Silence is Golden

Chapter 12

I know I promised this yesterday but stuff came up and im doing exams at the moment. I hope you guys are all enjoying this story and if you have any suggestions or opinions don't be afraid to say. Dont forget to vote and comment. And just a little sneak peak for you guys there will be an Eli pov coming up soonish but there are a few chapters to go before that. :)

The rain pelted down around me as I walked, seeping through my converses and soaking my feet. The distant sound of thunder rumbled about me blocking out the sound of the rain hitting the pavement and my jacket. Cars whizzed by uncaring and splashing me with water from the puddles adding to my foul mood and growing anger. I don’t know what it is but something just set me off in a bad mood this morning when I stepped out of the house and it just keeps growing beneath the surface blocking out all my other emotions. Another car sped past splashing me with more water making me scowl and my anger jump up a notch. Glaring at the pavement I kicked stones along in front of me as I trudged along through the rain and cold.

The school building finally came into sight and I picked up the pace slightly wanting to get out of the rain. The corridors were packed as everyone else was trying to avoid the rain as well, their shouts and laughter bouncing off the walls making it noisy and crowded with so many bodies packed into the corridors. I felt their eyes on me as I trudged through the mass of bodies trying to squash the growing annoyance inside of me. Today my anger outstripped my fear and pushed it onto the back burner. I looked up to see a group of girls staring at me wide eyed as I finally spotted the door to the girls’ toilets. What the hell are they looking at? Is there something on my face?

I pushed the door open to the toilets and silently grumbled when I spotted another group of girls crowding round the mirror fiddling with their already perfect hair and apply more makeup to their already makeup layered faces. They all turned when they heard the door open and stared at me before quickly stuffing their makeup back into the tiny handbags and leaving. Feeling some of the tension leave me at finally getting a few seconds peace out of the rain I headed over to the mirrors curious about what everyone keeps staring at me for. I caught sight of my reflection and stared at myself in shock. Staring back at me was a different girl. My dark hair is dripping wet and making my face look even paler and my scar stand out. My blue eyes once lifeless and empty now glare back at me filled with anger and hate shocking me. That’s what they are looking at, I look angry and fierce, a weak shadow of the old me staring right back at me. I reached out with a pale shaking hand and touched my reflection on the mirror now radiating shock and confusion.

A bell rang somewhere in the school signalling the beginning of class and pulling me out of my thoughts. Quickly I left the bathroom making my way to class in the now nearly empty corridors, crap I'm late. I hurried through the classroom door heading for my usual seat at the back of the classroom ignoring the stares.

“Roxanne your late” my teacher said loudly making me jump slightly.

I just shrugged not meeting his eyes.

“Don’t let it happen again” he said before turning back to whatever he is teaching.

Thankfully no one could stare at me in this class as I sit at the back so they would have to turn around in their seats but I know I'm not going to be that lucky in the rest of my classes. Trying to calm myself I took deep breaths trying to get my emotions back under control. As the class wore on I managed to get my anger to slowly leave me and some of my apprehension returned but I still felt different. The light was still in my eyes, I just knew without even looking in a mirror. I focused hard on my mask of indifference finally managing to pull it into place as the bell rang signalling the end of the lesson.

I slipped out of the classroom feeling self-conscious as I entered the corridor, I feel like everyone is looking at me. I don’t even know if they are as the courage to look up and check was left behind in the classroom. I kept my head down and hurried through the chaos to my next class. I proceeded like this for the rest of the day and spent my lunch hour hiding out of the way in the toilets. Last lesson came and I found myself torn on how I felt about it. Part of me was nervous and didn’t want to go but the other part of me was looking forward to it and curious if Eli would speak to me today.

I slipped inside and took my usual seat noticing no one else had arrived yet. I stared out the window to my left as the classroom slowly filled up around me making the noise pick up as people chatted while they waited for the teacher to arrive. The chair beside me scraped back loudly making me automatically jump and flinch away from the person. I peeked under my lashes checking that it was Eli and relaxing slightly when I confirmed it was him. The teacher marched in immediately extinguishing the conversation around the room. He started handing back our homework from last week and I switched off not interested, I know mine was rubbish.

I didn’t notice when my homework was placed in front of me or when the teacher didn’t continue on round the room and I didn’t notice when he started speaking to me until he raised his voice getting the whole rooms attention.

“Are you listening to me Miss Reynolds?” he asked loudly breaking me out of my little day dream state. 

I nodded quickly having no idea what he had been saying.

“I expect an improvement on the next piece or I will have to speak to your parents” he said before marching away to continue distributing homework.

Well that might be interesting if he wants to speak to my mother. I stuffed my homework into my bag and pulled out my notebook and pen. I don’t want her up the school embarrassing me so I better pay attention this week.

“How was your day?” Eli asked beside me breaking my concentration ten minutes later.

 I just shrugged my shoulders already losing interest in the lesson.

“You don’t talk much do you” he asked softly.

 I shook my head no.

I heard him chuckle softly beside me adding to my confusion at this strange little conversation.

As soon as the bell rang I jumped up and all but ran from the room just needing to be out of there. Thankfully it had stopped raining but pools of water still littered the pavement as I splashed through them in my hurry to be away from that place.

I pushed my front door open to be met with screaming and glass shattering coming from the kitchen. I winced hearing a slap hit bare skin. They are fighting again and she’s drunk. I dropped my bag in the hall way and turned straight back around and out of the house again slamming the door behind myself and running back down the drive. I heard my father calling to me but I just kept going until I reached the woods and disappeared into their depths.