UltraViolence

Chapter 2 - Clocks

I just spotted some ducks practicing their teenage girl faces. – Unknown

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Hormonal teens, textbooks and tests await me as I step through the gates towards the large grey structure called school; God help me.

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“And so x+y+z divided by three is?”

At eight in the bloomin’-thirty in the morning, the last thing anyone wants to hear is the ear-piercing screeches being emitted by the bony witch by the board or if you want to be polite, you may also refer to her as Mrs. DeVille. To top of her shrill of a voice was maths, brilliant.

Generally, mathematics has never been my strong suit - I managed to scrape through without failing my class for four years due to the fact that I would strongly contrast my peers in the field of behavior in the class and actually did try - at some chapters mind you.

Unfortunately, my luck seems to have run out cos’ this year is go-time. Exams are around the corner and I can’t turn the other way and run. So instead of fight or flight, its fight or fail… oh the joy.

After forty five minutes of hell, the school bell is my knight in shining armor. I grab my books from the desk and make a mad dash for the door trying to put as much distance as I can between me and the teacher.

The first thing on my mind now is to find my pack. Not backpack, wolf pack. The bundles of fun that I’m pretty sure are my soul mates – Illona Markwell, Natalie Mackay, Eleanor Farrow and Zoe Yates. I race up the steps instead of hanging around with the superficial troupe and nearly bump into my principal while I’m at it. Oops.

“Oh my gosh sir! I am so sorry”

“You see why we have the rule that clearly states no running on the stairs or in the halls?”

I sheepishly smile and apologize again. He nods and lets me go without another word – benefits of being the daughter of one of the school’s board members.

I turn the corner and the first thing I see is a lean girl with chocolate curls cascading down her back, towering over her peers – Natalie.

“Nats! What’s crackin’?” I say as I jog over to her side and crush her with a hug.

“Gosh! Maths must have been terrible from the way you’re crushing my lungs” she giggles into my shoulder.

Natalie is a beautiful girl; standing at a good height of 5’9” with beautiful chocolate curls, snow white skin with hints of pink and red and kind brown eyes. With her good looks but humble yet bubbly attitude and brains, she is the perfect mix of what a popular girl should be. She had already been in the school for a while before I joined and at first we really did bump heads. Who knew that three years later, we would become like sisters.

“Heyyooo!!!” I hear Illona’s animated voice as she canters down the hall and joins in on our love – fest. Unlike Natalie and I who are one of the tallest girls in school, Illona is small and petite at only 5’3” with dark brown hair, a bright smile, brains and a vivacious personality.

“Why are we so lovey –dovey?” she questions but before I can open my mouth the school bell rings.

“Shit! I forgot Nats, we have maths now!” Illona exclaims.

Due to their better grades in maths and stronger left sides of their brains, they were moved into the express set of the maths division - basically gave their exams a year earlier than everyone else and then started the harder maths stuff and all that.

I give them both a kiss goodbye and we head our separate ways for now. Zoe and Eleanor are both down with the stomach bug that’s been going around so I’m on my own and have a whole free lesson to myself.

I grab my books for the lesson after and my headphones and make my way to the library. I choose to go through the patio area to soak up some vitamin D and proper light before heading indoors again. I see a few girls all posed up on the bench and overhear their complaints about lighting in the classroom and how it ruins a good selfie opportunity. I scoff and keep walking – need to stay away from all the shallowness.

I enter the library and head straight for the bean bags at the back of the library and settle down between the rows of books, out of sight and out of mind; hidden away from the world.

I plug in my headphones and press shuffle and think, “Come on iPod, let's see what you got!”

The melody of the piano of Clocks begins to play and I’m gone.

The piano sweeps me off my feet and I’m lost in the harmonies and melodies that Coldplay created and put the song on repeat as I gaze at the books stacked in the shelves as they gather dust.

I feel low looking at how they are just there. They just exist and people don’t open them up enough and read what they have to say and truly understand the stories, meanings etc.

I can’t help but compare myself to the books, as they age and wear away. I am just like one book out of seven billion in a shelf.

I tear my sights away from the book but make a note of these thoughts on my hand so I can ponder some more on the idea later.

Two classmates of mine sit on the beanbag opposite me and give me a wave. I just smile and return to my thoughts however my eyes linger on a little more.

Like a stalker, I keep looking and observe how involved they are in conversation before returning to stare at the ceiling.

I feel detached from the world and feel blissful. I can see the world pass me by like a movie with Coldplay doing the film score. Truly an Oscar-deserving film I can tell you.

Unfortunately, not everyone can view it.

My gaze moves to the clock and a surge of panic rushes through me, just as I jump to my feet, the hand strikes ten. Shit! I’m late for class

I rush through the halls and Usain Bolt through the class door only to a very pissed off history teacher. Luckily, I’m not the only one so we get off with a warning.

The rest of the day goes by at snail pace much to my dismay but at three, I bid my pack goodbye and head home and hope that the journey doesn’t bring any unwanted surprises.

Little did I know what was coming my way…

Song of the chapter: Clocks by Coldplay.

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A/N:

Hiii,

Sorry if this chapter’s a bit boring, its not my finest piece of writing but it’s a gateway into Violet’s thoughts and this transition is very important so bear with me.

Also, I’m so sorry for the extremely long wait. My exams are over (thank god) but my parents started me off the day after in an internship for a corporate law firm. Needless to say, its sucks ass!!!! I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing and honestly, I’m pretty sure the law firm has no idea what to do with me cos’ I’m not a law student.

I literally wrote all this sitting in the law firm with nothing to do, what a way to start the summer.

Anyway, if you have any ideas about the story and things you want me to talk about in the story, please do PM me and let me know, I can include them somewhere if it works out but I do have plans for the story so not all will be accepted.

Ok, so please vote ghost readers, I would like at least 10 votes so I can be motivated to keep writing, I take 2 hours out of my day for the story for everyone to read so in return I’m just asking for a few votes :)

And if you haven’t noticed already, I’m a massive fan of Coldplay, so if you want to fangirl with me, don’t hesitate to PM me. I’m quite the chatterbox.

Anyway, please vote and leave comments - opinions, compliments, insults and death threats accepted as well but please try and keep the latter to a minimum :) Too much negativity in the world already.

xxxx