Breaking Through

Chapters 1-8

As I sat, listening to music on my phone, waiting for the bus to come, I felt the sun beaming down on my face, making me feel hot and bothered. As the bus finally came, I picked up my bag and sluggishly walked to the bus. I dragged my feet up the stairs and walked past row after row of seats full of people. The only seat left was next to a girl in my year I had never spoken to if I could help it. I gestured, asking if I could sit with her and she nodded, smiling broadly. I took a seat and instantly was bombarded with her gibbering in my ear. She was considered a 'Nerd' so not many people would even acknowledge her.

"So what subjects did you have today? I had Maths, English, Science, Art and Sport. Personally I think Sport is a waste of time. You know I got 99% in my last Maths and English. What did you get?" she spoke quickly and excitedly.

"Um... I don't know. I think I had Maths today..." I replied dismissively.

She pretty much ignored my comment anyway. She just kept smiling and talking.

After a while I asked, "Hey what was your name again?"

Her smile disappeared and she looked a bit disappointed with the fact that I didn't know her name.

"It's Alice. Wait what was your name again?"

She was just asking because she was upset I didn't remember her name. Everyone knew my name, so there was no way she didn't. But I decided to say it anyway.

"My name's Emma."

Alice just blinked and nodded. I smiled tightly then found I had a text.

'my H @ 10' it simply said.

It was from my best friend Emily, who conveniently lived down the road from me. We often did this, after our parents went to bed we would take turns sneaking to each other's houses to have a chat, eat and play games. At that moment the bus slowed, and I realised I had to get off here. I rushedly said bye to Alice then swung my bag on my shoulder and hopped down the stairs. I unlocked my bike from the rack by the bus stop and jumped on. I peddled hard for ten minutes until I reached my house. I opened the garage and swung a leg off my bike. I lent it against the wall then went inside.

I dumped my bag on the floor, walked to the kitchen and said 'Hi' to my mum. She pecked me on my cheek and smiled. I leapt up the stairs, two at a time, to my room. I quickly showered and pulled on some baggy trackies and a singlet. After doing my homework and eating dinner I 'Went to bed'. Mum smiled at me, pleased I was going to bed so early. After playing on my computer and listening to music, I finally heard Mum and Dad coming up the stairs to go to bed. I flopped onto my bed just as I heard dad open my door a crack.

"Yep, sound asleep." I heard Dad say quietly.

"What a good girl." Mum replied.

Next I heard bedsprings and then silence. I took that as my cue, I grabbed my bag of chocolate, lollies and other junk I had prepared before dinner, then opened my window as quietly as possible. I slipped out onto the roof, closed my window behind me, then walked slowly and carefully to the sturdy pillar and slid down. I then broke into a run, feeling free in the deserted street. When I finally reached Em's house I threw the tiny teddy bear we had dedicated to throwing at windows, and threw it at her window. Then a face appeared and smiled at me. She opened the window as I made my way up, first onto the bench then leaping up holding onto the roof. I slipped through the window and lay on the floor.

"Hey me! Haven't seen you since, like, three thirty today!" Em said cheerfully.

I smiled and threw the bag of chips at her. We always called each other 'Me' because we had such similar names. People often thought we were sisters when they first met us, not only because of our names but because we act so alike. Emily tore the bag of chips open rand started stuffing them in her mouth.