Blue Strawberry

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I had only been back at school for a few days, when a new girl started in our class.

My sister was now buried under some dirt in our local graveyard, all of the faceless relatives and so called friends had now finish mourning and returned aimlessly back to the insignificant lives. Mum had stopped crying for one short moment this morning, to make my lunch for school. The water in my eyes had dried up long ago, ever since that night my Aunt had informed me of my sister’s death, I still couldn’t remember or pronounce what had killed her, some strangely articulated virus that one of my idiot cousins had said must have come from the jungle.

Anyway my miserable existence, was about to improve, as I already said a new girl had started in our class, beautiful long blonde hair cascaded down her back, like one of my sisters princesses in the movies she used to watch. I was knocked sharply out of my trance of watching the new girl walk in by the booming voice of Mrs King.

“Be quiet, everyone” Oh yes, I forgot to say Mrs King was back to her usual self, there was no more “never mind”

“Class we have a new student with us today” she continued “Do we have any spare desks?” Mrs King asked

“Over here Mrs, theirs a spare seat next to Elliott.” Shouted Ryan who was sitting on the other side of me and had been one of my best friends before my sister Molly died, but now he had shown little respect for my feeling since, mocking her, like so many others for her undignified exit from the school that fateful day.

“Hello, Elliott, I’m Elizabeth White, pleased to meet you.” She said in a soft tender sounding voice as she elegantly sat down next to me

“Hello, Elizabeth.” I replied shyly trying to cover my almost blushing face

Close up her hair looked almost white rather than blond and her skin was ashen, but smooth and beautiful, there was also something strangely familiar about her.

“Elliott, Elliott Finch, homework.” Barked Mrs King who I had ignored as she had been continuing to speak all this time

“Sorry, here you go.” I say as I reach into my bag and pull out the work I had been catching up with at home for the past week

“You’ve still got a long way to go to catch up, Elliott, I’ll need your full attention in class.” Moaned Mrs King, defiantly no more “never mind” from her

The day dragged on with Mrs King spouting all kinds of extremities under her breathe as the class repeatedly got things wrong or not how she wanted them. I tried to speak to Elizabeth in class throughout the day, but I either got tongue tied or she didn’t hear me whispering to avoid Mrs King’s wrath.

I tried to catch her at break times, but she quickly vanished into the crowds of pupils and Ryan kept holding me back trying to explain the new level he was stuck on while playing yet another gory, kill fest of an adventure game.

It was near the end of the day, now and I had made a promise to myself to at least walk the lovely Elizabeth to the school gate, I wouldn’t let my confidence betray me, before the end of class.

Mrs King droned on for what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes and then she said those fateful words, I always longed to hear.

“That’s all for today, don’t forget to practice your spelling for tomorrows test, I expect nothing less than top marks.” Announced Mrs King as we all started to pack our things into our bags. I turned to see Elizabeth already bolting towards the door, and I see her book still lying forgotten on her desk. I pick it up and rushed quickly after her.

“So did you have any thoughts on how I should capture the knight’s magical sword on Level twelve?” asked Ryan as he appeared in front of me blocking my exit

“No Ryan, maybe just push him out the way.” I state as I shove Ryan into the wall and speed past him

“Hey, just cause you sister died, don’t take it out on me” screamed Ryan at me as I raced down the corridor

As I reached the schools main entrance, I scanned the playground for Elizabeth. What had come over me, chasing girls around like I had never seen one before, I could always give her book back to her tomorrow, I thought.

Then I saw her almost gliding through the school gate. I again, without a rational thought sprinted after her as fast as I could. Out of the school gates, I could see her before me on the other side of the road, without another thought, I darted straight out into the road waving Elizabeth’s book over my head while I shouted her name.

“Elizabeth.” I cried as the car hit me at full speed. I could feel the crunch of my legs and back almost instantly. Elizabeth turned back to see me with her piercing blue eyes, just as I flipped over the cars bonnet I kept my hypnotised gaze on her as I flew on to the roof. The car made a high pitched screeching noise from its breaks as smoke soared into the air and obscured my view of Elizabeth.

When the cloud of black disappeared, I was a crumbled broken mess of blood and gore sprayed out all over the road. Elizabeth had gone and now standing in her place was a smartly dress man in a black suit with an old fashioned bowler hat carrying what looked like an umbrella, but it wasn’t raining, yet.