Today is going to be a good day.
I can feel it in the air, it's the middle of summer and the night has been warm so I could sleep with the window open. Perfect.
I was ready for school before Mom came to wake me up. She looked almost shocked that I was up, dressed and just finishing my hair. Almost. Remember this is Joanna Lorrence after all; nothing can shock this woman of steel anymore.
I picked out the coolest clothes I could lay my hands on; a pair of short Denim shorts and a grey thin t-shirt with Animal from the Muppets on. I didn't even mind that my elbow length hair had gone wavy and curly at the bottom, or that the chestnut brown it usually was seemed to have been magnified over-night. Nothing would ruin today.
I folded my bed sheets open so some air could get to them for tonight, I didn't want to be kept awake again. I even packed all the right things in my bag; English book, Maths book and History folder. I cheerfully marched downstairs as my Mom left the house without a goodbye; guess it's not a good day for her.
I ran for the bus; God knows how I was late. I got up at five! I managed to jump on though, nearly loosing my grey chucks in the process. I automatically sought out the seat next to Marisa; the girl with the short, choppy and brilliantly cherry-red hair near the back of the bus. The girl I would probably consider my closest female friend, although I could never let her in to see the real me. She'd never stop running if I told her what I thought about. I plonked myself down and forced a smile.
"What're you so happy about Lorrence?" came a deep voice from behind me. I turned in my seat so I could talk to Marisa's boyfriend. He was amazing, a little short, black hair and eyes I could get seriously lost in, unfortunately I could tell Marisa felt the same way.
"Nothing Frank, I can just tell today is going to be an awesome day." I replied, smugly. I turned to look at the boy sat next to him; brown short hair and a pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose, threatening to fall off at a moments notice.
"Hey Lilly. Your hair looks nice today."
"Thanks Mikey. What've you got in the bag?" I asked, inquisitive as to why he was holding it so close to his chest. He withdrew it further from my gaze.
"Nothing, so why is it gonna be an awesome day?" He asked pushing his glasses up with his index finger.
"I've just got a feeling."
"When you get that feeling, do you want," Marisa paused, looking up from her nails. Everyone looked at her expectantly, "Sexual heeeeealing" She sang, unperturbed at the entire bus full of children looking at her. I took my signal to start singing and we began to serenade each other and dance in our seats until we reached school.
The air tasted stale and I could clearly smell the sweat of everyone in the room. It wasn't as unpleasant as it sounded; I inhaled deeply and rested my chin on my hand. It was 9.45 and I was in the small English room at the back of the sports field, sat on the back row between Frank and some boy called Tom. Frank copied me and sighed loudly into my ear so I slapped him sideways with my free hand. He looked startled and made a very high-pitched squeaking noise. He shuffled his chair trying to pass it off as his chair leg. I smiled goofily at him and he shot daggers in return. He grabbed a rubber off the table and started to aim towards me, feigning flicking it until the last second. I ducked automatically as it went soaring through the air, hitting Tom square in the side of the head. He shot upright, startled as a rabbit locked in headlights.
"Ghhhahahamnrrkkk" I believe was the exact noise I made while trying to stifle a laugh, which seemed to make things that much worse. Frank burst out laughing, rousing some kids in the front row who'd succumbed to sleep in the warm air.
Fortunately Mr. Bryon hadn't been roused and merely snuffled in his sneaky sleep on his desk, pretending to mark papers. Everyone had gone back to hushed gossiping and sleeping by the time Frank got his laughter under control. He's so cute when he snorts.
We met up with Marisa and Mikey on the sloping side of the field; I was in such a great mood I didn't even mind that I'd got half a rubber, a ruler and a pencil shoved down my top by Frank. As per usual Marisa and Frank greeted each other with what can only be described as trying to swallow each other whole. I inwardly died several times until they finally broke apart. Jesus I hate it when they do that. Then they started all over again. I sighed evenly and walked away.
Mikey and I sat down under the shade of the large oak tree while the other two continued to dine on eachother. It wasn't worth my left arm to try and break them up. So I was content talking about the heat and my, so far, perfect day which Mikey seemed very interested in. When the twosome finally surfaced for air we walked to biology my perfect day just took a small landslide; everyone was in that class. Now I couldn't just talk to Frank all lesson or Marisa, they would be too busy talking to each other. I let my smile slide for the first time today; my shoulders sagged as we walked round to the science block. Mikey patted me on the shoulder and I smiled weakly at him. He returned the smile and then focused ahead, bringing his bag close to his chest.
Marisa fainted it was so funny. She was watching me have my blood tested [a tiny tiny prick on the finger] and she fell backwards like a plank of wood. It was amazing; I've never seen someone fall so flat. She went home early too, her short cherry hair clinging to her face in clumps from sweat and her wide blue eyes blood-shot. I felt really bad, as a friend should, but this meant I could spend more time with Frank and Mikey.
