On That Winter's Night.

10-A New Start.

The blissful buzz of Christmas slid away too quickly, but Lily and Katherine couldn't be happier. Ever since their parents had accepted Lily back into the family, the two sisters had grown closer. In fact, they grew so close that perhaps they were slightly unaware that Mum and Dad watched with pride as the bond between their two daughters became more real, more mature. They both knew that they had chosen right to let Lily back into their family and once again be a big sister for Katherine. 

And now...it was their first day at a new school.

The first morning, twenty minutes before her and her sister were set to leave to walk to school, Lily was busy fixing herself in front of the mirror, in the bedroom she now shared with Katherine. She checked over her appearance once more and smiled. Her pale green eyes, which had once held a weight of loneliness, with twinges of hope, now held a new life and undeniable happiness. Her parents had given her home back to her, plus her and Katherine were now free to live their lives as they wished (although there was a curfew for them both of course!) Oh, how life had changed.

Lily was shaken by her thoughts when she heard Katherine calling for her. "Lily! Please can you help me with my hair?! We haven't got long!"

"Coming!" Lily called back. She backed away from the mirror, retrieved her bag after sliding on her boots before she headed downstairs. She found Katherine was already waiting for her by the front door, with her shoes and the rest of her outdoor wear on and she was clumsily trying to drag her brush through her light brown locks. "I can't believe that today, of all days, my hair has to be a dreadful mess! It's a blinking nightmare, honestly!" Katherine let out a frustrated groan.

Lily giggled affectionately. 

"Come on little sis, please don't worry. I'm going to help you look beautiful, I promise you that!"

"That's younger sister to you!" Katherine grumbled, but her tone was light, though as Lily effortlessly brushed her hair until it shone and twisted it into a neat ponytail. Then her eyes landed on the clock on the wall. "Oh good grief, is that the time? We'd better get going!"

"At least let Lily finish your hair before you go!" Mum's voice, full of laughter, called out from the living room.

The school building looked decent enough, with it's polished windows and the red brick walls. The staff seemed like good people too, with their kindness and genuine smiles. However, it was when lunch break rolled around that Lily and Katherine began to meet the friends they had always longed for.

The sisters were sat in the corner, munching away at their food, when a tough looking guy  decided to pull Lily's chair out for a laugh. "Excuse me!" Lily said, annoyed. "You do realize that when someone is sitting on a chair that means that it's occupied." The tough guy looked at her with a mean smirk. "Ah, you've got some sassiness in you, huh, you brat?!"

"That's my sister you're talking to!" Katherine said fiercely. "Go away!"

"Oh quit it Ray, will you?" A girl said as she approached the table, carrying her food tray. She shot him a glare, before Ray rolled his eyes and stomped off. The girl locked eyes with Lily and Katherine and gave them both a kind smile. She was a pretty girl, with a heart shaped face and her eyes were an adorable shade of brown and her lips were pale pink and her bright red hair tumbled down her back. 

"Do you two mind if I sit here? The other tables are a bit crowded." She asked politely. 

Katherine gestured to an empty seat near her with a grin. "Sure, go ahead." 

The girl nodded gratefully, went to the seat and sat and proceeded to munch away at her food. A moment passed, then she spoke. "I'm Ellie by the way."

"I'm Katherine and this is my older sister Lily." 

The three chatted happily from then on, about their favourite movies, tv shows etc, until the bell rang. The three walked to and from class, then home. Once the two sisters were home, neither girl had ever had wider grins on their faces.

Good things were coming for them and they knew it.

By the end of the week, Lily and Katherine had their own little friendship group, with Ellie included, of course.

 There was Sophie, with her dark purple hair, black lips and her sarcastic sense of humour.

 There was Grace, with her intelligence and quick wit.

There was Ashley, with her words of wisdom and slightly clumsy spring in her step.

And finally, there was shy and quiet Bella, who completed the group.

"Well it's official. I hate my history teacher." Lily grumbled as she exited the school building and found her sister and their friends waiting. "I hate him so much."

"Homework issues?" Grace guessed. Lily nodded.

 "What kind of teacher gives you a large piece of homework then set the deadline for the next day?!" She moaned.

"I'm pretty sure you'll get used to it after a while." Sophie said, briefly rolling her eyes.

"Oh let us not moan too much." Ashley said brightly, whilst clumsily stuffing her books in her bag. "It is Friday after all. We're going to do something fun and I may have something in mind."

"Oh lord, all of you brace yourselves, she's got something in mind." Bella said teasingly, earning a playful slap from Ashley and laughter from the others.

They really did have a whale of a time. The group headed over to Ashley's house and the next few hours were a blur of girly chat and laughter, until they all grew tired and fell asleep in the bedroom.