BAILE (Where We Come Home)

Chapter 3 Metamorphosis

Three days past and since I had last seen Alick, April was currently giving me the silent treatment and every time I tried to bring up Alick to Charlotte she'd change the subject. It was like I was the only one who remembered his existence. Everybody around the school was acting normal, getting on with their ordinary lives while I watched them all in fast motion. I wasn't moving, I was stuck with my thoughts, only half paying attention to my teachers.

"Metamorphosis is a striking change of form or structure in an individual after hatching or birth..." I drew random squiggles across my textbook as I struggled to focus.

"...Process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages."

The bell ringing broke my delirium and I packed up my books before leaving. I nearly bumped into three people as I tried to navigate my way to my locker in an impenetrable daze. I shoved my books away before heading towards the cafeteria. Raised voices prompted me to slow my walking pace until I stood looking out a window among other people in the hallway. There was a huge brawl going on outside, and it was quickly attracting an audience.

I followed the sea of people outside on the wet grass of the courtyard.

"Fight, fight, fight!" People chanted savagely.

As I drew nearer I saw that Mason was fighting a loosing battle with blood pouring from his nose and a black eye. Mason was thrown through the air and I saw his attacker's face.

"Alick." I breathed

With a murderous look in his eyes he approached Mason, bending down to throw punch after punch.

"Alick!" April pushed her way through the crowd.

I started making my way towards the bloody duo. I truly couldn't believe my eyes as Alick punched anyone that came near, his fists bloodied and a snarl escaping from his throat.

"Alick?" I whispered.

He looked up and his eyes met mine.

Mason tried to stand up but Alick turned on him, kicking him back down.

"Alick stop!" April broke into the fight ring.

Alick raised his fist as if to punch her when Mr. O'Sullivan and three other teachers appeared.

"Settle down!" Mr. O'Sullivan jumped between the two boys, his sole attention on Alick. "Come on." He grabbed Alick by the arm and began hauling him away.

"Get back to class!" Our headmaster shouted. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves, bystanders!" He bit.

I looked around for Alick to see he had already left with Mr. O'Sullivan. I spotted April and Charlotte though.

"Hey, how mental was that?" I approached them.

They didn't acknowledge my presence as they conversed in hush whispers. Charlotte nodded before running away. April let out a slow breath before turning to face me.

"I guess we better get back to work."

I reluctantly followed her back inside the main school building. She stopped by her locker, tossing her hair over one shoulder as she retrieved her pencil case.

"Careful, if the wind changes your face will stay like that." She joked.

I folded my arms over my chest as I waited for her, kind of unimpressed with the lack of communication going on.

April bit down on her pen as she tried to sort out her mess of a locker.

All noise in the corridor seemed to cease and I turned around to watch Mr. O'Sullivan strut down the hallway. His tie was loose around his neck, and his shirt slightly rumpled, as if he had been caught in the middle of a brawl himself. While he walked he took off his glasses, lifting the hem of his shirt to clean the lenses, revealing hard lean muscle.