The Rain (Book 1 - The Unprotected)

Chapter 1 - Le début de la fin

The cold London air nipped at her cheeks causing them to turn red, her nose was bright like a tomato standing out against her fair skin. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck to prevent the icy air finding its way inside. She tapped her foot and sighed, looking back up the hill.

Jane pulled the sleeve of her jacket back causing the chilled air to hit her warm arm turning it raw in a matter of seconds. She glanced at her watch. '08:14'. She exhaled in agitation. Courtney was usually on time. Jane continued tapping her foot, slowly losing her patience.

The sight of black hair in the mist caught her eye and she inhaled gladly. After what seemed like hours of glaring at Courtney's approaching figure, she finally saw why the girl was late. The black and blue bruise shone under her eye and glinted in the sunlight. It wasn't noticeable to anyone else but because Jane knew what Courtney's mother was like, she saw it.

Courtney and Jane met in high school when Courtney moved to England from Scotland after her dad died. The 12-year old's were inseparable then and have been ever since, even after 4 years.

Jane ran a hand through her ginger, frizzy hair and with her index finger, she pushed her glasses further up her nose. She felt her body become heavy as she stared at the bruised, lifeless face of her best friend.

Courtney shuffled uncomfortably, feeling the strong gaze of Jane's burning eyes on her face. She felt as if her bruise was heating up and she had no idea what to say.

Courtney's father died in a car accident when she was 12 and after that, her mother went off the rails. Drinking, drugs, bringing strangers home and sleeping with any guy that she could find. Courtney went through it all alone and Jane never understood why she stayed, why she kept quiet. Courtney had an older sister named Anna who left when it all started and more than once had Jane told Courtney to find her, to stay with her instead.

Jane sighed at the sight of the makeup covered bruise and all the anger left her body. Courtney turned her head to the side so her bruise faced away from Jane, she swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke. 

"You ready?" Her voice dry and monotone, hoping to avoid the well-known conversation they always had. She started walking slowly in the direction of school knowing that Jane would catch up quickly. The air was cold and she felt her skin cool down, the bruise tingled and she moved her cheek, groaning at the pain.

"Yeah," Jane replied with a sigh, knowing that Courtney wouldn't want to hear what she was going to say. "I don't understand why you still stay with her, why you let this happen?" She questioned, knowing what Courtney's answer was going to be. It was the same every time. She turned her head look see that Courtney was ahead and she leapt to the side, walking briskly to catch up.

They headed towards the school. Courtney's speed rapidly increasing and she wished more than ever that they could avoid the infamous talk. Their conversation felt like a script, both knowing exactly what the other was going to say.

"You know why Jane," Her tone exasperated, she was tired of hearing the same thing and giving the same answer. Courtney looked at the buildings that they passed, imagining for a second what life would be like if she did tell the police. She opened her eyes and looked back at Jane.

"If I tell people, if I tell them what she does to me then they'll tell social services and they will either, attempt to find my sister who I'd really rather not meet right now. Or.." Jane could hear the underlying anger in her voice and regretted even bringing the topic up. "Shove me in a foster home where life could be even worse than it is now." Courtney looked away as the heat wafted off of her. She never meant to get angry but Jane was used to her raised voice.