Second Bite of the Apple

Chapter 4: Even Bad Wolves Can Be Good

Chapter 4 - Even Bad Wolves Can Be Good

I was left reeling as I retreated from the music department back towards the main school building. Did I even tell her my name? I didn't! I'm sure I didn't! How did she know who I was?

Questions ran around my mind faster than I could keep up with. I realised my pace was becoming increasingly more frantic and came to a standstill immediately, earning me some well chosen profanities from the people walking behind me. I had too much going on to even bother telling them to watch their language.

Just then a pair of hands grabbed my waist from behind and made me squeal out in surprise. I spun around and was greeted by the face of my best (well, actually my only) friend.

"Ethan!"

I punched him playfully on the arm to get him back for making me jump.

"Hey!" he pouted, rubbing his arm at least 5 inches from where I'd actually hit him.

"Oh, don't be such a baby."

"I'm sorry, just thought you would have been a little more pleased to see me considering how distant you were all summer." I could hear the concern overtake Ethan's mocking tone as he finished the sentence.

"Sorry, I should have called or something," I muttered, suddenly identifying Ethan's cause for concern and realising had it been the other way around, I would have been tearing my hair out too.

"No worries," he played it off, but I knew deep down he cared. "Now we're back I get you all to myself 5 days a week."

"5 days too many," I teased.

Ethan resorted to sticking his tongue out at me in response because he was too polite to hit me, even if it is just a joke. That's the way Ethan's always been with me.

I always think of him as my guardian angel. I'd never really paid much attention to him up until about 3 years. Things went spiralling out of control very rapidly for me but I couldn't explain to anyone what was going on. That's when the walls started going up. I cut myself off from everybody, yet somehow Ethan broke through.

Ethan was one of Matt's groupies. I'd spotted him keeping look out countless times whilst the rest of the gang rolled spliffs at lunchtime behind the bushes at the far end of the grounds. It just so happened that I had a perfect view from my spot under the oak. I was never quite sure whether they knew I was there or whether they just decided I didn't pose any threat to them. I decided probably the latter. Anyway, one day, it just so happened that Mrs Stanford decided to patrol the perimeter of the grounds (probably hoping to catch Matt in the act). Consequently, the guys all scarpered further into the undergrowth to keep out of sight and Ethan, caught like a rabbit in the headlights, made a beeline for my oak to avoid suspicion. We got talking and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. He seemed to know all the right things to say.

Mine and Ethan's friendship blossomed over the proceeding years and he eventually taught me to trust again. I opened up to him, slowly but surely, and told him everything. That's why it's so easy to be around Ethan, I don't have to pretend and there are no expectations. Despite the fact we're probably closer than the majority of couples in our year, there's never been any sort of sexual attraction between us. We're the closest of friends, but that's all it is, and all it ever will be.

Me and Ethan used break time to catch up on everything that had happened over Summer. This conversation mainly consisted of me listening and nodding whilst he talked enthusiastically about visiting his grandparents in America and his visit to Italy with his parents. I didn't mind, whilst Ethan talked it gave me time to think. I found my mind wandering back to the music department. Back to where Miss Foster probably was right now. Maybe eating chocolate digestives with Mrs Darby.

"Sian? Sian?" A hand was waving in front of my face. "Are you even listening to me?"

"I am, I promise," I lied, more to save Ethan's feelings than anything. "I should probably head off to class though, I don't want to be late."

Ethan checked his watch. "Oh crap, yeah, look at the time. Must dash."

He headed off in the direction of the science block for biology. Or was it chemistry? He headed off to science anyway. I, on the other hand, had double English to look forward to. Two hours of poetry with Miss Knight was just a little too much for the first day back.