Where Two Collide

Chapter Twenty-Five - Alice

Chapter Twenty-Five

Alice

The next morning I met Tia and Rachel at the front of school, it was the first sunny day of the year where it had been warm enough that we'd taken off our coats, and were sat on the grass verge which lined the car park leading up to the school entrance.

Rachel stretched her arms out behind her, head face leaning back and taking in the sun like a newly bloomed flower. "I wish it was warm like this every day," she said, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks as she closed her eyes.

Tia, who was painting my fingernails a soft kind of pink colour, didn't glance up from her task. "I wouldn't like that, if it didn't snow, I wouldn't be able to go skiing." Tia's family stayed away at a resort every Christmas to ski, they usually would fly over to Switzerland and she always brought us back chocolate when she returned. My mouth salivated at the thought.

"Ugh but I hate losing my tan in winter, I look like a sickly Victorian child," said Rachel, opening her eyes and giving us some serious side-eye. "Nobody wants to look at that."

"Who are you trying to impress," said Tia. She finished my right hand and moved onto my left. "You only ever date Dan, and he's taken."

"That's not true. I dated the guy that worked at his dad Italian restaurant last year, you know who I mean," she said, clicking her fingers trying to recall the name.

"Antony?" I said, remembering the three weeks we'd spent basically living in that restaurant on heavily discounted pizza. Their sauce was to die for. "Why'd you break up with him again?"

He smelt like cheese all the time," said Rachel, wrinkling her nose. "At first, I didn't mind cause he was hot, but then it just made me hungry. I'm still carrying those extra pounds I gained from all the pizza."

Tia nodded and regarded my nails, checking for imperfections. "Maybe we should make a deal not to date any more guys who work in restaurants, it's not good for our waistlines."

I rolled my eyes, and watched as some more students arrived, filing past us and into the school. Familiar red hair bobbed up out of a blue mini. Jess. Dan got out the passenger seat and walked around the front of the car to meet her and then walked hand in hand into school. Rachel scowled at them fleetingly, but quickly wiped it from her face as she tried to give the impression she didn't care. She wasn't fooling anyone, and she must have realised it as she caught me and Tia watching her carefully.

Rachel looked across the carpark at the sea of students, and her eyes finally settled on a distraction. "Ugh, have you seen what Sammy is wearing today," she said gesturing a hand in the direction of one of a girl from the year above us. "Who does she think she's going to get the attention of in that outfit."

Me and Tia looked over. Sammy was wearing knee high lace-up boots, a plaid skirt that skimmed the middle of her thighs and a t-shirt with some obscure band written across it. She was in the process of throwing an oversized bag over her shoulder when she narrowed her eyes, spotting us staring.

"I'm not sure she's trying to get anyone's attention, I mean, she's the only one out in school, so what exactly would be the point," said Tia.

Sammy had come out the year we started high school. There was a brief second there where the boys had thought it was funny to keep asking her out and generally didn't leave her alone, but it hadn't seem to bother her at all and eventually they got bored and left her alone. The girl had bigger balls than any boy in the school, she had no fear and was completely and utterly herself. Which was not something you could say about many high school students.

"I kind of like her style," I said offhandedly. Rachel threw me a disapproving look. "Seriously, I think its crazy unique. I wish I could pull off some of her looks." I wish I could, but I'd never even attempt it. I'd never sway from my simple Topshop look. I basically looked like I walked out of catalogue, and so did most of the girls in our year.

As Sammy came closer, heading toward school, Rachel called out to her. "Hey Sammy, your boots are to die for, and where did you get that skirt from, you must tell me!"

Sammy looked her up and down and then flipped her the bird, before continuing inside the front entrance. I tried to hide my smile by fake coughing into my hand. She saw straight through Rachels insincerity.

"Wow," said Rachel. She swept her hair over one shoulder. "Rude much."

"Good morning ladies," called Owen, approaching us and pausing directly in front of me.

"Hey Owen," we chorused as though we had practised beforehand.

"Guess who passed his driving test?" he said, a big grin stretching across his face. "And guess who wants to take his special lady out tonight to celebrate?"

"Lucky," said Rachel with clear envy.

"That's so awesome Owen," I said excited for him. I couldn't help but remember my conversation with Damien. He was wrong, and I was going to prove that he was wrong by forgetting about the whole messy accident and everything that had happened since then. It was time to move on, I wasn't one to hold a grudge after all. "Where are you taking me?"

"To the cinema, there's a new chick film out and I know you love that kind of shit," he said, and swirled a set of car keys in his hand. I wondered what car he was even driving, as his mums was clearly out of commission. "You can get as much popcorn and chocolate as you want too, it's going to be awesome."

"I'm looking forward to it," I said. And I was. He was making an effort, and so would I. "Text me the details?"

He nodded, and then looked back over his shoulder as someone approached behind him. It was Ashton, who was coming in at full speed. I expected him to stop short of us, but he slipped past Owen aiming directly for Tia. He lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder with her squealing at him in shock.

"Freaking heck," Tia yelled. "Put me down Ashton."

He laughed and began spinning around making her squeal louder.

I giggled and allowed Owen, who was holding out his hand, to pull me to my feet. I brushed myself off and smoothed out the dress I was wearing. "Come on guys, the bells about the go," I said.

Rachel followed suit. "New relationships are so gross," she said, watching Tia and Ashton.

"Jealousy is an ugly look on you, Rachel," said Owen, arching a brow at her.

I squeezed his hand. I liked that he stood up for his friends, his loyalty was one of his finer qualities.

"Yo Ashton," called Owen. "Time to go."

Ashton paused, mid-spin, took one look at the school entrance and then bolted in the other direction, with Tia pounding his back with her fists and shouting to be put down.

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