the boarders

Octavia (before)

The club was only a few steps away from Richmond's boarding school, which was actually quite appropriate, smiled Octavia to herself, as if it was built for the sole purpose of serving alcohol to pretty underage girls.

She was walking there with Valentina, struggling to keep up with her friends long strides; her Valentino shoes cutting through the grass like a razor.

"Can you fucking slow down?" Octavia hissed, rubbing her sore ankles. It felt like they'd been walking for ages; and she was especially tired tonight.

Valentina spun around; almost smacking Octavia's cigarette off her fingers. Her pupils; Octavia noticed, were wide and looked almost red. In the dark sunset, she looked terrifying, like a descendant of the devil.

"Why? We want to go to the club don't we?" Her voice wavered, swaying in her high shoes. She seemed fine earlier, until she realised she had to go home and 'take care of something'.

Octavia looked at her friend in the face, and noticed that she didn't look as scary as she did before, she just looked frightened.

It was strange, in that moment Octavia remembered something from their childhood. Valentina used to be funny, she came up to Octavia on her first day of boarding school and made her laugh by telling her all about her dysfunctional family - the aunt who drunk too much and revealed the family secrets before he died last year. How she comforted Valentina when her beloved aunt died, watching her favourite movies and downing a bottle of wine with her.

She'd changed so much, they all had. Valentina had got in a close relationship with Drew Hillister, the notorious bad boy of St James' and had left all her friends behind and not even telling them when she snuck out at night to meet him.

Octavia had become an obsessive chain-smoker and had become noticeably thinner. She'd actually felt happy when someone thought she was anorexic. She knew she had some sort of undiagnosed condition; body dysmorphia was a strong contender. But at moments she felt so good, after getting high and dancing on the roof with her friends; that she swore she'd never feel depressed again.

And Aurelia, the golden girl, perfectly pale skin, so clear it seemed translucent. Gold hair that shone from every angle. Actually, maybe not Aurelia. She'd stayed pretty consistent. She'd always been good, but could be oh so bad if she wanted to. But as any pretty rich girl would; she got her own way whatever she did.

The walk had gone quicker with Octavia reminiscing about her friends; that they'd reached the club.

Octavia followed Valentina inside, as the music began to play.