Deadlife (first draft)

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

It was the end of yet another mind-numbing day. Amber threw her books into her locker with a sigh. She quickly scanned the people around her. Was anyone watching? She wanted to make her apathy visible. She wanted them to know that she didn't care.

No, she thought. Of course they weren't watching. They were too busy talking about whatever normal teenagers talked about, absorbed in their pristine, perfect lives. Ugh.

Withholding another sigh, she pulled on her black over-sized hooded top and zipped it up, a protective barrier between herself and them. She plugged in her headphones, not that there was any music playing; the secondary barrier. It was that kind of a day. She left the building with her eyes fixed to the ground, wearing her best do-not-speak-to-me face that she had become quite skilled at over the last couple of years. She glanced up briefly to survey the area. Students were talking loudly to each other, many of them yelling. It was hard to tell if they were arguing about something or if that was just how they spoke.

Probably both, thought Amber. Some people were climbing into cars that had just pulled up by the gates, while others did not seem to be in any hurry at all and were lounging on the grass next to the parking lot. They were sprawled out, laughing and drinking cans of soda. Not Julia, of course. Julia was drinking mineral water, smiling and tossing her blond hair behind her shoulders with an effortless shake of her head, a practiced motion that had become her trademark. Realizing she was starting to stare, Amber quickly averted her eyes but it was too late.

“Hey guys, look who it is,” said Julia loudly to her friends. “Miss Lesbo-licious!”

Oh shit. Amber hurried on towards the gate, eyes back on the ground ahead of her.

“What's your hurry, Morticia? Late for a meeting at the Church Of Satan?” called Julia, to titters of laughter from the others. Amber could see from the corner of her eye that Julia and her friends were getting up from the grass, leaving behind their half-finished cans and food wrappers. “Hey, I'm talking to you!”

Amber quickened her pace; she really did not want this conflict today. If I can just make it through the gate, I'll be safe, she thought. It seemed logical in her heightened state of panic.

The air was thick with warmth this afternoon. She couldn't remember the last time it had rained. In an attempt to refresh her senses, she took in a deep breath, but it made little difference; she simply ended up with lungs full of what felt like pre-breathed air. As she passed through the gate her vision was filled with sunlight.

Yes, I've made it, thought Amber. She turned the corner and blinded by the sun, collided with a small girl who was probably no more than half her age, causing a book to fall from Amber's bag as she stumbled. Her escape was ruined.

“Gah! Fucking... just look where you're going,” said Amber as she bent down to pick up her book.

“What did you just say?” came Julia's voice from behind her, “Did you just swear at my little sister, bitch?”

Amber rose, book in hand, only for Julia to sweep it out of her hands, throwing it back to the floor.

“God! What is your problem?” asked Amber. There was no hope of getting away now.

Julia moved closer towards her, prodding with her finger. “My problem is dirty whores like you picking on my sister.”

Isabelle wouldn't take this, thought Amber. No, Isabelle was stronger, older, more experienced. She always knew exactly what to say and how to react in situations like this. Hell, she probably wouldn't even need to say anything at all. Just one cold hard stare from her would do.