Everything Has Changed

New State, New Start

-TODAY-

“Ashleigh we have visitors!! Get down here and say hello!!!!” I’m broken out of my trance by my dad calling out to me. I stumble off my bed and change out of my warm red and blue pyjama pants and black chemise, chucking on my Rolling Stones vintage tee and faded blue skinny jeans. I put my earbuds in my ears and walk down the stairs, taking my time so maybe whoever it is leaves before I get down. I finally make my way into the living room where five other people are sitting, laughing and chatting with my parents and my brothers. Mum’s the first to notice me as I take one of my earbuds out of my ears, yet again.

“Ash, these are the Russells, Mr and Mr Russell and their children Tara, Aaron and Zachariah.” I put on my fake smile again and walk over to all of them and plonk down on the couch in the middle of Mum and Dad. Mr Russell smiles at me as he pulls Zachariah back down onto the couch.

“So Ashleigh, your mum tells us you can sing. Zach and Aaron sing.” Mrs Russell says as she can see that I don’t want to be there at all.  She sits eagerly awaiting my answer.

“Yeah. Um yeah I can.”

“How long have you been singing for?” She seems full of questions about my previous life and what I was like before I came to Rockhampton.

“Um about six years. Yeah six years.” Zachariah aka Zach looks up at me and smiles. He mouths the words ‘Don’t Worry’ to me and I smile. He looks about my age and hot. His brown hair is all over the place and wet which sort of indicates he’s either been swimming or has been to the beach. He coughs which breaks the awkward silence. Everyone laughs and I get up, prepared to leave. Dad drags me back down and my three younger brothers to get into a shower and go to bed. They all kiss Mum and Dad goodnight and go upstairs to bed, leaving the eight of us sitting ,none of the teenagers wanting to talk. Tara pipes up and smiles at me.

“So tell me, if you don’t mind, why you moved to Rockhampton from Camden?” Mum and Dad look at me as I gasp for air. Tara notices and automatically apologises. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t kno-“

“It’s fine. I can say it.” Tara looks apologetically at me. “Well, we’ve been moving since I was eleven because I was severely bullied. We moved around NSW for five years and now we’re here in Queensland because we thought no one would know us in a new state.” The Russells look at us sadly and apologetically. Zach and Aaron look at me with a sort of respect and Mrs Russell gets up and hugs me. I don’t understand why, I guess I’m just used to all of the sympathy. Even when I don’t want it.

“Ashleigh, I’m so sorry but can I ask how severely?” Aaron asks and I don’t hesitate to answer. After the second and third guidance counsellors, I learnt to speak openly about my bullying experiences.

“I was beaten up nearly every day. I didn’t want to leave the house. I hated life and I was even given death threats.” Zach whistles and I laugh. No one’s been able to make me laugh like that except Jayden and Ellen. I look at the clock on the wall and it reads 10:00pm. “I’d better head to bed. Got school you know. It was a pleasure meeting you Mr and Mrs Russell. And you guys too. Night Mum. Night Dad.” I walk to the stairs and Zach follows me as I get to the bottom of the stairs. I turn around and see him, staring at me. He runs his hand through his hair nervously and smiles at me.

“Um.. hey I know you’re new and everything but do you wanna hang out later? I- I can understand if you don’t want to but-“

“I’d love to Zach. Night.” He smiles and fist pumps as I turn around. Is it normal for me to be actually excited to go to school for once.

-THE NEXT DAY-

“ASHHHH!!!!! YOU GOT SCHOOL!!” I groan and roll over, burying my head in my pillow. It’s the same routine for me, no matter how hard I try and no matter where I am. The whole stalling process was drilled into me since that first day when I was eleven. I’ve just had no desire to go to school. Then I remember what Zach said to me the night before and how excited I was. I hear my door open and my blue curtains pulled back, revealing the bright 7:00 am Queensland light. Dad pulls on my quilt and I fall out of bed. I stand up, rubbing my eyes to see Zach and Aaron standing at my bedroom door. Aaron starts to laugh when he sees me standing there in my pyjamas, my hair all over the place. Zach just smiles. They’re both standing there in their blue blazers and grey pants. The blazers have the Heights College crest on the left hand breast side and then I look to my closet and realise that I have the same blazer.

“Good morning Sleeping Beauty.” Aaron laughs and this time Zach can’t help but laugh too at my frazzled state. I shrug it off and walk into my closet, shutting the door behind me. I take one long look at the deep blue blazer and black checked skirt. I pull my uniform on feeling quite weird being n another one again.

“Why can’t I just be home schooled?” I mutter to myself.

“I HEARD THAT” Dad calls out from my bedroom. I hear Zach laugh at something Dad said as I walk out, feeling ridiculous. The only other time I’d felt as ridiculous as is was when I started at St Augustine’s College in Brookvale

-1 YEAR EARLIER-

“Hey I’m Emily Singe and I’m gonna be showing you around during your first week here at St Augustine’s! You excited?” I stifle a fake laugh and smile at her enthusiasm. “It’s a brand new year here at St Augustine’s and well I guess you can tell that I’m excited about it!” I sarcastically nod and smile as a thirteen year old boy walks past us, looking really embarrassed about Emily’s excited nature.

“Emmmmm! You’re doing it again.” He steps in front of Emily and I and sighs. He sticks out his hand in response to shake mine. “ Hi I’m William Singe and you’ve met my sister Emily. Call me Will.” I shake his hand and smile. He’s less enthusiastic about everything than his sister, who seems to have finally noticed her brother.

“Will, go away you’re embarrassing me againnnnn!” She drags out the ‘n’ and Will rolls his eyes.

“Me?!?! What about you? You’re the one who’s being overly excited about everything. Hey I didn’t get your name.” Will winks at me and  his sister does that thing to pretend to puke.

“Will you’re thirteen!! She’s fifteen!! That’s just eww! I’m sorry I don’t even know your name. What is your name if you don’t mind me asking?” Emily slowly redirects that attention onto me and away from Will.

I smile at Will and then at Emily as the bell goes. I shake Will’s still outstretched hand. “Ashleigh. Ashleigh Stead.” I then turn to Emily and we walk to our homeroom. “It was a pleasure meeting you Will.” Emily pulls me along as I try my hardest to not have to walk into that classroom and be judged again. Emily bursts into homeroom with me hanging onto for dear life.

“Sorry we’re late Mr Jackson.” Emily pants as she leaves me standing at the front of the classroom with the rest of the class staring at me in my frazzled state. Mr Jackson look down at a clipboard and then up at me.

“You must be Ashleigh Stead. Welcome to St Augustine’s. Would you care to tell the class a bit about yourself?” My palms start to sweat and I get really nervous. I’ve never been good at public speaking even if it is only in front of about twenty people.

“Um… well… my name is Ashleigh and I’m from Penrith in the Western Suburbs-“

“She’s a westie! A westie!” the entire class laughs at the sudden outburst about me being from the west.  I take my seat at the front of the class as Mr Jackson starts his lecture about stuff I have no idea about. I feel something hit the back of my head and turn around to find a guy spit balling paper at my hair. I feel the spot that it hit and wasn’t surprised. I barely said a complete sentence and I’m already being spit balled. Good first impression Ash. Brilliant first impression.