Into The Forest

Into The Forest - First Day

The rabbit was surprisingly tame, it came right up to me and sniffed around my feet. I looked down at it, and it looked up at me. Something didn't feel quite right, it should have run, or hopped, away in fear by now. Its little beady eyes looked quizzical and it appeared to have its head cocked to one side. I assumed I must just be letting my imagination run wild again and went back inside.

I saw the note on the counter and sighed. I picked up the phone and dialled the number my mum had written down for me. After a few rings a smooth, friendly voice, laden with a thick Irish accent answered. After I had finished the call and organised myself a place in the school I explored the house. It was a truly beautiful house, probably made over a century ago. I went up to the attic and poked around, light came in through a window that looked out into the forest. The attic was large and mysterious, I saw something gleaming in the light on the floor and went to take a closer look. On the floor was an old, gold pocket watch. It was beautiful and very old, I tried to open it up but it was sealed shut. It hung from an unusual long, gold chain. I loved it. I put it around my neck and admired myself with it on in an old mirror up there. I decided to keep the pocket watch as whoever owned it was long gone.

The week passed quickly, what a relaxing week, I would sleep in then take a book and sit by the stream on a picnic blanket. I would stay laying there for hours sometimes reading and sometimes just taking in the beautiful surroundings. I would frequently venture further into the forest but there didn't seem to be anything interesting nearby. Now it was time for school. I was looking forward to it, a new school, fresh start. It was quite a big school because it was also a boarding school, and a prestigious one at that.

My mum dropped me off by car because it was a good half an hour from our isolated little cottage. As soon as I saw it my jaw dropped. This great building towered over the trees with turrets and vines running up them, it was very old and looked like a renovated castle. A large fountain was at the front welcoming visitors. My mum said good luck, kissed me multiple times and left me standing at the main entrance, I could see pride shining through her eyes as she left. Embarrassing. I stared up at this big structure in awe until I heard a smooth voice, very much like the one I heard on the phone, welcoming me.

I snapped away from my trance like state and focused on the woman in front of me. Mrs. Kerr, the headteacher. She had short, dark red hair and a pretty but aged face. She seemed graceful and powerful. She smiled at me and shook my hand. 'Welcome, Ms. Smith.'

I smiled back and followed her into the school, she handed me a timetable and a mini map of the school, then left me to get to my lesson on my own. I had Art first, with Mr. Gallagher. I was immensely looking forward to it but I got completely lost in the labyrinth that is this school. I walked in five minutes late. Thirty heads turned in my direction, it was silent. I stood at the door, flustered, not knowing what to do. 'Ah, you must be Ms. Smith!" said the friendly, old teacher. "Well, why don't you take a seat next to Connor.' He pointed towards an empty seat near the back. I walked towards it with my head down, I didn't look to see what Connor looked like, I didn't look to see how many people were still staring at me. I knew everyone still was though. Once I got to the desk I looked up, that was when I noticed him, Connor.

He was beautiful, if you can say that about a guy. He had shaggy, dark brown hair, and piercing blue eyes. He had and angular, and defined face and his eyes were wide and almond shaped. He was pale yet he seemed to have a sort of glow to him. He stared up at me, I couldn't read his expression. Our eyes were locked and all I could think about was how I knew him from somewhere. His eyes burned into my soul and I immediately felt like butter. I heard a cough and jumped. I realised I was still standing, I blushed and hastily sat down. I liked Art but today I couldn't become fully engaged, I was completely distracted by the person, no God, sitting next to me. I know I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

The bell rung and I looked to my left at Connor, he was staring at me, still wearing an unreadable expression. I didn't say anything to him because somehow I knew I wouldn't get an answer. I walked out of the classroom not looking back, and towards my next lesson, English. As I was walking through the hallway a slender girl intersected my way. She smiled at me. 'Hello! You're Ara, the new girl', she said to me as if I didn't know, 'I'm Caitlin, I think we take the same subjects, so I can show you around, I'm a border here myself.' I smiled back at her grateful for a guide and some company.

'I saw you in Art earlier, I think Connor likes you.' She babbled. 'We all thought he was gay because he never seems to take interest in girls, even the really pretty ones.' She continued on like this until we got to English, where the whole process of me standing awkwardly at the door and walking to a spare seat would start again. Once we got there I noticed him, sitting at the back. He was in my English lesson too? My heart skipped a beat as I saw the seat next to him was empty. And of course, I was told to sit there and nervously walked towards him. I hated this feeling of not knowing how I know him. I tried to focus on the lesson instead. He didn't seem hostile, or unfriendly, even though he wasn't talking to me. He seemed more bemused. At the end of the lesson I got up and swiftly left, not giving anyone a chance to talk to me. I walked to my next lesson, Biology, thankful for some peace. I sat there puzzling over Connor. I knew him from somewhere, but where?