The rest of the day was as perfect as I could have imagined, Frank and I only had till 2 and Mikey had to stay till 3. He took an extra Chemistry which I'll never understand. I patted him reassuringly in the small of his back when Frank and me were about to leave.
"Good luck sugar." I said happily, he smiled and went slightly red. I looked around and there were a small group of boys staring and Mikey and wolf whistling.
"Shut it Gerard." He shouted as a tall boy with long-ish black hair started making thrusting movements. I rolled my eyes and bade goodbye to Mikey who gave me a strangely long hug after and looked really sad for a moment. I asked Frank about it on the walk home away from school; if Mikey was okay and that everything was fine. He shrugged and said that Mikey hadn't said anything to him about it. We continued chatting, stopping every so often to jump into some shade to hide from the blisteringly hot sun. At the turning point where we both split off to go our separate ways home we arranged to go see Marisa later, I protested slightly she may want to just sleep it off but Frank had his knickers in a twist so I said I would go.
"Cya Lorrence." He called as he walked away, planting his headphones roughly on his head and beginning to strut. I laughed and began to walk home. I stopped. Unsure of what I was doing and wishing only that I didn't have to leave Frank. I ran back up the road; to see Frank hadn't got very far. Trying to sing all the words to whatever song was currently playing:
He sang softly often missing out words, shuffling and moving his arms in time with the invisible music. I laughed outwardly and hoped he didnt hear me. I was on the verge of crying with laughter when he did the robot down his drive; fortunately I was a safe distance away. He laughed to himself; deep and tinkling. I shivered as he slid his key in the door and went inside. It never struck me till this point that what I was doing was weird perhaps I'd already known? I was following Frank home, like stalking him. I tried to turn away but my feet were travelling without me, I ran across the tarmac radiating a violent heat and into the shade of his house. I reasoned with myself; We aren't even that good friends, why am I doing this? He's dating Marisa for fuck's sake!
Fuck Marisa, you knew him before her. A voice replied. I shuddered, even on this warm day it felt so cold in the shade of the small whitewash house, so far away from him. I dumped my backpack on the grass and made my way to the back yard.
I don't even know how I got here, but I'm so glad I am. From a large elm tree growing from the side of Franks house I could clearly see into his window. Something told me this was wrong but I couldn't stop now. Not now I'm here. I shifted my weight on the branch below me, testing it slightly. It held good enough and I craned my neck to watch Frank.
He grabbed a remote from his bed and ran his hand through his hair as he flicked through the channels. He finally let it rest on some channel blaring out The Smiths. I sighed to myself happily as he began to remove his shirt and fling himself down on his bed, sweat clinging to him. My heart proceeded to flip flop several times and I felt all the air being sucked out of the garden. Wow.
He lazily grabbed the remote and flicked over halfway through the song to the news. I wouldn't have picked Frank as a "news-watching" kinda guy. I watched as his beautiful face drained itself of all colour and his entire relaxed aura dropped like a stone, his shoulders sagged and the remote fell from his hand. I frowned, had he seen me? I panicked and shifted down the tree, grabbing my backpack at a run I sprinted through the blisteringly hot sun until I arrived home. I was incredibly pleased that I hadn't been caught and already began to make plans to do the same tomorrow, but this time I'll find a better place. Giddy at my new found past time I stepped out into the road without thinking and I caught myself just in time to see a police car whirl past, sirens blaring and tires spinning. It was then that I woke from my dream of Frank watching to see what had been all around me since I'd left the elm tree. There were students, running and screaming. Some looking very scared and nearly all had red patches on their clothes. I froze in horror, what the hell?
Safe to say I ran all the way home. I threw my backpack down and ran into the living room. I have never seen my mother really cry and I never want to see it again.
"Oh baby baby baby" she cried sweeping me into her arms, which was uncomfortable as it was hot and sticky and she smelt strongly of musty perfume and powder.
"Mom?"
"I-I-I-I thought you were still at school, oh baby" She said squeezing me harder.
"What is going on?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"There's been an accident at school" She said solemly, pulling out of her hug and leading me forcefully to the t.v and turning it on. Sure enough there was live coverage from outside the building, people running out and screaming and police milling around outside like ants unable to cross a river. I gasped, no louder than a whisper.
"But.."
"They keep saying someone heard gunshots and called the police. So far everyone coming out of the building said it started sometime around 2 and that the halls are lined with injured or dead students. I thought you hadn't left yet, I was so worried baby." She added with another bone crushing hug. My heart stopped. He wouldn't have . . . Would he?
Today had definitely not been a good day.
Click
