Red and Silver

Chapter Three - Paint The Town Red

"Hi, um, I'm Scarlett, Scarlett Rider. I'm the new student."

A bespectacled lady with a baby blue cardigan peered over the counter at me.

"What did you say your name was again?" She asked politely.

"Scarlett Rider."

She looked at an outdated computer for a little while, fiddling with the mouse and searching for something on the screen.

"Ah, yes, Miss Rider. Just wait outside for the principal, he should be out soon."

Her cheerful voice was trying to be pleasant, but it sounded bored and plastic. I backed away slowly and moved to sit on one of the pathetic plastic chairs.

Someone was already sitting on one of them.

He had ripped jeans, a dark tee and a leather jacket.

Surely he is freezing in that outfit.

He flicked his gaze to me, and winked cheekily.

I flinched as he did.

He shrugged nonchalantly, he had a lazy expression on his face, as if he was amused by my reaction.

I studied him in further detail out of the corner of my eye. He had dark skin with green eyes, green eyes were very rare, and his eyes were the colour of crushed pine needles. His nose looked like it had been broken more than once, and there was a fading bruise on his cheekbone. Looking at him more closely, and you could see little scars around his knuckles, tell tale signs of a troublemaker. He was built like a professional footballer, and with those scars, it looked like he had been in prison. He noticed me watching him.

"Checking me out hot stuff? You're not really my type, but for you, I'll make an exception." He grinned maniacally at me.

"You wish asshole." I scoffed. What a douche.

"Ooh, ouch. The kitten has claws."

"Yeah and she's about to use em' to claw your eyes out."

Suddenly the door to the Principals office swings open, sparing me of this newfound dickheads newest, witty remark.

A podgy, balding man with a combover looks around and spots the shit stain.

"What have you done now Sam." He sighed exasperatedly.

"Oh you know me sir, take a guess." He replied cheekily.

Taking notice of me he asks, "And why are you here?"

"Oh, I'm the new student. Scarlett."

"Ahh, yes. Come inside." Glaring at Sam, he said "I'll deal with you later." And motioned for me to go inside.

As I stepped into the drab office, I took a chair and sat in it uncomfortably.

"I understand that you used to attend Leonardo Academy before. And I know that it's been a while since you have been back in school."

"Yeah, that's right."

"Your grandmother told me about what happened to your aunt." He said softly, sympathetically. "I can't say that I understand what you're going through. But if there's any way I can help, I will. The school is a dedicated, learning environment, and I want you to know that it's a safe place for you."

"Thanks for that."

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he handed me a timetable.

He cleared his throats to break the silence.