the voices that heal

Chapter 2 ~ The twins that rule the school

Ahh school. A torture device crafted by society to strip us teenagers of all our spunk and individuality, leaving us as worthless clones, all as dull as each other. I stare into the lifeless yet quite attractive face that presents itself before me in the cracked, dusty mirror hanging above the bathroom sink. I wear little makeup, just enough to accentuate my best features and hopefully cover up my past...

I pull on my favourite oversized hoodie. This way I won't get too much unwanted attention. It'll be bad enough being the "new girl" so I'd better play it safe. Honestly, I just want to survive this year with as little drama as possible. I can't disappoint my Mom again.

I slip on my comfy white vans and trudge my way over to the dusty, almost empty cupboard. Lucky charms. "How charming" I think to myself. "Definitely not sick of these after living off them for two weeks."

"Good luck on your first day of school lassy" I can hear the leprechaun whisper in a tinkling Irish accent.

"Thanks Paddy McLeprachaun, if only my Mom cared as much as you." Mom was still mad at me after the bike incident. Suddenly I think of the rich boy. I chuckle to myself.

He really is quite a character! I wonder what he's doing now...

Just then, I catch a glimpse of the moldy, creaky grandfather clock from target, which much to my alarm, bore the time 8:20, it's hands forming a frown on its yellowing face. Much like mine.

I abandon my bowl of lucky charms and dash out the door, yelling a quick goodbye to my sleeping mother as I go. I can't be late on my first day of school!

  Over the last couple of weeks, I have learned to navigate the city streets. Don't get me wrong, I still despise this place, but I am starting to try to make the best of a bad situation. I pass the familiar rows of tall, rickety apartment blocks, the overflowing bottle green trash cans that line the streets, and the old man who sits on top of the one a couple of houses down from mine, keeping it from blowing away. We have a quick glance, sharing a mutual understanding of my dire situation.

"Turn right", the soothing robotic voice on my phone urges me. I look upwards and what I am met with is unlike anything I had ever seen before! The street is devoid of chewing gum stains, cigarette butts and abandoned bicycles, unlike my so called "home". The houses stand tall and proud behind neatly trimmed gardens filled with the sweetest of flowers, nothing like the overgrown bogs with mesh railing that guard the solemn prison towers on my street. If only mother was good for anything other than wine tasting and table tennis. Maybe then I could call this place my domicile.

  I was entirely caught up in my own head that I hadn't noticed a bright, garish, magenta convertible trailing me, like a pink tiger ready to strike a poor, defenseless bunny. I glance at the dictators in charge of the stylish contraption. They are the most beautiful people I have ever seen in my life. They have an aura of dominance and menace. The girl on the right has long, shiny, fawn hair in loose tendrils which fall over her shoulders and down her back in luscious waves. Her lips are light pink and curved into a contemptuous smirk.

The boy beside her looks almost identical to the girl. His hair is a slightly darker shade of brown and styled into a chic quiff. He squints at me with his dark intimidating eyes. I hadn't realized that I had been staring for so long and I turn away in embarrassment, a flush rising from my neck upwards.

"Hey loser", the female snarls, "What are you doing here? You're not from around here are you?"
I try to speak but the words catch in my throat, and I release a sort of splutter instead. My face heats up and I try to explain.

" I just moved here from the country, Im currently residing on Bucktan street" I stammer, almost tripping over my words.

The boy raises his eyebrows in vague amusement, but the girl has a dark look on her stunning, model like face.

"Bucktan street?!" She spits, as if it were a foul tasting piece of dried seaweed, which had no business being in her superlative mouth.

"I'm just trying to get to school", I quiver. "I'm trying to get to Stonebridge High, but I'm kind of lost. Can you help me out?"

She looks down on me with her piercing eyes.

"Don't you know Stonebridge High is the most prestigious school in all of Stonebride?!" She screeches. The boy nods enthusiastically.

"Also, I wouldn't step foot in Stonebridge High wearing..." the boy looks me up and down, "that!"

"Anyways," the girl sneers, " I guess we'll be seeing you in school. If you make it that is! Jur gan Khaaaa!"

The engine revvs as they speed into a puddle which splashes me from head to toe with mud water. I look down. My oversized hoodie is stained brown and my leggings are soggy, clinging damply to my skin. My messy bun. It's even messier. I look up at the the wet strands that are plastered to my forehead. They are scratchy to the touch. They once framed my face so beautifully. I wonder if I will ever see those days again...

I am about to break down on the sidewalk, when I feel something warm and soft draped over my shoulders, like angels wings protecting me. I look around and see a pair of concerned eyes.

"Hey, I saw what happened back there from my house, are you ok?" The boys voice is soft like the blanket he had just wrapped around my shoulders.

"I think I will be now!"