it was 6o'clock on a Friday morning in September. Arden had woken up to the sound of the rain pounding harder against the ground. it had been raining for almost two weeks now with no stop. She got up to look outside. there was nothing really to look at, just a dark grey sky shadowing everything in sight. there was light coming from the street lights, although they would flicker on and off here and there. Arden was happy to wake up to this dark gloomy atmosphere and the sound of rain drops hitting the gutter and the cement, She loved this kind of weather. She always found peace with the rain, no harm ever came from it, not anything like the sun and snow. Rain was just perfect, especially in September, when school was starting. Arden knew she'd be good to have the rain at her side when school had just started.
Arden was 15 years old, she had just gone into grade 10 at Jacob Cameron district secondary school. Arden had gone to William George high school for grade 9 with all her friends the year before. But her parents had gotten into a fight over summer break and parted ways. Arden's father Sam claimed the house and the boy, Arden's little brother Cam, leaving nothing but a little money and Arden herself to her mom, Mary.
Arden and her mom stayed at a friends house for a couple weeks so Mary could find a job and find a place to live. After a while Mary found a decent waitress job and an old apartment nearby that was cheap. Mary wasn't so sure it was a good idea, it being on the other side of the city and all. But Arden knew it was probably the only stable residence and job her mom would find so she was okay with the situation and knew that she just needed to start her life over and that was alright.
"Ardy i'm leaving now, lock the doors when you leave!" Mary yelled from across the hall.
Arden replied with a single ok and put on a an old black T shirt that was a little old and ripped and a pare of dark green cargo caprees that ended about 15cm from the top of her ankles.
She walked into the bathroom to a giant mess of makeup, hair products and other bathroom necessities. Ardens mom knew how to stay young or at least look young, but she was terrible at keeping the apartment looking good. Arden quickly tidied things up and got out her own little pouch of beauty. she took her brush and stroked through her brown wavy hair that barely made it to the top of her shoulders. She looked in the mirror debating whether or not to put on makeup this morning. She came to the conclusion that her stress shows on her face with no makeup so it was a yes to makeup. She put on her eyeliner on the top of her eyes giving it a little wing then put on her mascara till her eyelashes were to a satisfactory length, then to top it off, a little eyeliner on the bottom of her eyes.
Arden looked in the mirror, then turned off the light to the washroom and walked to the front door to put on her shoes. She wore her usual old and ripped black high top converse. After packing her school bag Arden walked out of her small home locking the door behind her.
Avoiding the front lobby desk guy Jim, Arden exited the building using the fire escape that the building stopped using. They said it could collapse at any moment, But still it remains there, no one bothering to get rid of it, so of course Arden's conclusion was: why not use it for her own personal use? It may have been a little scary the first time Arden went down it when she was running from Jim, but she got used to it and she knew all the safe spots to step so it was all good.
When Arden got down on the ground she headed left for the park, even though Jacob Cameron high was in the opposite direction. She walked on the busy streets passing people in suits on there way to work, people jogging, people walking, bikers and beggars. Arden always passed by these type of people but never paid that much attention to them, she had no reason to.
After turning right off the busy street Arden took her back pack from off her back and dug through it until she grabbed hold of her iPod. Arden sat down at her favorite bench on earl street and listened to her favorite album: a quiet darkness.
it was almost 7:45 when she started to head towards Jacob high. school started at 8:00 and she knew she would be late. From where she was now it would take her about an hour to walk to the school, but she didn't really mind. All she was missing was history. she would just get the notes from a classmate later.
Arden walked at her normal pace along the busy street alongside all the people. She loved to see people in the busy street with all the different colored umbrellas. Arden didn't carry an umbrella, to her they just got in the way. instead she loved to feel the rain on her face and head.
As Arden walked into the back doors of Jacob high it was 8:52. She had taken more time on her walk than she had meant to.
She walked through the halls leaving water on the floor from her wet shoes and her dripping rain coat and her hair. She walked to the main office to pick up a late slip, she had gotten a detention the last time she was late and she was sure she'd get one again today as she walked into the office. The office lady gave her a brief speech on how being late and skipping classes is pouring hardship onto yourself before giving her the late slip and the detention slip. Arden walked out and walked to her locker, it was locker number 1298 in the history hallway. She got to her locker, it was 8:59. she did her combination 38, 23, 3 and dropped her wet coat and backpack in there. When she walked into her classroom, the class was doing independent textbook work. Mr. Evan looked up from his book as she stuck the late slip in front of him.
"you do realize there is only 25 more minutes of my class. why would you even come?" he said to her.
Arden looked up thinking of an answer to his question, because frankly, she wasn't sure of the answer. She finally looked back at him, dead eyed with no expression she said,
"i love history". then sat down in her chair, opened her textbook and started doing the questions written on the board.
