Just Another Morning

Black Beauty, Trouble

Closing the door behind me I hear the thunder of rushing feet down the wooden steps in the house. Not wanting to be caught up to, I rush down the road toward school. Never the less I can still hear the yell of protest from the twins as one steals the cereal from the other.

Today was the start of the new year. The twins Will and Jack were finally going into year 7 while I became a year 11 senior. Not having been able to prepare myself yet for my trickster brothers, I wanted a head start by getting to school early.

The ten-minute walk gave me only a little chance of peace. I see no point in rushing, I have half an hour before the start of the school day.

I look up at the clear sky to see a flock of white birds high above me. Looking along the narrow footpath, in my vision of sight, I see the tail-end of a very expensive looking car. Curious as to see the 'live' limousine I chase it to the street corner. There driving in all its glory is a luxury black Sedan limousine. I gasp and close my eyes shortly before I take the skin on my arm between my fingers and pinch. Yelping quietly I open my eyes to see the limousine turning the next big corner right along the road past the school.

"What do I do, I really want to know where it's going!" A passing stranger looks at me curiously for talking to myself. Not caring I race away toward school in hopes of catching a last glimpse at the four-wheeled black beauty. To my disappointment, it was no longer there. "It must have gone round the next corner," I whisper to myself. Seeing the school building I make my way the last few hundred metres.

At the front gates, I pause. A feeling of being observed sends warm chills down my spine. Glancing sideways I can't fail to notice a dark shadow approaching with hips swaying and a flick of blond hair. Involuntary I shudder in anticipated fear.

Turning slowly I silently pray to whatever power will aid me. The four faces I see next are all smirking and sighing I hunch my body over with my head down. Usually, I do everything with my posture straight but to live a little more easily I'd discovered over the years that being small was a virtue.

What seemed like hours later to me was in fact only a matter of minutes. When the gorgeous blond finally speaks her words sting me a little. "Hey there Nara, what a 'pleasant' surprise to see you". The girl spoke with an air of self-presumed arrogance, but although her nature was unkind her small ounce of beauty never failed to attract attention.

"Hello, Mel, nice to see you too," I replied sarcastically. I might just be damned to see her on the first day of school, I can't help thinking.

"Boys, what do we want from this ugly duckling?"

"Well Mel," began one of the boys. "That's right", spoke Mel. If Mel were a snake, I would be lunch. "We wanted to see if you were here, seeing as we treated you so nicely last year." The five snickered. Really, the whole time school was approaching again, I should have anticipated not only the workload but also the arrival of Mel and her little gang.

"Anyway boys, why are we standing around talking to nothing?" Cue the dramatic exit. Unconsciously I shake my head. Seems like lunch, i.e. me, was going to be served another time.

I think back to the first time I'd met Mel and her boys 10 years ago. Back then Anika had also been there. After getting into highschool I'd discovered that not only Mel was at the same school but also that Anika had moved to somewhere far away. Mel being herself had refused to tell me where to or why and so the mystery of where she'd gone remained.

******

German abruptly ends, it is one of the few courses I'd chosen that I hoped would be easy. Although I may not be a native speaker, the process of how all the structures in the language work intrigue me. This makes it all the easier to learn and it provides a bit of a break in a strange sense. Even though I wasn't normally that much of a nerd I still love to read books and so I'd read, or better said, attempted to read some even in German. It had mostly failed.

For a change I am happy that the class is over, the substitute teacher being a Japanese teacher with a heavy accent. In the morning notices a meeting had been set for the last ten minutes of this period, and so I made my way toward the toilet before heading into the Gymnasium. It annoys me to no end, the reason for the abrupt end being an assembly for the seniors being called. I frown, thinking about what could possibly be so important suddenly. I head toward the toilet, in no rush to reach the meeting in the Gymnasium. I change my mind quickly enough when a teacher tells me to head toward the Gym right now with no detours. Sighing I make my way.

The Gymnasium is filled with countless of my year mates. As I find my seat I see the glistening of tears in some girls eyes and even to my surprise in the eyes of one of the buff guys called Andy, a brute Rugby player. Our year advisor calls for silence with a shrill pierce of his green whistle. Instant silence falls over the cramped space.

"Year 11, I wish to tell you some sad news. Some of you closer to Laura Hem may already know already that she got caught in an accident the other day. I'm devastated to tell you that Laura's doctors weren't able to save her life. She had sustained very deep injuries from colliding with the other drivers car. If you feel need to share your feelings of grief with anyone, please join us in the library to mourn the loss of a friend and family member."

I hear the quite outbreak of one of my year mates sob. I feel pity for all those who knew her. Feelings of surprise course through my heart. I'd never known Laura personally, she was a common topic within the school for her habits and sporting abilities but beyond that, I'd only ever had one class with her.

The teachers call for dismissal and slowly everyone trickles out of the Gym. Many go off towards the library to grieve for Laura, while I head toward the bathroom and to relieve my aching bladder before wandering off to wait for my next class, Mathematics. I see Maths as my enemy. It never played fair and I hated it's existence with a hidden passion. What can I say, Maths was just a pain but my mother had insisted I need to continue with the course for the benefit of my future. I just hope school ends quickly, I think in my mind.

The rest of the day progresses quietly, many of the people in my classes decided to either go home or stay at the library. This left me virtually alone. School was coming to an end, I'd finished all the work which needed doing. Walking down the empty hallways I make my way towards the exit and towards home.

*****

Thanks for reading another chapter! I hoped you enjoyed it and sorry that I was a bit slow in posting the next chapter, had a few writers block. Look forward to the next chapter >,<