Ghost Euanio

Chapter 6: Can You See Her?

Naemh marched into school, glaring at everyone she passed. She stormed into the library, thundering past the librarian to find her friends sitting with another girl in Naemh’s regular seat. 

“Howdy y’all!” Naemh said to her friends, glaring at the new girl with the very successful pixie cut, waiting to be introduced. Anabella took a moment to notice the hostility in Naemh’s eyes, and when she did she jumped to action to try and introduce the two girls.

“Ah, Naemh, we’ve been expecting you,” Anabella said. “This is Canus, she just moved here from Thirroul. :)” The girl, Canus, extended a hand to Naemh, a warm smile on her slightly sun tanned face with no indication of ulterior motives present- Canus seemed like a genuinely nice person. 

“Canus, Canus Eeme :) Charmed.” 

Naemh stared bitterly at Canus’ outstretched hand before reluctantly taking it and shaking it. She was shocked to discover how warm Canus’s hand was. Naemh snatched her hand back, quick as a flash, rubbing them together to make them feel warmer before slotting her hand back into Canus’s handshake. Canus smiled, unsure of what to say, but her smile was so warm that her hands seemed to become warmer too. Naemh spat but it went unnoticed by Canus, as the school bell rang, indicating it was time to gather for assembly. 

Naemh grabbed Anabella and scurried out of the library, desperate to get away from Canus but she was unable to do so. Canus called out to them, asking if Naemh could help direct her to where she was meant to be. Naemh excluded Canus, saying something about going to the canteen before dragging Bella around the corner. 

Naemh plonked herself down for assembly, yanking Anabella down with her, claiming her territory. The assembly began, the entire student body standing to sing the national anthem. Despite having hundreds of students all gathered in such a small area, only one voice was clearly audible in the crowd: The librarian :) After the national anthem, and some various uninteresting announcements, three people took the stage, causing Naemh to scowl. Jordan, Jorge and Jaques - the three Jays - began to perform a skit for the school.

“Hey Jorge~” Jordan said with forced enthusiasm, “You look mighty fresh today!” 

“Why thank you, Jordan, I feel fresh today” Jorge said through a slight Spanish accent.

“You better be this fresh tomorrow, Jorge,” Jaques said with a vague aura of menace.

“Why is that Jaques?!” Jordan asked, promoting the announcement. 

Jorge snatched the microphone, put his mouth very close to it and whispered directly into it: ‘Well that’s because it’s school photo day tomorrow, si?” Jaques then snatched the microphone from Jorge and repeated the announcement, minus the slight Spanish accent. 

“Yes! It is school photo day!” Jordan said. Then they all fist bump. And they are all wearing singlets and shorts. 

Naemh, who planned to ignore the three Jays’ announcements, was now sitting rigid and sweating bullets. She couldn’t have her picture taken, not by an amateur photographer who would have to take multiple pictures just to capture her perfection. And she knew that if she skipped photo day, her father would put her in the cell again for disgracing the family. Naemh knew that with each school photo taken, the boy who was hunting her would get closer and closer, and that wasn’t something Naemh wanted to risk. Anabella turned to look at Naemh, concerned, but when she tried to put a comforting hand on Naemh’s shoulder, she flinched. Instead, Naemh stood up in the middle of the assembly, in front of the entire student body, and power-walked over to her RUOK teacher, Mr Case. She entered his classroom, finding Mr Case sitting at his desk marking student’s work unfairly.