Black and Blue

Chapter 5

Davina’s POV

No one deserves to be judged by their past, for something that wasn’t their fault or for what they believe in.

My words from the previous day haunted my mind as I climbed the stairs to the mansion towering above me. I gulped, staring up at it. The grey stones stared menacingly back, as if they were screaming out at me to turn around, that I wasn’t welcome here. It wasn’t as if I paid any attention to those warnings though. I never had been one to listen to others.

My hand skimmed over the wooden door, over the old-fashioned doorknocker till it hovered over the doorknob. I pushed up onto my tiptoes, squinting through the translucent window. I couldn’t see anything. Sighing, I rolled back down onto the soles of my feet, my eyes glued onto the doorknob again. Why was I here?

I had promised myself I would help Aamor. At least, I would try. It was something about her and her innocence that reminded me of Katya. I winced, drawing my hand back from the doorknob, squeezing my eyes shut. How could I help her forget her past when I still hadn’t recovered from mine?

I had sat down in science, flicking through my book absent mindedly, every-so-often glancing up at the clock, waiting for the lesson to end. I wasn’t listening to the teacher drone on about chemical reactions and it seemed Bronwyn wasn’t either. She was busy doodling the boy’s name she was obsessed with this week over her diary. On the other side of me, Regan was throwing bits of paper at the boys in front of us.

One of them glanced back, glaring at us. Regan’s eyes widened, her expression faking innocence as she looked at me, obviously shoving the blame onto me. The boy swore under his breath at me before spinning back round on his chair. I sighed, not bothering to argue with Regan about her selfish nature.

“So, what did your mum say about this weekend?” Bronwyn asked, looking up from her diary.

I picked up my pencil, beginning to copy down the notes off the board, “Well, she said it depends on what Katya’s doing. Apparently she’s meeting up with Lily.”

Bronwyn rolled her eyes, “That’s so unfair! You’re twelve and she’s seven! Surely you get priority!”

I shrugged, “Doubt it, I was late to school this morning because Katya was sick. I bet she was faking as well, my mum always falls for her illnesses; she never falls for mine. It’s favouritism I tell you.”

Regan laughed, “I’m my parent’s favourite.” I bit my tongue, restraining myself from retorting how that was only because her parents didn’t know she cheated on tests and blackmailed people. How I had become friends with Regan I would never know.

“But what about Cornelia? Surely your parents keep in contact with her?” Bronwyn inquired, horror clear in her expression. She didn’t know what it was like to have a sibling, being an only child. Yes, I loved Katya, but hell she was annoying.

“Nope,” Regan replied, popping the p. She paused, tensing up. I could see pain in her expression, the tears forming in her eyes as she tried to contain her emotion. I smiled sadly, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. She hadn’t gotten over her sister’s outburst yet.

Cornelia had always been a role-model for Regan, someone who she hoped to be like. Cornelia had it all, the good grades, the pretty looks, the loyal friends and the parents who were as proud as could be. Until Cornelia came out with being a lesbian. Regan was horrified. As funny as Regan could be, she was very racist and picky. I was picked as a friend because of my courage; Bronwyn was picked because of her looks. We were picked because we made Regan look good to be with.