Drift 1.4 Beginning

Chapter 1: Beginning (Part 4)

So much for what Denny said! We didn't see much of each other after that. It was now a really long walk between our houses, our mums couldn’t drive and we hadn’t had bikes since primary school. We messaged each other but as we began to run out of things to say our messages became less and less frequent. I stayed indoors, listening to music instead of going out and enjoying the sun. Not that I do very well in the sun with my pale skin and red hair. It wasn’t sunburn or heat stroke that put me off, the real deterrence was I didn't feel like doing anything without Jace.

I actually felt relieved when the day to return to high school came around. Always before, I had dreaded this day, the holidays coming to an end, but now I welcomed it. My mum had saved up to make sure she could buy me the uniform required.

I also had new shoes; they were little black flat shoes, with a small crystal apple embellishment by the toe. If the skirt wasn't so frumpy I would have quite liked the whole outfit, except for the new navy blazer that was a requirement for the top years instead of the more comfy casual sweatshirt of the lower year groups.

Today was hot so I had chosen to leave the blazer at home.

It wasn't a long walk to the high school but my new shoes were already rubbing the backs of heels. I tried to walk flat footed so the pain wasn't so frequent but I just looked awkward and clumsy. I felt tiny against the older kids; everyone seemed to have grown over the summer, except me. I felt vulnerable. I headed into the school hall like we had been advised back in June during the final day of lower high school (years 7 to 9).

Only two years of school left. Bring on the count down!

The room boomed with hundreds of voices all talking at once. There was a mass of kids all my age standing in groups or queuing to speak to someone behind the tables. I felt invisible. I searched the room looking for Jace. As his familiar face appeared in my vision, I felt the aching in my heart soothed, like aloe-vera on sunburnt skin.

Racing across the room, I gave him a huge hug. He looked older in his new uniform; he wore the blazer jacket and it looked really smart. He was taller too and smelt different, expensive and manly. A rich spicy smell mixed with something fruity and a sweet cinnamon scent. It was new and delicious and felt comforting, like an apple crumble on a winter’s day.

“Freckles!” He gasped and squeezed me back in a crushing bear hug. “I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too.” I grinned. Everything felt better now he was here and the room suddenly filled with sunlight.

“I think we have to join one of these queues.” He indicated to the nearest line of people with his head.

We both made our way over and instantly fell into a ramble of excited chat about everything and anything. I wanted to know all about the new house and living with Dave. He wanted to know how my mum was getting on and what I had been up to. We talked about the music we had been listening to and the programmes we had watched. I felt so alive to have him back to talk to. I felt whole again. We chatted without pause all the way to the front of the queue.

“Name?” said a young male teacher with short dark hair. He looked at me but I didn't answer. I always let Jace do the talking.

“She's Lily Turner.” He said, “I am Jace Walker.”
“I can only do one at a time.” The teacher said irritated as he clicked on his laptop. There was then a whirring noise and I realised the box next to him was a printer.

“Walker!” He announced pulling out the piece of paper. “You're one of mine. Welcome to form six.” Jace took the piece of paper handed to him. I peeped over his shoulder. It was his timetable. The printer made another whirring noise. “Turner!” the man announced and handed me my timetable.
Jace pulled me out of the way of the people waiting for their turn and we began to compare our sheets. I was in form three and had a lady form teacher, “I wanted us to be in the same form!” I complained as I continued to look at our timetables. Fear made me shudder as I realised we were starting to have less and less in common. I searched hopefully for lessons that matched but we weren't even taking the same subjects on the same days. I looked at him in horror. We would never see each other!

“Just 'cause we have no classes together, doesn't mean we can't be friends.” Jace reassured me, registering my look of panic.

“I am going to hate it.” I said miserably. “This sucks!”

We looked glumly at our sheets as the bell rang loudly overhead.

“I guess that’s the signal that we have to go find our rooms.” Jace said awkwardly.

I nodded. There was nothing more to say. We hugged quickly but I found no joy in that hug. He headed towards the double doors as if he already knew where he was going. His head was held high and he looked sure and confident. As the students swarmed in the same direction he disappeared into them and became one of many. I followed, pulled along into a dimly lit corridor, dragged by the tide of people. The school had suddenly become a dark place, I didn't want to be.