Saskia

4 - Toilet Trauma

  Both Harriet and Saskia stepped out of the cold and into yet another corridor. That’s all school seemed to be, corridor after corridor. After turning a few corners they arrived in the French toilets (so called as they were by French). Harriet walked in turned on the hand dryer, to mask any un-ladylike noises and went to pee. Saskia stared in the mirror and watched three, year 7's take selfies of their orange, make-up covered faces. Afterwards they walked past Saskia, their bright red hair almost blinding her, as they talked about 'I'm a celebrity' loudly. She stared into the mirror, at her light blue eyes and un-blemished pale skin. The hair-dryer went off, as Harriet finally began to pee. Inside the toilets the sound of trickling water was all that could be heard. A few girls giggled at the sound, others shot disgusted looks at the said cubicle. Saskia becoming aware of the situation and so suddenly switched the hand-dryer back on and the peaceful calm was restored.

  The door swung open and Harriet brushed her black skirt and walked over to the mirror by Saskia. She noted the three girls in the corner who stared at her as she brushed her hair.

  "Fucking hair dryer! Never stays on" angrily said Harriet, the brushes becoming more crazed.

  "I mean you could've been quicker turning it back on" She added brushing her hair ferociously while glaring at Saskia.

  "Sorry.. I was..." 

  Harriet waited for a response, her eyebrows raised and eyes wide.

  "Anyway I have gossip"

  "Gossip? But you never have gossip" 

  "Well I do this time" said Saskia in an irate manner.

  "Basically I overheard James and Harry talking in R.S and James was telling Harry that Mikes going out with Flur" she said that all in a rather animated way.

  "Yeah I knew that last week" said Harriet as they both strolled out of the hot toilets.

  "How?" she asked disappointed.

  "Well Mike and Flur were making out at Freddie’s party" She replied walking briskly through yet another corridor.

  "Oh.. I thought they were just... cold"

  "Cold?"

  "Doesn't matter" she shouted as walked off while quickly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and leaving Harriet far behind.

  "Saskia!" called Harriet jogging a little to catch up but failing due to a mass of year 8's which she soon became entangled in.

  "Fuck" she added turning away and heading outside into the cool. Meanwhile Saskia carried on walking at a ferocious pace. She walked up the stairs, along the corridor and into the library. She slowed down as she entered due to the calm stillness that incarcerated the libraries atmosphere. It was a quiet place, where one would never stay for too long. Yet it was a great hiding place, the tall shelves of books almost created a labyrinth.

   She peered around the shelves to find a secluded spot where she could hide away from the nerd and freaks which inhabited the more open area. She looked through the holes in the bookcase where the odd small book sat creating a little window to the next row. She watched a curious boy, Lewis, twitch around trying to find some sort of book about the Cold war. His glasses were far too large for him and he had to keep pushing them up is boney nose. She turned away and sat down, leaning against the ‘Rainforest’ section of the bookcase. 

***

  Tears gently rolled down her cheeks as she listen to sad songs of un-requiented love. She liked Jon, he had been kind and caring yet something didn't work between them. At that moment she just didn't realise. She snuggled against the bookcase, causing the odd book to fall off and create a blanket. She sat staring into the Biology section, crying. 

  "Excuse me" 

  There was somebody there. Saskia was startled and for a moment pretended to be un-able to hear. She ignored the voice and turned her head away and hugged a book about worms. Yet as she rested she felt and gentle touch on her shoulder. She turned around and looked at the boy before her. He had dark black hair, a little messy and thick, but styled nicely. His skin was place yet his green eyes vibrant and his mouth seemed to be naturally sculpted into a friendly, endearing smile.

  "Are you okay?" He said crouching down to her level. Saskia looked away, wiping her tears and composing herself.

  "Yeah I'm fine" she replied turning back to those green pools. 

  "I was looking for a Biology text book, d'you know where I could find one" He asked in a curious manner, with a deep yet in no-way harsh voice. Saskia replied, not with words but instead she kicked her foot to the section in front of her. He thanked her and began to search through the bookshelf. Saskia watched; he wasn't wearing uniform so he must have been in sixth form, joined this year she guessed. She stood and began replacing the books she'd knocked off before.

  "Are you sheltering from the cold too?" he asked with a friendly tone.

  "Yeah something like that" she replied.