There’s a satisfying crunch as it crumples. I laugh as he staggers about screaming, as a waterfall of his own blood spills down his front. Then I glare at his stupid friends. They all run away, terrified.
The blast of a car horn from somewhere down the road snapped me back to reality. I wondered for the umpteenth time if I should tell the school. And for the umpteenth time I argued that it would only get worse. Mr Burton senior was chairman of the school governors. This fact had allowed Terry to do A-levels in the first place and pretty much gave him a free reign to do what he wanted.
Got to love politics.
As I reached the main gates for the second time that morning, the final bell rang. Picking up the pace, one hand holding my aching stomach, I ran through the empty grounds and up the stone steps of the main entrance. At least he didn’t push me down these again, I thought bitterly.
The school itself was one of the largest in Chapter Hill, mainly because it accommodated for sixth form students like me as well as years seven to eleven. It was easy to get lost in the spider web of corridors and rooms if you didn’t know where you were going.
I tore down the empty hallways, my footsteps echoing around me. By the time I reached my English class, the door was already closed.
Thanks Terry, you made me late as well.
As I put a clammy hand onto the door handle, I was oblivious to the fact that my whole life was about to change.
2
Twenty three faces looked up as I stood panting in the doorway. Mr Hanley stopped writing on the whiteboard and turned his podgy, red face towards me, peering over the top of his spectacles.
“Ah Alexander, how nice of you to join us! Better late than never I suppose, please take your seat.”
I muttered an apology and sat down at my desk.
At the start of the term it had been determined that I wasn’t cool enough to be allowed on the back row and the rest of the desks were full. So, I’d been left with the spot straight in front of the teacher’s desk. This meant I was an open target to any onslaught from behind. A regular occurrence as Andrew Pearson — another member of Terry’s gang — shared the class with me.
Mr Hanley continued writing on the board until he was interrupted a second time by a light tap at the door. Miss Cleveland, the leather-faced school secretary, peered through the glass. Our teacher excused himself and waddled out of the room.
Instant disorder ensued. People shouted to each other from stools and others got up to go and talk to friends. No one spoke to me. Instead, an empty Coke can smacked against the back of my head. I spun around to the sound of laughter as the cold liquid dribbled down my neck. Andrew stared at me from the back row, a satisfied grin on his face. “Sorry Eden I was aiming for the bin!”
“Leave me alone!” I hissed, which earned a collective “ooooooohhhh” from the rest of the class. I turned back around and fumbled through my bag, producing a dog eared copy of Rebecca. I pretended to look through, my face burning.
The door opened and Mr Hanley padded back in. “Okay everyone, playtime’s over, back to your seats please,” he said. Lots of shuffling and order was restored. “I have just received some news. It would appear we have a new pupil joining us.” He frowned down at a piece of paper in his hand. “A Miss Gabriella De Luca from Italy.” A murmur waved across the classroom as the information was processed. “She should be here shortly. In the meantime, I want to turn your attention to Rebecca. Now I trust you’ve all managed to read pages one hundred to one hundred and fifty over the weekend. If you haven’t, now is the time to panic, because…” he drummed his fingers on the desk, “…there will be a test for last part of the lesson!”
The revelation was met with groans and nervous glances. It appeared the majority hadn’t even opened the book, let alone read fifty pages of it. A satisfied smile spread across my face. I’d read it from cover to cover twice already. Then I thought a little more morosely, it’s not like I have a social life to get in the way.
Mr Hanley put a hand up to silence the class. “I’m in a generous mood, so for the next twenty minutes I’ll let you… refresh your memories,” he chuckled. The class relaxed and silence descended on the room as everyone scanned through the chapters. I thumbed the relevant pages, looking for key scenes. Mr Hanley used the time to finish writing the questions on the board. After a few minutes there was a soft knock at the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened and all the air left the room.
Standing in the doorway was the embodiment of perfection. Thick hair — iron straight and the shade of dark ink, spilled down to slender shoulders. Eyes like sapphires on ice, contrasted full red lips. Skin the colour of fresh honey. A slim biker jacket and figure hugging jeans emphasised a body most girls would kill their best friend for.
Flawless.
The class fell into a stunned silence. Even Mr Hanley seemed a little taken aback by the new girl’s undeniable beauty. After a few seconds he composed himself and addressed her directly, peering over the top of his glasses as he spoke.
“Ah Miss De Luca I presume. Welcome dear, I’m Mr Hanley,” he fawned.
Gabriella De Luca dazzled the room with a smile. “Thank you, sir.” I could hear a faint hint of an accent in her voice, wrapping her words in silk.
“Everyone is re-reading pages one hundred to one hundred and fifty of Rebecca. Do you have a copy with you by any chance?”
Gabriella responded by deftly pulling a pristine copy of the book from her leather handbag and holding it in the air.
“Ah fantastic. Well now, there will be a test on those pages later, but you’re excused of course. Just start the book and catch up in your free time.”
“Actually Mr Hanley, I read the book on the journey over, so I’m happy to take the test too,” the new girl replied in her subtle tone.
Mr Hanley beamed; his round face appearing worryingly close to bursting. “Oh that’s wonderful! Take note people, this is what we call a dedicated student! Well now Gabriella, take a seat, I believe there’s a free one next to Andrew there at the back.” He pointed towards my tormentor. The new girl smiled again and made her way over to the back of the room.
Then something weird happened.
As Gabriella neared me, everything went into slow motion. Something ignited in the depths of my chest and an immense heat ripped through my body, racing through my veins until it reached my fingers and toes. It was followed by a thousand miniature electric shocks which crackled along every follicle of hair on my skin. Then I felt myself being unwillingly drawn towards her, as if she were a human magnet. I gripped the side of the desk to stop myself falling off the chair, but not before it tipped onto two legs. The new girl shot me a confused glance and hurried past.
As she moved away, the sensations stopped and my seat clattered back to its correct position. My mouth dropped open.
What the hell just happened?
Behind me I heard several loud sniggers and realised glumly that my bizarre behaviour hadn’t gone unnoticed. I was clueless when it came to girls, but even I knew that it had not been a normal reaction.
I heard shuffling behind me and hushed words of greetings being exchanged as the girl took her seat. I could hear people from other desks turning to speak to her. I kept my head fixed forward.
“Okay, okay everyone, let the poor girl get settled!” Mr Hanley said. He tapped the whiteboard with his marker. “You have a test to fail.”
All eyes shifted from Gabriella to Rebecca.
Revision didn’t last long. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see several classmates craning their necks to catch a sly glimpse. I had a worrying impulse to do the same thing. A stupid idea — it wasn’t like she would notice
