The Most Powerful Scream is Silence

Chapter 4: The First Day at School

On Monday morning, a beam of sunlight streamed in through the window and gently kissed the pale skin on Luna's face causing her stir in her sleep. Rolling over onto her stomach and pulling a pillow over her head to escape the illuminating sun leaking through her lids, a groan escaped her lips. Her body, a collection of black and blue colourations in places no one would notice, was sore and aching. Unfortunately, unlike the smears of blue and black colouring amongst her skin, like paint on a canvas, she couldn't hide the handprint on her cheek.

What a great beginning to her first day of school she thought with a grumble.

After a few moments, she slid her way from out of the covers and stood, slowly walking over to a box marked clothes in capital black letters. She pulled back the worn and indented flaps of the cardboard box, pulling out a loose fitting black tee with white detail and a pair of black fitted jeans to match.

She liked black if you couldn't tell.

I'm sure if you looked deep enough that was a metaphor for her life, and the pain and despair that she felt. But she never bothered to look that deep, and neither did anyone else.

At the end of the day, maybe she just likes black.

About an hour later, Luna stood on the porch of the Gilbert house dressed head to toe in black. The bruise and handprint on her cheek covered by concealer, hiding all her secrets.

After a few more moments Elena opened the door, a casual smile lighting up her face.

"Ready to go?" Luna asked, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yep! I hope you don't mind, my brother is coming too" Elena said, as Jeremy appeared behind her.

"No, it's fine. I mean you were nice enough to do this in the first place." Luna expressed gratefully.

A slightly awkward car ride later, filled with polite conversations, flitting laughter, and longing glances from Jeremy (which Luna didn't fail to notice) they arrived at the school.

The other two teens quickly exited the car, leaving Luna inside. No matter how many schools she went to she always got the same feeling on the first day. The nervous, sick feeling that makes her head feel heavy and her mind feel light. Her hands shook as she balled them into fists, folding her fingers into her palm stubbornly. The feeling of kangaroos in her stomach (because butterflies simply won't do), jumping around making it flip and turn in gut-wrenching nervousness wouldn't leave all day, but you can be damn sure she wasn't going to let it show.

Luna exited the car with her chin held high and a determined look on her face.

"Ready for you first day?" Elena asked as Jeremy walked inside the school to his friends.

"Ready as I can be, at least I have the whole 'first day, new kid' thing down pat." Luna chimed.

The two girls walked into school, side by side, only to be greeted by a bubbly blonde.

"Elena! Did you see what Tiki-" the curvy blonde paused. "Who's this?" she added, her eyes skimming the unknown girl beside her best friend.

"This is Luna, my new neighbour. Luna this is Caroline." Elena explained, smiling at the two girls.

"Nice to meet you," Luna responded.

"You too!" the fair-haired girl exclaimed, licking her lips as she talked and taking a whiff of the air subtlety.

The chocolate haired girl, moved slightly closer to the blonde before she spoke "Caroline." Elena whispered, her voice wavering into a warning tone.