Blooming

Chapter 23: Blooming

Chapter 23

I forgot all about it! I was woken by the sound of a sharp knock on the door. I jumped out of bed and scraped my hair back. I threw on my top and tore on my shorts. I raced downstairs almost tripping over my open laces. I opened the door to see Richard. I looked at my watch. For goodness sake it was only 8:30 I hadnt planned to go with Peter till 9. I looked at Richard.

"Em..can I come in?" He didnt wait till I had answered he just walked straight through me.

"Is your Da at home?"

"Yes my daD is here." I emphasised the last d.

"Daaaaad." I called. I came down the stairs in his pajamas.

"What what is it?" He looked worried. The he saw Richard and he looked more worried.

"Who is this?"

"Im Richard head of the council. Just show me what needs fixed up."

Dad looked around him.

"Everywhere." He said with a laugh. Richard wasnt amused.

"Just leave the second room to the left upstairs." That was my room. We left Richard to start work. I heard him call a few guys to come help him and after a cup of coffee kindly donated by mcdonalds Dad went out to help them. I looked at my watch and went outside and went to Peter's door. There was a doorbell so I rang it. Holly came to the door.

"He'll just be a sec honey." The way she spoke reminded me of my mum and I felt sad. But why would I bother? She wasnt missing me she is glad to have me out. Peter arrived at the door looking as fresh as a daisy. I felt bad I probably looked like I had been dragged here. We went to the pier and did some stretches and then headed off running to the beach. Everytime a person came Peter would run in front of me so I wouldnt run into them. He was doing just that when he stopped and screwed up his face. I burst out laughing. My chest hurt I was laughing so much. Peter had just ran into a big pile of dog poo. He tried to keep a straight face and look annoyed but he was soon splitting his sides along with me. I grabbed a tissue from my pocket and handed it to him. He sat down on the bench. I was still laughing at his face.

"These are my good runners why cant people pick up after their stupid mutts." He was complaining.

"Hurry up you can wash them in the water." He dropped his lip.

"But then my socks will get wet."

"Dry up!" I rolled my eyes at him and we laughed. I could see in some ways why people thought he was gay...

I almost gripped his hand. This school looked like it had been here as long as the hill its on. It was extremeley small compared to West Barren and Liverpool. Dad looked at me.

"Daaaad." I moaned.

"Its the only school in the town!" He laughed. "Lets just say I wouldnt wanna be you." He smirked.

"Wait a go with making me feel better." I said trying to keep a straight face. Peter was at the door smiling at me.

"I can see why you hate this place." I said.

"Its not the building its the demons inside." He joked. I rolled my eyes.

"Is there registration?"

"Em...no whatever that is." He looked confused and I laughed. Dad walked inside.

"Wheres the office son?" He asked Peter. Peter led us to a small brown door. I remembered my first day at West Barren only less that three weeks ago. I then got to think about if I made the team. Probably not. I never got to say anything to Willow about the shower prank. A tall balding man with small eyeglasses came to the door. His nose was high in the air as if he thought he was better than us.

"This is Poppy, we just moved here and we would like to enroll her." I saw a bead of sweat appear on dads forehead as he said this. The tall man who I gathered was the pricipal and his name was Mr Riley looked at Peter as if he was a bad smell.

"Youve graced us with your presence then boy." He said looking directly into Peters eyes.

"Why yes sir I couldnt let you down."

Mr Riley snorted. He walked back into his office stiffly.

"Enter." We heard him say. "Not the boy, you go to class." Peter rolled his eyes. Dad and I entered the room. It was dark and the furniture was a dark dark brown and shadows bounced off the ceilings. I took a seat in a seat rather like the ones in the hospital that night. I shivered as I felt the uncomfortablness and recollections of that night. Mr Riley stood straight as a rake with his arm resting on a filing cabnet. He looked rather like a thumb with no hair at the front of his head and his flat face and it almost seemed like he had no neck. While I was studying him I was sure he was studying me too. He went into one of the files and pulled out a sheet of paper.

"Here is the application form, you can start tomorrow if you wish." Tomorrow was Wednesday. I nodded.

"Bring the form to Sandra the secretary. A smallish chubby woman peeked around the door.

"Yes sir?"

"I didnt call you, you fool go back to your work." She saddened. Her hair was rather like a black box on her head she reminded me of a smaller chubbier female version of Simon Cowell. I laughed to myself as I thought of her in a tight, black, v-neck t-shirt with visable chest hairs.

"Thats Stupid Sandra thats what they call her." Mr Riley shook up and down a bit. I think he might have been laughing but he might have just been having a spasm. Mr Riley glared at us.

"You can leave."

Dad and I both shot up off our seats, scraping the floors, at the same time. I knew we both wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. While I was in this school Mr Riley was on my avoid as much as possible list. So was Stupid Sandra. I thought about this list and remembered the guys that had dissed Peter in the smoothie bar. They could be on it too. Dad and I took a wee sneaky walk around the school. Suddenly a loud buzzing went through my ears. Doors were flung open and people came out from every angle. I grabbed for dads hand and started pushing through the people. Dad just followed me very obedianteky through the crowd. Soon everyone was in their next class. I looked back to Dad to see it wasnt actually Dad. I screamed. It was a lanky skinny boy with short brown hair. He smiled at me.

"Em..why didnt you tell me you werent my dad?" I mumbled as he laughed at me.

"New around here?" He asked completely ignoring my last question.

I had heard that phrase so many times by now. I then realised he was still holding my hand. I ripped my hand away and walked fiestely away. He ran after me.

"Hey you didnt tell me your name." I lifted my eyebrow.

"Yea Im totally going to tell a pervert my name!"

"I thought you were helping me.." He stared strangely at me. I then noticed he was blind.

"Ewan." Someone called. I looked around to see a woman searching frantically. When she saw the boy I was with her face relaxed.

"Oh thank you for helping Ewan, he wanders off sometimes." Ewan shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"I have to go." I was so embarassed for shouting at him.

"Whats your name?" He asked staring at the wall. The lady turned him to look at me.

"Poppy." I whispered and ran off. I cant beleive I had been so rude.

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