Who Did it First?

Chapter 1 ~Zoey~

I woke up sweating again. That nightmare again. I shake it off and get out of bed, pulling on my clothes as I go. First day back to school. Great.

Mum is already stressing out about getting everybody ready on time, I mean seriously? If anyone should be stressing out it's me. I sigh and move around her to get a bowl for my cereal, coco pops, gross but it's not like I have any other option. I sit at the table, alone, and eat my coco pops which have turned soggy already. I look at the clock, I don't have time for this. I have to get out of here. I grab my bag ready to leave when my mum speaks up, for the first time this morning, I was beginning to think she hadn't seen me. I consider walking on and ignoring her but there's something about the way she says my name that makes me curious. "Yes?" I turn in her direction showing my annoyance. She gives, what I'm assuming was a threatening expression, and spits out what she wants to say. "You do remember what we talked about yesterday, don't you? I want a fresh  start, for all of us." Not this again, she doesn't need to worry about it, it's not like I'm gonna hold her to it, I learnt that the hard way. "Yes, I remember, can I go now?" 

"Yes go, I don't want anyone telling me you were late."

"No just every other move I make, right?"

"Goodbye Zoey."

"Goodbye, MOTHER." I'm free. well until I get to school that is.

As I'm driving I have my music up as loud as it will go, Taylor Swift obviously. I'm lost in thought about what my mum said last night, about a 'fresh start' and all that. I never seem to be able to understand her, one minute she's happy and being nice to me and the next I can do nothing right, and she says I have mood swings, I swear the sooner I can move out of there the better. In my anger I stomp on the gas pedal and go speeding into the school parking space, everyone watching me as I go. Before I go in I scrutinize my outfit, black ripped jeans, black t-shirt with a white skull on it, chain necklace, tons of rings, black boots and newly dyed black hair to my shoulders. It'll do. 

Walking into school is always the worse, all the young newbies watching you, not daring to make eye contact, it makes me laugh sometimes, but not today, I am not in the mood. As I get into school there they are, just standing there as if they have been waiting for me, I sigh, try not to make eye contact and quickly manoeuvre around them as fast as I can. Almost there. Nope. "Zoey? OMG guys it's Zoey!! Welcome back!!" Kelly shoves a pile of posters in my direction.

 "I think I'll pass, thanks." I say as I shove them them back at her and walk away, while she shouts my name after me. I swear that girl has been pestering me every year about joining clubs and taking part in school activities. Why on earth would I bother with that?  I walk to the school office and pick up my timetable, chemistry first, not bad but not great either. I walk alone along the corridors packed with kids trying to find their way. I'm almost there when I notice someone, a boy standing outside my chemistry room, pushing up his round glasses as he stares at his timetable, as if he doesn't fully understand it. I walk up to him, trying not to stare when he looks up at me with a look of relief. "Is this your chemistry room? I'm not sure if this is the right room..."

"Let me take a look." I gesture for him to hand me the already crumbled timetable. "Room 104, yep this is it." I gesture to the door with my hand as I give him his timetable back. I start to open the door when I notice that he's not moving. "Aren't you coming in?" I ask. He looks shocked, as if he didn't realise I was still standing there. "Yes, Yes. Sorry I'm just trying to figure everything out, that's all. Thank you for helping me."

"No problem, any time." He opens the door for me and I give him my best smile. I don't think I mastered it. "Hahaha, you good? You look like you would rather be anywhere else."

"That's 'cause I would." He laughs as I take a seat at the back of the class.

"May I sit with you? I don't really know anyone else..."

"Of course you can." I like him, he seems nice. There's something about him though, something that makes me curious. Maybe he's not as shy as he looks, there's something else and all I want is to find out what it is.