The blaring of an alarm clock. 9am. I drew his suitcases closer to my body as I surveyed his surroundings.
Higham House: a place where dreams go to die. At least, that's what Julian always says.
In reality, the old boarding school is a rather large manor house in the Surrey countryside, surprisingly still standing after all of these centuries, with minimal repairs of former damage.
I looked up to the sign above the bus stop outside of the school gates. Every day, it oddly appeared more sparkling and new than the previous day. It read:
HIGHAM HOUSE
SECONDARY PRIVATE SCHOOL
OFSTED: OUTSTANDING
EST. 1849
BUILT: 1425
I always thought it was rather pretentious.
I glanced down to my phone. 09:01. Havers was late. That was unlike him. Maybe he was dropped off further away? Again, highly unlikely. His father was a punctual bloke, and always made sure that his son was as close to the location he needed to be at as possible. I yearned to have a father like that. Perhaps I did, once upon a time.
My Lieutenant
Sorry, Cap, running a bit late. My father wanted me to gather some things for him at the shop. I will be another five minutes, if that is alright? We're driving through Effingham now.
Captain
It's quite alright, Havers. Do not panic. I only just arrived a few minutes ago myself. I shall see you soon.
"Simp." A voice said from behind me. I jumped out of my skin and swiftly spinned around, turning off my phone in the process. "Julian told me to call you a simp."
Just Fanny.
"Excuse me?"
"Well, I agree with him. You were getting impatient with him, as you would get agitated with anyone else who wasn't punctual. Then, after one message from him, you're completely fine, and back to swooning again!"
"Fanny, you've got the wrong ide-"
"No, Captain, you know I don't." She shook her head in disapproval. "Look, how long do we have? Four minutes? Okay, I'll make it quick. Don't interrupt me."
I rolled my eyes.
"You like Havers. I haven't really met the guy, but I'm assuming he likes you back. Well, hopefully anyway. It may not be very ladylike of me, but I will drop kick him if he breaks your heart." She stared at me, serious in all of her words.
"Fanny, relax, it's just a silly... Fancy. Besides, he's my best friend! It will pass!"
"Well, I'll be keeping my eye on you two. I have to protect my little cousin, after all."
"We're in public. It's little brother here."
"My point still stands." She grabbed hold of her three suitcases and sat down at the seat in the bus stop.
Suddenly, a small, black car pulled up near the road. The windows in the back were dark, making it difficult to tell who was in the car. But I would tell who was in the car, even if I was blind or in the darkness of the night.
The back door opened.
"Captain!" A voice exclaimed.
"Havers! It's been a while!" I walked over to him, swifter than normal, and he embraced me in a hug. I could feel him smirk against my shoulder. I saw him last Monday. Such a 'long time' ago.
After a few seconds, I was the one to let go, as much as it pained me.
I turned around, and there stood Mr Havers, much taller than his son, but almost identical, except for his blue eyes.
Havers had short brown hair, a permanent smile and brown eyes that I may or may not spend too much time looking into.
I shook Mr Havers' hand, before standing with my hands behind my back, my shoulders straight. He was an army man, and quite high up at that. Fanny rolled her eyes and Havers smirked.
"At ease, Captain." I relaxed. "I hear that you're boarding this year, I hope you settle in nicely."
"Thank you, Sir." He smiled at me.
"And, of course, good morning, Fanny." He nodded his head at her. She smiled to him, though I could tell it was fake. She'd never met him before, but he had heard a lot about her from me.
"Well, I'll let you all go inside the school and get settled. Do you have everything you need, son?"
"Yes, Father." He showed him his bags and suitcase that he must have gotten out of the car while his father was talking.
"Good, good. Captain, I suppose we'll be seeing you over half term, or perhaps Christmas?"
I laughed, "We'll have to see what my mother thinks, I'm sure she would love some more alone time over the holidays." Mr Havers laughed with me.
