Second Year

you're somebody else

7.

You're Somebody Else

Well you talk like yourself
No, I hear someone else though
Now you're making me nervous

💜

Skye

I strut uninterested into SPHE, aka the most useless class on earth. Before I can take my place at the back of the classroom, a hand stops me. I look up at me to see a guy, probably in his 50s or so.

I raise an eyebrow at him. "What?", I ask monotonously.

"The hair.", he speaks.

I look down at my silver locks, then back up at the guy. "What about it?"

"C'mon." He motions for us to walk out the door, which I do as I hear the obnoxious snickering of the other girls in the classroom. I flip them off as I go.

Awh, shit, here we go again, but Grandpa Edition.

"Shut up, sicko, this isn't Riverdale."

"I'm sorry, Ms Casey?"

I look up at the teacher. "Sorry, just a tick."

"Mhm."

Not. Even. One. Week. In. And a teacher is already being a bitch to me.

We walk into an office, and he leans up against a window. I still don't even know this teachers name. "Go on, have a seat, Skye."

I roll my eyes and sit down. "What's this about? I'm aware that I have dyed hair, and I've had it this way since second year."

He tosses me an open paperback copy of the Code of Conduct, and I read a section highlighted in pink. Just says something about only natural hair colours being allowed in school. I snort and then look up the teacher.

"My guy, this was written before I was born. The updated version in my journal says otherwise. I've never had any problems with teachers about my hair, not even with the ones who find anything to complain about."

He laughs shortly. "Miss Casey, you might want to read that version in your journal again. It was updated over the summer."

I take out the journal and go to the short section about the uniform and appearance.

"Unnatural hair colour is permitted, but you can be asked by any teacher to get rid of the colour and you need a written letter of consent from the guidance counselor, Mr Ryan." I snort. "That's the biggest amount of horseshit I've read in a while."

"Language, young lady."

I roll my eyes. "Aight, so I just need to go to this Mr Ryan tool and get my letter of consent and you can just leave me back to die of boredom in the back of SPHE class before I go home and die in another away." I smile at him sarcastically.

Good girl, until you gave it away. You could've gotten us on suicide watch there, retard.

"Shut up.", I mutter.

"Miss Casey, in case you didn't notice, I'm Mr Ryan. And for that, I will not be writing up that letter for you. My sister is a hairdresser, she'll get it back to normal for ya after school."

I scoff. "It's literally just hair. I nearly forget what my natural hair colour is."

He looks at me for a moment in thought, before saying, "I think black would go well with your emo style."

I laugh. "Emo? I'm not an emo. Not every 17 year old girl with a resting bitch face is an emo. They're actually pretty happy people whereas I am not."

"Language. Meet me at the gate after school."

"What if I don't want to? I have a life, ya know?"

"A 2 hour delay in your timetable of wasting away won't hurt, Skye."

I just give up, knowing I won't win against this guy.

Skye is a pussy, Skye is a pussy!

I refuse to answer Her, not wanting to give Her that satisfaction.

💜

Billy

Skye is gone for the evening, so I've taken it upon myself to go into her room and be like a typical annoying brother. God, her room is boring. Does she really need to be this tidy? Just a bed, a TV and a record player with a box of records on the side. No clothes or underwear scattered around. Boooooringg. 

I throw myself onto her neatly made bed, getting myself comfortable. I put my hands behind my head, but my hand accidentally slips underneath and grazes a piece of paper. Although I probably shouldn't, I pick it up and open it up. 

Thursday September 3rd 2020

8:50- school
lunchtime- say goodbye to eimear
3:40-come home, say goodbye to bil and faye
4:30- get on bus to cork to say goodbye to sammy
6:00- back in town, sneak to room to write letter and explain her
at the latest, 6:45- sneak back out, go to bridge, jump, finally get rid of her

I drop the piece of paper, everything stopping in me. I immediately ring Skye, who answers immediately.

"What's up, shithead?", she answers monotonously.

"Skye, where are you?"

"At this dumb guidance counselors sisters hair place, getting my hair dyed black and being stripped of the only thing that made me unique besides the trauma. Why?"

"Send me a picture."

"Why?"

"I don't trust you, Skye, that's why."

"Thanks, Billy, that's lovely to know." I can practically hear her rolling her eyes.

"Skye, I found the list!", I blurt out.

She goes silent for a minute, before she speaks, "Not to be British or anything, but you what?"

"Yes. Please don't do that shit, Skye. And who the fuck is Her?"

"None of your business, Billy Boy. And I'm not doing that shit anymore today anyway, because I'm here for some reason. I'm fine, Billy. I was just a bit overwhelmed the other night and did that. I'm not actually going to do anything. I'm fine."

"Just, come home as soon as possible, okay? Just so I know you're safe."

"I am safe though, Billy."

"Please just do it, Skye. And if it's late, poke your head in the door when you come back."

"Okay, okay, okay. Fuckin bossyboots."

"I'm looking forward to seeing the hair."

"I'm not. I fuckin loved the silver."

We keep talking until she has to get her hair rinsed, and I return to my room, sticking the list into my pocket. I just hope she'll be home soon and I won't fail Sam.

💜