tragedy

CHAPTER 1

The sweat was dripping of Jane's forehead as she ran back and forth keeping in line with all the other students.

"Finally," Jane mumbled, as she came to a halt beside me wiping her face with her t-shirt lifting it up enough to reveal her slightly over-tanned stomach to the group of guys watching us, or more precisely her.

"Maybe you should just take a break" I suggested, my feet aching in the pair of heels Jane lent me for school.

She'd finally just finished her third round of laps and while I thought it was just crazy how anyone would be bothered to run that much, she loved it, so as her best friend I stayed and watched.

"ugh fine, honestly Alyssa you should participate more, like look at the guys they love this sort of stuff." Jane didn't give me any time to reply before she chucked on her jacket and announced "let's go grab a snack before third period, I'm starving"

I wasn't really hungry, but I did need a rest, so I let Jane drag me away and towards the cafe.

Finally, when my feet couldn't take the pain any longer of having to keep up with her and somehow manage to walk without tripping over my own feet, I shouted out

"Jane slow down!"

We'd gone to the bathroom and miraculously Jane had changed in under five minutes and I honestly wondered how we were friends at all. She and I were completely different. Jane was all long straight brown hair who would rather curl it perfectly any day of the week and always have on a stunning outfit, perfectly tanned skin and brown eyes who's more obsessed with guys, partying and getting drunk than she is me, whereas I have straight blond hair that's always knotted, blue eyes and I'd rather wear tracksuits and an oversized t-shirt and stay in rather than party any day of the week. It was always Jane that made me get dressed up and go out to parties or even just to come to school in heels. I loved her but honestly, she can get pretty demanding.

"Come on Alyssa, hurry up or there won't be any food left." Jane complained angrily to me, speeding up to get into line.

Scanning the cafeteria, I looked for any empty booths but all I could see where two seats by the window closest to the kids' section. Normally we would sit in a booth as we were 17 and in year 11 but today, I didn't care I just needed to sit.

"Jane, you order your food I'll be over there" I said as I pointed to the two spare seats.

I turn to leave but Jane grabs a hold of my blouse and I almost fall over with tiredness as she pulls me back if not for her hand on me.

"Alyssa no I can eat and walk and please we have to meet Peter." Jane complies.

I know that's not really it, yes, we do have to meet Peter but I have class with him so he would be fine without us, the real reason is she just can't stand it if things don't go her way.

"but my feet hurt" I said

"Beauty is- "

"-pain, yeah, yeah, I get it." I grumbled cutting her off.

We stood in silence as Jane waited to collect her food which felt like it took forever as the line never moved but eventually, we got there and Jane went in to grab her usual chicken Caesar wrap, and I stepped over to the side to wait. When she finally payed and said thank you, it was almost third period so I knew she would be a little mad at me for taking forever. I peeked over to her and she looked a little annoyed but when she saw me, I could tell she felt a little sorry for me and gave in a tad.

"let's just go get our stuff and go to class and meet Peter, I'll eat this after school."

Jane lit a cigarette and we walked back to the lockers in silence though it wasn't really silent. The sound of everyone in the halls around us drowned out all my thoughts and when I finally reached my locker, I let out a breath I didn't even realise I was holding and regained my thoughts before opening my lock and grabbing my math book. This was the only class Jane and I didn't have together and that meant that Peter and I were alone.