought.

Ellen had a worried look, while Crystal's face showed an amused one - "I dont think you'll be sticking to that theory for much longer," she countered ominously.

"I dont get it?" i asked

"you will" was her mysterious reply. Hmmm...

After shoving the remaining vestiges of heaven down my throat - a struggle because the portions were extremely large - we split the bill, and headed back towards the car, me blowing bubbles with my bubblegum along the way.

As Crystal stuck her key in the car and brought the vintage machine to life, i saw the time flash on the dashboard screen.

"Shit, it's 9 already," i observed aloud.

Crystal turned back and spared me a bemused glance from her position on the drivers seat as she prepared to reverse out of the parking space.

"You've never been home later than 9?" she asked curiously.

I blushed, "Of course i have!" i defended, "Just not on a schoolday," i justified.

"You're even more innocent than me," Ellen mocked, "don't worry, even if you're late, Mr Francis (our form teacher) doesnt really care."

And here was me thinking Ellen was the goody goody.

"I'm a bad influence," Crystal stated with a wink - as if reading my thoughts.

10 minutes later and Crystal was pulling up outside our apartment. Conversation had dried up on the way back - we were all tired, and we exited the car, obtaining our shopping bags from the boot - shit, i hope the milk hasn't gone bad - and then smiled back at the passengers in the car, as we promised to see each other in school tomorrow, before Vi and I ran inside, taking shelter from the cold wind.

Once inside, Vi and I unpacked the shopping and headed straight to bed. I was snuggled up in bed 10 minutes later, exhausted, but sleep wouldn't come - i did not need this today. A further 10 minutes and i felt my eyelids begin to droop - before i heard a howl in the distance.

It was a haunting sound, loud and clear in the deadly silence of the night. It made my skin prickle and my hair stand on end. I lay in bed, quietly listening for any sign that Violet had heard the sound too. It was not the sound from a common pet dog, it clearly came from a big animal. As i lay beneath the covers, thoughts internally battling on whether i should check it out or not, the same haunting call met my ears. Curiousity won. I leapt out of the bed, and hesitantly made my way to the window that overlooked the forest below.

At first i couldn't see anything. I was short sighted and i couldn't really see very far. But as i looked out for longer, scanning the forest below, my eyes adjusted better to the darkness. I made out the shapes of trees, and the distinct shimmer of the lake - a distance away - as it reflected the light of the moon - not quite full - in the sky. Just as i was about to conclude that whatever had made that sound was long gone by now, i caught movement in the side of my eye, as the light from the moon danced on the creature below it. My eyes shifted in the directiom of the movement.

Standing tall in a clearing in the forest, it's bright eyes piercing me, was a wolf.

A/N: tadaa!!! ive kind of given away some more information... its building up to the big scene (in the chapter after the next, i promise).

I like to introduce the story properly vefore i give away any information, the reason for this is simple - i want to introduce the characters properly, and give you a chance to get to know Scarlett, so that in any events that happen, you can understand why she reacts the way she does - because you already understand her personality - that bein said, i do hope that some things will surprise you.

so yeah... VOTE AND COMMENT!!!! love yall xx

ps pic of ice cream to side ;)