Pattern

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

/ Avery/

"We feel that, at this school, we encourage students to show their creativity and style through their clothing, and that this is a gift based on trust." Mr. Tiding stared across at me, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. "And though I appreciate your return to education, your attire is unacceptable.. We want our students to look neat and smart." His eyes wandered over my shirt (ripped and stained with paint) and my jeans (full of holes). The bell rang and I went to get up, but the vice principal held his hand up. "Wait a moment, Mr. Watts. As well as your clothes, I expect your behaviour to be in top form this year. You've barely escaped expulsion before. Any more problems, I'm afraid I can't give you another chance." "Yeah, yeah," I sighed. "I know." I opened the door, but before leaving, turned around and said with a smirk "Unnatural hair colour is banned also, right?"

The teacher nodded. "Yes, of course. It's in the rules."

"Well, you may want to check the students' attire a bit more - there's a junior girl with coloured bright red hair. It doesn't look very ... smart. "

I grinned and left, feeling like I'd just gained something from a bad situation. But I knew what the vice principal said was right - if I slipped up in school, I was out. Hell, if I continued to slip up in life, my dad would probably kick me out. I don't think I could help it. Things just never went my way - one moment, I'm in a great mood, then someone says something and I snap. Then, there's some guy lying on the ground and his blood is on my hand. Add that to god knows how many counts of vandalism, theft, and shoplifting and you've got a record full of trouble. At least I didn't smoke weed or have a severe drug addiction.

 There was a crowd at the school entrance/exit - everyone desperate to leave. Two girls were in front of me, chatting, moving slowly. One was tall and blonde, and the other... a small redhead. Her hair stuck out like a tomato in a haystack. I realised I should have told her earlier that it looked stupid, but I couldn't start a conversation with a girl who, two hours ago, I'd said to never talk to me again. Prudence Knightley was probably the most annoying person I'd ever come across, and also the most persistent (it went hand in hand with annoying). We weren't friends anymore - I'd realised I didn't want to talk to the weird kid who used to give me her sandwiches, or to anyone really, when I was fifteen or something. People were unnecessary - they were so easy to love and depend on, and easier to lose. It wasn't worth the effort when they'd probably end up hating you anyway.

Of course, it got lonely when everyone was either scared of you or hated you. But it barely mattered.

The crowd lurched forward, and the red-haired girl nearly fell. I instinctively held out my arm to try grab her, but pulled it back just in time. She fell into some guy and apologised quickly, going back to her friend immediately. She was weird. For some reason, Prudence always seemed to appear - in my head, or pop up in real life. She was like a song you hate - constantly in your head, annoying you. It was probably because she was the only person who bothered to talk to me nowadays. I wasn't sure why - maybe she felt it was her duty to have conversations with me since I'd given her half my doughnut once (an unwise decision, but I was thirteen).

I began walking out, not really focusing, and some guy bumped into me. He was tall enough, but smaller than me. He took one look at me and looked scared. I wondered if I honestly looked that terrifying. I wasn't that tall.  "Uh, sorry," I muttered quickly. "Do I know you?"

"No, I'm new here, my name's Howard," The Guy replied.

"Oh. I'm Avery." Howard was a weird name. Then again, so was Avery.

"I know," He replied. Creepy.

"...You do?"

"Yeah," He shifted uncomfortably. "People have, um, told me about you."

"Oh."

"I better go anyway," Howard began walking away at top speed. Clearly, no one had anything nice to tell the new guy about me.

"You know, I'm trying not to hit people this year," I called after Howard. I didn't get a reply, but I swear I heard some girl giggle.

Dad was waiting for me when I got home. He stood leaning against the counter when I walked into the kitchen. "You actually went to school," He said, with mock surprise.

"You're actually not drunk," I replied, mimicking his tone.

"Don't, Avery. Just listen for a minute. Hanna from next door has gone missing. She's been gone since Tuesday afternoon."

"And you're telling me because..?"

"I thought you'd like to know. You used to walk to school with her and her brother."

"Yeah, when I was seven."

Dad looked down. "They think she was kidnapped." It was silent.

"Oh, wait, now you think I might have decided to abduct people on my way home from school? Wow, you catch on fast. Hanna's in my closet right now, I'll just get her for you."

He looked up at me. "Avery, this is serious. I'm not accusing you.. I just don't know what you could do anymore."

I looked up at him coldly. "It's nice to know my old man has faith in me." Then I got up and went upstairs to my room, to be alone.

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Super short (and a little boring) chapter - sorry! But I'll have Chapter Four up soon! What do you think? Please comment, and vote if you enjoyed it!