Latch {Short Story}

Chapter One

~ 2nd September, 1996 ~

"Get out, Get out, Get out! Get out and never fucking come back, you piece of shit!" My mother screams from the top of the staircase; rage seeping from her lungs and pain flooding her eyes,- Followed by the stereotypical slamming of the door on my Dads behalf.

That was the moment I knew he was gone. My own Father, 50% of me, a man who had the nerve to sleep with multiple women for as long as he could get away with it. Hours ago he was caught in the act, which has led us to this position.

My Mother doesn't think I can hear her piercing screams. She doesn't realise how her voice echoes all the way to the loft. it's a sound I have adjusted myself to over the years. Some nights I can sleep through her cries, most nights I can't. It's just one of the many things I have to deal with in this family. Though on this fine morning, my stress levels are especially high because it's the first day at college. Well timed, parents.

That leads me onto my next life struggle: education.

Since the age of 6, I have never stayed at the same school for longer than 6 months. With my dad having a job where he's always travelling, and him saying that he wanted to be a "family man;" we often moved from one city to another so that we were always together. In a way I'm glad for that because it removed the stresses of friend groups, drama, boy troubles and becoming attached. But for the lack of all of them struggles, my parents made up for in arguing.

Don't pity me, it doesn't bother me anymore. Although... Now that Father dearest is out of the picture; my Mother and I will be stuck in the seaside county that is Norfolk. Known for its miles of coastline, rearing turkeys and being the inbred capital of the UK; it's not exactly the most exciting place in the East of England... Or just England in general. Nonetheless, it's quiet, and that's all I ask for right now.

"Arrietty are you awake?" My mum calls from the foot of my pull out stairs; darting me back to reality.

I check my clock and notice that it's 8 o'clock. Meaning that the dreaded start of college officially begins in 45 minutes.

"No." I reply in the format of a muffle as I push my head further into my pillow, up until i'm on the brink of suffocation. That's when I hear the haunting sound of the middle age woman thudding up the stairs, out of breath on the second step.

Once she makes it up the small gap in my floor that acts as an entrance, she stands there hunched over, gasping for air. I readjust myself as I lay against the headboard. We let the awkward silence flood the room til it seems appropriate to talk about my Dads exit. Only moments later and my Mother is curled up into my side, sobbing. I rub her back and hold her a little tighter per stroke, while repetitively telling her everything will be okay. Bullshit.

"It's just you and me now, honey." She whimpers.

Schools never look anything like they do on the brochures, I think as I browse through the leaflet my Mum had slotted into my backpack. The first page is presented with a front view of the college, which might I add is perfectly spotless on the photo; being complimented by the artificial green grass and hedges surrounding it. Then to show how much of a safe enviroment it is, the next page goes into detail about the security system, and how the whole college is guarded with gates.

That's where I'm stood,- at the front gates of my new hell. I'm currently running late by 3 minutes due to the shitty bus arriving late, leading me to the position i'm in now. I push away the anxiety telling me to sprint far, far away from this shite hole and back to the safety of my bed. Though that really isn't an option. With that in mind, I enter ''Blakeney Sixth Form & College'' with an open mind; though that is dismissed once I get a whiff of hormones, boys, perfume and sweat. Ah being a teenager,- the best years of my life.