He hugged his son, and, within moments, had already drove off in his small black car. I turned to Havers, and we started walking.
"Well, this ought to be a fun year." I said, trying my best to sound disappointed over my true excitement.
"At least I don't have to share a room with that Barclay Beg-Chetwynde anymore. He was insufferable."
"Oh god, I remember him. Never stopped talking and being self centred, that chap."
Fanny coughed from behind us. I looked towards her.
"What's the matter, Fanny?"
She caught up with us, somehow managing to drag three suitcases along with her. "You know that Barclay is friends with George. You have to refrain from saying things like that! What if George hears and I'm with you when you say it? He'll hate me!"
Havers stared at me, and I could instantly understand what he was saying.
I leaned towards him and whispered in his ear, "She's got a crush on that George Thompson. Says he's the 'best guy she's ever met'. He's almost as bad as Barclay, though."
"Oh god, is he that one with the long hair?"
I nodded, "He's cut it now. She was devastated."
"He was on my lunch last year. He liked to throw rocks at some poor Year Seven."
I didn't know how to respond to that. "Speaking of lunches, if you're on the same lunch as me and the others this year, would you like to sit with us?"
"Sure, what lunch are you on?"
"First."
Havers took a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and glanced over it.
"I'm on... First lunch!"
My face must have lit up almost as much as his, because Fanny rolled her eyes.
"Bally good! I'll tell the others later when we find our rooms."
We were near the doors to Higham House now, and Kitty was stood at the doorstep, next to a tall brown-haired figure, who she was talking to.
She recognised us immediately. "Captain! Fanny!" Swift, she ran over to us, giving us each a hug. I awkwardly patted her on the back.
There were only three people I ever gave hugs to: firstly, Havers, who had special privileges as my best friend. Secondly, Kitty, who we joked was like my daughter, but her hugs were still awkward as it was new for me. Lastly, Fanny, once in a blue moon when something bad had happened. Normally when she was scared when Uncle Simeon came home drunk and broke and Aunt Lavinia was arguing with him.
"Ah, Katherine, how was your Summer holiday?"
"It was amazing! We went to Paris! Paris! We saw the Eiffel tower and we ate croissants and they were so good! And me and Eleanor played games and we danced and we-"
"Kitty, come here this instant! We need to go inside!" Eleanor snapped at her. Havers gave me a confused look, but I shook my head, as if to say 'we don't question it'. Kitty frowned.
"One moment, Eleanor!" She turned to us, "Fanny, will you go inside with us?"
My cousin looked between me and Kitty, conflicted.
"I'll be alright, Fanny. You go with Katherine." She nodded and Kitty linked arms with her as they swiftly walked away.
"Well," Havers started after a moment as we walked closer, "Are you ready for Year Eleven, Cap?"
"Couldn't be more excited." Sarcasm laced my tone. He smirked.
"We'll have to start the year off with some tea, once we've unpacked." He suggested, and I nodded. We climbed the stairs, and looked at the poster of room pairings.
I squinted at the blurry writing, finding my name on the list, hoping I'd see Havers next to it.
ROOM C6- CAPTAIN BUTTON AND JULIAN FAWCETT.
I groaned, "They actually hate me."
Havers looked over to my name. "Julian Fawcett? He's in my English. Yikes, good look with that, Cap."
"I suppose I should be grateful because he's one of my friends, but I would've taken anyone over Julian. Thomas? I can tune him out. Patrick? He's alright. Though, I suppose Julian spends more time in Robin's room than his own."
Havers put his hand on my arm. I glanced down at it, hoping my cheeks weren't burning.
"Hey, it's alright. I'm sure you'll be fine. Besides, I'm in a room with Robin, so I suppose I've got the worse end of the stick if Julian spends all his time there."
I sighed, leaning my head against the wall as other students passed through the corridors with bags and suitcases.
"Why am I surrounded by idiots?"
Havers chuckled, "I don't know, but you'll have to introduce me."