That one empty chair

Chapter 1,

Alex had always hated music, it was the worst lesson of the week. "who in their right mind puts music after history?" but today was different something felt strange. as he walked across the glass bridge and past the band practice rooms, he started to hear some faint whispers. like two goblins having an argument. As he got closer he started to be able to make out what was being said, "you're just crying because your ginger and you've got two mums, you soppy lesbo lover". Alex didn't like to fight for no reason, but he didn't like homophobes even more. as he turned the corner towards Mr Pitts classroom he could now see who was talking. Alicia and lucy, (two sixth formers) had pinned a small ginger girl against the wall. she looked petrified and had a hand mark across her left cheek. as he approached them he stopped and began to open his bag. They saw him

"This isn't anything to do you with you perv.", Alex opened his lunch box and pulled out two scotch eggs. 

"you gonna talk you little freak" lucy said turning up her nose at him. Alex had never been good at or liked sports, but he always was a good throw. in a flash he launched a scotch egg at each of the bullies faces smacking them right between the eyes and slopping pieces of egg shrapnel all other them. Like a criminal in a movie, to make sure he wasn't caught he hurried to the boy's toilets. after a few minutes, he deemed safe and continued towards his lesson strolling in late with not a care in the world

"agh, Mr wright nice of you to join us what to you so long?"

"I saw your mum in the corridor and couldn't help myself"

"lovely, may i have a word with you outside"

"I suppose"

Mr Pitts seemed like ten pounds of dynamite whose fuse had just been lit.

"After assessing your behaviour recently I think it may be a good idea to seat you next to one of the more sensible and academic students in the class. so after making sure everyone is happy i have made the decision to sit you next to Elle."

"who.....?"

"I'll show you when we go back inside"

as they walked through the door Mr Pitts hand raised slowly to point to a table of two at which sat a small ginger girl, with a faint handprint on her cheek.

Alex trotted over slung his bag next to his chair and sat down. the teacher carried on with the lesson talking about identifying instruments how accompaniments are needed in orchestras and how music is the most important art form there is. after the lesson had ended Alex rushed to leave so that he couldn't be interrogated again, on the way home Alex always liked to stop by the shops just to see if there was a new energy drink or if the corner shop had a sale of bags of crisps. Alex wasn't lucky this time as he walked down the drinks aisle he felt a foot slip between his legs and trip him up. when he stood back up and turned around he was met with a horrible surprise. this some 6'4 110kg man stood in front of him, it was lucy's boyfriend.

the next school day wasn't very fun everyone asking 

"where'd you get that shiner?"

"you look pretty"

Alex just left it, he knew if he pulled one more stunt and he lost his reference for college. he couldn't afford to lose his college application because he was still clinging on to his dream. the dream that there was a possibility of him getting college accommodation and after 10 years finally escaping foster care. The week went by slowly but eventually, it came back round to Friday. last lesson, music with Mr Pitts. same as before Alex made his way to the back right of the classroom, slung his back on the floor and sat down at that table for two. after a little while the small ginger girl walked in and sat down. The rest of the kids in the class seemed more hyper than usual and they were being more gobby. Mr Pitts did the same as always and waddled around the front talking about everything that no one cared about but one of the children has a bit too much of what he had to say. as the teacher walked past he stuck his foot out sending him flying 3 foot in the air headfirst into the bin. Alex and the girl sat next to him burst into laughter and the class joined them. after everyone had calmed down and Mr Pitts was done telling off the front row Alex turned to look at this girl. perhaps she wasn't so ab-normal perhaps they even had something's in common. Alex smiled

"What did you say your name was again? it was Ella right....?"