Footprints in the Sand

2. Last Day of Term

I woke up at 7am for the last day of school before my 6-week summer break. I could hear Dad's snoring as I crept down the stairs, my hair still damp from my shower. I was somewhat relieved by that, him sleeping, it meant he wouldn't have to see grumpy Flo for another morning. I ate quietly, putting the radio on as I sat in our glistening white kitchen. I headed upstairs, dressed in my tatty shorts and a cami top, applied subtle makeup, put my contact lenses in, and headed out of the door at 8.30, both parents still dead to the world. I grabbed a fiver from Mum's purse as I left, as I did some days for lunch, and chucked my school bag, a large handbag, onto the foot well of seat behind me and drove to Carrie's house. She was standing outside in a navy summer dress that was a tad longer on her than the dress I wore the day previously and hugged her slim frame, showing off her petite curves. She smiled as she jumped over the door to my convertible, driving roof down since the sky was cloudless and a beautiful blue.

            "Mornin', Flo." She smiled, her tanned face glowing in the morning sunlight. I smiled back at her, eyes covered by my large sunglasses,

            "You could call it that, or a very, very late night." I replied, smiling cheekily.

"You di'n't, did you?" She asked a little startled as she did her seatbelt up,

"Nah, I ain't that stupid!" I giggled, and headed down the main road to Teignmouth: the town containing our school. And, as always, we hit the traffic just before the bridge over the river to Shaldon. I groaned, and took the road off up the council estate, past a few Primary Schools, and hit the road to school by 8.45. Perfectly timed. I found myself a parking space, put the roof up, got out of the car, locked it, and walked to assembly, arm in arm with Carrie.

            "What's Avery really like?" She asked as we headed through the school gates as the lower school students ran towards their form rooms clad in their school uniform and black school shoes. I was glad I wasn't one of them anymore.

            "Posh, he's from London after all; annoying; way too stuck up for his own good." I started as we walked into the auditorium, walked across the stage and took our seats in the far balcony, the rest of our form already seated.

            "I know it's the last day of term and everything, Miss Shadow and Miss Hawkins, but it is still nice for you to be here before the bell goes." One of the form tutors, Seb Collins, said as we walked up the steps to our seats.

            "Traffic was hell this mornin', sir!" I said as I took a seat.

            "Should have left earlier then." Seb headed up the stairs.

            "He came home." I said as he stood in front of me,

            "Who?"

            "Anakin Skywalker." Seb nodded. He was Mum's little brother, and knew all about how stuck-up Dad was. He, of most people understood the Skywalker reference.

            "Talk to me after assembly." I nodded at Seb's request. Uncle Seb was absolutely awesome, even giving me a place to stay, even if it was sharing with an eight-year-old, when Dad and I argued, which was rare. School, of course, knew of this agreement, and the fact he was my uncle, but it was all hush-hush when it came to students: no one other than my four best friends knew that Seb and I were related, let alone him being my uncle.

            Assembly passed in a blur, and at 9.10, we were released to our lessons, or whatever we had. I waited for Seb and walked down to his classroom with him after telling Carrie ‘not to wait up'. I took a seat opposite him and kept quiet until Seb spoke. He looked a lot like Mum: same blue eyes, same face, same slim body, but his hair was brown rather than Mum's blonde, even their mannerisms were similar.