Tainted - The Torn Trilogy - Book 3 DISCONTINUED

At Every End There's A New Beginning

I peered over the back of the sofa to see a man wrapped up in a blanket, an empty bottle of vodka laying in one of his hands nothing left, the light snoring that erupted from his throat was followed by the wisp of air.

His breath stank of the clear liquid that used to fill the bottle.  This was becoming a regular occurrence,  before I could do anything about this man a door opened from across the room and a woman stepped out, her long dark hair laid down her back smooth and sleek she smiled at me half-heartedly

“Morning love, get going don’t worry about that I’ll deal with it” she waved a slender finger at the man comatose on the sofa before pulling me into a tight hug, her familiar perfume overtaking my senses as I breathed it in before she pulled away.

“I love you, have a good day...” she chirped before turning to deal with the drunken mess.

 I smiled at her before collecting my things and whisking myself out the door. 

I treaded carefully over the white crisp snow on the ground it was freezing this morning.  Pulling my coat round myself in an effort to keep warm, rubbing my hands together and blowing into them warming up my ice cold fingers.  As I approached the hell that was formally known as school I slid on some ice before falling flat on my arse fucking brilliant I thought as I got up composing myself I must have looked like Bambi.

I ignored the sniggers from people around me and carried on walking like nothing happened, I’m good at that pretending like nothing’s wrong somehow I manage to put on a facade of normality, while I’m here at least.

I slinked my way through the crowd of people all trying to get to their classes, I didn’t even know where I was supposed be but I finally saw a flicker of a face I recognised and followed it, the person took me to room 48 – English I glanced down at the floor as I saw the screwed up face of Mr Bowers, he tapped his watch in disgust as I walked in to the room;

“Miss, what time do you call this?” he spat, flecks of water flew at me. Gross

“Sir, I’m not even five minutes late...” I sighed staring up at his face

“Well anything apart from on time or early is late in my book. Come and see me after school for a chat. Take a seat...” he pointed a sausage finger at an empty chair I tried to protest but he was having none of it

“Sir, but I have...piano” he shook his head and pushed me in the direction of the seat, luckily I was next to the two people that kept me in school these days Maddie Fox and Harry Callaghan my best friends.

I slumped in the chair with a light thud looking at the both of them with a fake smile, they could see through it though Maddie rubbed my back gently before whispering to me;

“Hi, are ye sure ye want to be here?” her thick Irish tones made their way to my ear, I looked at her raising an eyebrow

“I never want to be here...” I muttered before turning my attention back to the board.

_______

The day went by in a blur as usual, I was sat in my last lesson with Maddie and Harry it was free study so basically a chance to chat and do nothing but as usual they tried to make an effort to cheer me up;

H-“So, how’s things at home?” Harry questioned, touching my hand lightly

“Not great as you can imagine”

M-“Drunk again?” got it in one.

“Yeah, there’s nothing I can do though he’s not going to change any time soon but I don’t blame him. Who would want to face what’s been going on, I know I can’t.” I mumbled, my face staring at the table.

H-“We’re always here for you so is my mum you know that, come round tonight?”

“I have piano, go see mum and babysit so I can’t I’m really sorry. I know you are I love you for it.”

M-“Hang on haven’t ye got to see Bowers after?” oh shit, I’d completely forgotten

“Yeah, but I’m not going to what’s he going to do stalk me to nanas and drag me back? He’d get a shock I can tell you that!” I laughed at the thought.

“Well I’m going before Bowers comes looking for me, I’ll give y’all a text later. Bye guys..”

__

I ran, I actually ran through the corridors to avoid Bowers piano is one of the only few things that brightened up my days I didn’t want to hold nana up. Oh and seeing mum, she’s be mad if I was late.

I was out of breath when I reached the door, I ran my hands over the dark cold oak before knocking, a few seconds passed and I was greeted by my nana she pulled me into a tight hug before shutting the door.

“Hello love, sit ye self down you must be freezing. The fires on sit there, oh here ye go here is ye tea.” She handed me the tea and I wrapped my hands around it feeling the warmth unfreeze my fingers. I smiled at her sitting at the piano staring at me;

“So how was school?”

“How it usually is, rubbish and boring...” I never liked school I was always distracted

“Well ye no you’ve got to get yourself a good education! But still it’s nice to have fun and rewind, come here love we’ll start with something easy today as ye fingers might drop off at any minute” she giggled patting the seat next to her.   I laid my fingers over the hard wooden keys of the grand piano and started playing, I was in a world of my own, one that I loved.

After I’d finished I sighed happily turning to nana who was smiling at me laying her fingers through my hair I let my eyes droop shut that’s what mum used to do to me when I was little, stroke my hair as I fell asleep, I reminded myself not to be late seeing her I didn’t want to disappoint her I felt guilty last time.

“So how are things at home..” my eyes snapped open

“Not good nana” she sighed and pulled me into her kissing my hair

“It will be get better it takes time, take it from someone who is old and if I do say so wise trust me” she chuckled, I knew she was right but how much time..

“right, I’ve got to go nana” I hopped up and collected my things, ready to brace the cold.

“Seeing your ma again...” she studied me but I kept firm she and my mum didn’t really see eye to eye, something about the past I never asked I’m not sure I even wanted to know.

“Yeah nana, then off to baby sit... I love you I’ll be round tomorrow.” I kissed her on the cheek and wrapped her into a tight hug before leaving.

___

Racked with cold I finally arrived, I wasn’t late for baby-sitting I had time to spend with mum. I wandered up the path, recognising where I was I smiled but it was a smile of sadness as well as happiness. I bent down and wiped the snow away before sitting down on my coat.

 My now misty gaze fixed on the newly placed gravestone...

“Hi Momma.”                                          

I had SO many different senario's of what to do for this book running around my head but finally after much deliberation and help I decided on this one. I think it's going to be the most interesting to write. Sorry if anyone's pissed off with me but bare with me there's going to be flashbacks Sarah and Danny moments along with Mark and Sarah moments. I'm excited to see what's happens!! Let me know through comments but don't spoil it for other people who haven't read all of the second book. Comment and vote, don't kill me. Love Hannah xox Girl is Melody at the side!! Her name's shayline woodley I dunno I though she looked a mix of Dan and Sarah xo