Leaving London

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Within a few weeks, the school year starts to draw to a close - here the school year finishes in the first segment of December for a six week break - and so the last week is fairly chilled. I've been avoiding Olli non-stop, but I keep seeing him everywhere...at the beach, everywhere at school, even our house! Monday through to Thursday, our lessons are relaxed and our homework dwindles to a stop. On the Friday, we have a non-uniform day, so in the morning I dress in denim jeans paired with jewelled sandals and a cute strappy top.

"You look nice today, love!" Mum beams as I slip into the kitchen to snatch a freshly made piece of toast, and then she turns back to her pilates programme.

"Thanks," I mumble through a mouthful of crumbs as I sling my arm through my bag handle and sprint out the door, late as usual. I hurdle down to the corner, my shoes slapping on the ground with a sharp stinging sound and my hair whipping as I turn to the bus stop, panting, where the bus has just crawled to a stop.

"Just in time," The bus driver whittles as I wheeze and clamber up the steps. Ugh. He's a miserable old thing, he sits slumped in his seat with an occasional cigarette clamped between his lips, or constantly firing out abuse at the passengers. I yawn as I plonk myself down next to Mia.

"Hey girl, I love your outfit!" She preens as she offers me a Malteser. I accept it gratefully, rummaging my hand around in the bag to pull out a chocolate.

"Thanks!" I breeze, "Are you walking into town after school? I was gonna, I need to buy some shorts."

"Sure, I'll come! And me too, I need some new denim ones. I might get a few Christmas presents as well," It feels weird needing to buy shorts in December. It feels even stranger to think that Christmas will be here in less than a month! And my birthday, on the 20th of December. It's so hot during the day (for me anyway), and the ocean is completely swimmable, which seems so unnatural for me. However, because it's not quite the main summer month, there's still been a bit of odd weather. It was only the other day that I was having a barbeque down on the beach, and the fog was horrendous - the mist was curdling round my limbs like a hanged man's necklace; everything blurred to vague shapes and we had to abandon the food and go home.

"Are there even many decent clothes shops in town? I didn't really see that many last time." I ask, snapping out of my thoughts.

"The boutique we went in last time might have some, it's not the middle of the summer season so I doubt they'll have many though."

"You don't call this summer weather?" I roll my eyes, "Jeez, if you think this is cold you should see England in December!"

"Well, it's almost summer, but not quite. And I can imagine..." She says, "Ice, snow, frost...the whole lot!" At this point she abruptly begins tapping on her phone.

"Yeah, my dad says it's okay for me to come with you later, it'll be good!" She smiles, twisting around on the patterned seat, "Hey, Olli, Jake, do you want to come into town with us later?" My gut writhes.

"Mia! What are you inviting them for?" I hiss quietly.

"Chill, Fearne! It'll be good, we can all go get a meal and go around the shops!" Ugh.

"Okay..." I sigh, raising an eyebrow, already trying to figure out how I can stay away from Olli for the whole day. Perhaps if I fake a heat stroke?

∞

Lara agrees without hesitation to come shopping later, so we spend our lessons deciding where to get lunch and what shops to go to. Because it's the last day, most of our lessons are spent watching films. For me, Lara and Mia, this means we snuck down to the corner store before heading into the school gates, and purchased a bag of Dorito chips and some Tango to share whilst watching the movies. For Paige, Riley and Maegan, however, this means they show up halfway through English class, clutching decaf soy lattes and pink late slips which I'm pretty certain must have been forged. Even though the teachers practically worship them, I somehow don't think the receptionist would allow them to walk in an hour late because they were getting coffee. I reckon they also chose to grab as much attention as they could for their outfits, and because this has only been the second non-uniform day of the entire school year, they've gone all out. Maegan's switched athletics gear for a blue paisley summer dress jutting off at the middle of her thigh, paired with a denim jacket and hoop earrings. Riley's wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a cropped boxy-style top, showing off a silver stud gleaming from her belly button. Neither of them hold a candle to Paige, modelling a skin-tight, grey pencil skirt, a white vest, a leather jacket, accessorising it with black sandals and ruffled curls floating from her head. They swish their way to the back three desks, plopping down their expensive bags and continuing to natter away for the entire film, the eyes of everyone in the class trailing after them. Our English teacher simply shakes her head jokily, exasperated. It's only when I hear the familiar popping of gum behind us that I start to get annoyed. It's one thing wanting to talk with your friends, on the last day of term. But it's another to start making as much noise as you possibly can. Plus, I hate that noise. I shoot them a stony glance, watching as Paige blows a colossal, artificial-pink bubble and allows it to bang. A content, cold smile curves up her lips.