Altered

Three: A New Reality

Charlotte followed her path as always, her sight set on her usual table. She could see Iseult and Ian sitting side by side talking and laughing. She dropped her bag beside the table and looked at them in exasperation.

They met her gaze with their usual cheerfulness, and in that instant she forgot her frustration. She wanted nothing more than to sit beside them and eat her breakfast.

"Well, we guessed it Owens," Ian laughed, waving his fork back and forth. Iseult laughed and stretched, winking at her.

Ian was tall and slim with short cropped red hair and freckled skin. His eyes were blue and he rarely lacked his mischievous grin. He was the only student in the school more frequented with the detention halls than Charlotte. The difference was that Ian sought trouble, tormenting or ridiculing any of the staff as best he could to infuriate them. Charlotte admired his tenacity and his iron resolve not to bow beneath their pressure.

On the other hand Iseult was more reserved. She had never seen the inside of the detention halls. She always knew exactly what to say to avoid trouble. The odds were against her when she was friends with Ian and Charlotte and yet she had managed to stay out of trouble.

"Guessed what?" Charlotte asked, sliding on to the bench opposite them.

"Alexander for Head Boy," Iseult sighed. Charlotte tensed, remembering where she was supposed to be. She turned looking up at James, sitting on the empty prefect dais. She met his cold stare with a weary groan.

"I wonder what perfect specimen they picked for Head Girl," Ian laughed.

She felt her cheeks flush, realising it embarrassed her to be that perfect specimen. Ian and Iseult would find it hilarious, she knew, and might even overlook the suspiciousness of her election.

"Are you okay, Charlotte?" Iseult asked after a moment, her brown eyes searching her face.

Charlotte frowned. She hated when Iseult did that, reading more than she was welcome to.

"Stop it," Charlotte hissed, shaking her head. "Keep out of my head, Deluca". She exhaled and flashed a smile, as if that would placate her best friend.

Iseult pursed her lips and then shrugged. "You didn't come back to the room last night".

"Detention again Owens?" Ian snorted. "They'll have to name that place after you soon".

"In that case you will have to share it with her - The Owens and O'Connell Detention Halls," Iseult smirked.

"Oh and you are Miss Perfect, are you Deluca? I don't see you up there with good old James Alexander," Ian sighed, leaning back on the bench. His mouth was half full of food as he spoke.

Charlotte wished she could stay with them. She wanted to be on their side in this, but she wasn't. She had been taken by Elmhirst and placed on the opposite team, even if it went against everything believed in. Charlotte took a steadying breath, reaching for her bag, when her slow progress was interrupted.

"Miss Owens," Bennett hissed, his hot breath whistling through his sharp nose. His black eyes narrowed with suspicion. His thin lips curved into a tight smirk, revealing his yellow, smoke-stained teeth. "Where are you supposed to be?"

"I'm sorry, Mr Bennett," Charlotte said, standing up. "I forgot".

Ian and Iseult watched her, but they didn't dare speak. Iseult narrowed her eyes at Charlotte, but she refused to meet her gaze. She would know everything soon enough.

"Well, let's see it doesn't happen again. We couldn't have you eating with such... commoners," he mocked, throwing a distasteful glance at Ian and Iseult.