In Our Midst

Prologue | 0

"I've got no time for this Eliza, seriously if you've got something important to say then you should have called earlier, I'm busy." I was on the verge of snapping at my poor best friend's communication skills. My schedule was tight which she should've known before making the sudden call.

"I know, I understand but listen. You've got a new citizen walking into your palace."

My eyes turned to slits and I hummed in response signalling her to carry on, "Nathan Bentley, I'm sure somewhere in that head of yours it rings a bell and—"

"Nathan," his name left my mouth on a string of poison and Eliza went quiet for a moment.

"When?"

"Tuesday, it's his first day back."

"Back?" I've been at Northview Valley ever since freshman year and not once did I hear of Nathan Bentley.

There was a long pause before Eliza spoke, "He wasn't your biggest fan in elementary I believe, Amber."

The name abruptly flickered in my mind, it wasn't something I remembered clearly but what he did was a whole other story. It made me roll my eyes at how pathetic I stood up against him back then. He left before high school started and it's safe to say I loved every minute he wasn't there.

"Alright, dismissed."

My words were then greeted with three consecutive beeps indicating that she had ended our call.

I threw my phone onto my king sized bed and continued writing up my essay that I've taken the liberty of doing the night before it's due date.

As I picked up the correction tape from my pencil case I noticed the yearly class photos that were sprawled across my far wall and my eyes landed on the one of 6th grade.

Everyone's face was bright and young, a few wide grins here and there. That's when I saw it, a boy and a girl looking at each other disdainfully as she looked back at him from the second row, a sly smirk displayed on his lips in return.

My parents and - most likely - my teachers were disappointed in how we ruined it, but my father simply kept calling it fate and how it was meant to end up like that. When Nathan moved I always poked fun at his weekly talks, sadly now I can't.

I let out an aggravated sigh and ruffled my perfect waves of ombré. I groaned as I rested my head forcefully on my crossed arms, still staring at the class photo on my wall.

I scrunched my nose up in disgust and walked over to it, taking it by the sides and stowing it away in one of my unused drawers. I smiled, pleased with my decision and walked back to my leather chair.

Just as I was getting comfortable a knock emitted from my door and Ana - our maid - peeped her head inside, "I'm sorry if I am disturbing you Miss Bronzyn, but dinner will be served in 10 minutes and your father would prefer to see you in the dining room before then."

I gave her a polite smile, "Thank you, Miss Ana, you may leave."

She bowed her head gently and shut the door as she left. I sighed knowing it was already nearing 8 pm seeing that dinner will be served in 10.

I sat up and scanned my room, it was what you called either simple, messy or all over the place, yet it still felt as empty as I first moved here in freshman year.

I sighed and my eyes travelled to the simple black photo frame standing on my desk. A photo of my mother and I enclosed inside the glass cover with care was presented to me.

Another smile made its way onto my face yet I knew it didn't reach my eyes, if only she were here.

⇆