College Secrets [Temporary Name]

Part Four

Song: Cavetown- This Is Home

Stephanie was so different alone than she was in class. In class, she was this cold, mysterious girl who didn't really give a damn about anything. But here, in our little apartment, huddled next to each other and eating noodles on the sofa, she was a much friendlier person.

"Hold on," she laughed, tears falling from her eyes, "you're telling me that kid- Dennis- is the Heinz kid??" I nodded and she burst into laughter all over again. Poor kid had been dragged into a commercial that almost ruined his reputation. I giggled as she tried to catch her breath. "How on Earth do you know this?" I began to tell her about when I first met Dennis.

"When I was younger, I was sent to this performing arts/survival camp thing- a weird mix, I know. I wasn't exactly good at anything and I had no instincts but that's where I first ever met Dennis." Steph reached over to me and grabbed my hands, stars in her eyes.

"Tell me."

***

"Alright kid, you got everything? Torch, matches, spare food?" Mum began rummaging around in my bag, taking things out and putting them back again. Dad's eye twitched in irritation. He'd already spent an hour placing things neatly in my bag, going by a neat little list, written out in his neat handwriting. My father was the definition of "neat as a pin"- a perfect example. His hair was always combed, his clothes always pulled straight and creaseless, his glasses never crooked. My grandmother was a very strict woman.

My mother, on the other hand, was incredibly scatty; all over the place in more ways than one. She drove Dad around the bend but I'd never met a happier couple.

"Dad!" I yelled. "I have everything, okay?" I laughed, pulling my backpack onto my back and running around the room, bouncing on the furniture. "Can we go now?"

I remember the long car journey, watching as the skyscrapers of the city faded into the huge fields of animals and crops, and then into deep woods. We sang old songs and joked and laughed about anything and everything, including the weird sounds the car was making for the whole two hours. I barely noticed my parents exchanging looks, my mother's of concern and my father's reassurance captured and erased in seconds. When we arrived at the camp, I gave them the biggest hug of my life, tight as hell, feeling equally excited and scared. Then we each turned away and I waved them goodbye. I just wanted to get into the camp, make friends. So I ran off and they got in the car, beginning their journey home. Then...

***

A tear dropped from my eye. There was something warm on my top lip too.

"Verity! You're bleeding again!" I didn't move as Steph ran to the bathroom to get tissues. I was vaguely aware of her talking to me as she cleaned the blood from my nose, but suddenly everything was a blurry haze, my mind clouded by fog, my mouth dry as cotton. Eventually, I managed to make out her words.

"Are you okay, Verity? Answer me! What actually happened to you?"

"What do you care," I mumbled. Steph sat back abruptly.

"What?" She stared at me. When I didn't say anything, she sighed and sat back on the sofa, putting the bloodied tissues in her empty noodle bowl. "I know we just met, but we live together now. And I'd be concerned for anyone who was hurt, especially if they were lying about it previously."

I sighed. "Some kids just beat me up. That's all."

"Why were you in the woods?"