I woke up with 10 minutes to go until school. SHIT! I could not be late today. Too much to do to spend it getting in trouble with the principal again. I got dressed in my *ugh* uniform, grabbed my bag and literally ran to school. I got there just as the bell rang for the first class. I ran to my first class which was, joyfully, French. I walked in calmly expecting to be shouted at but was ECSTATIC when I saw that I was actually one of the first into class. I sat somewhere halfway to the back, not wanting to be moved into the front if I sat back too far. The teacher was already there, plus like three students who looked like they could be total swats or nerds or whatever. The teacher, Miss. Evans I think, gave me a long look up and down and said, "Tá áthas orm fheiscint go bhfuil na héadaí scoile ceart agat inniu. Seo dhuit do leabhair. " [I'm happy to see you have the correct uniform today. Here are your books] She said, handing me my new books, a textbook and a sort of folder with notes in it. I took them and opened them up to the page they were on yesterday. I took some old copies out of my schoolbag, which was on the seat next to me, and started drawing random pictures, which anyone else would've thought were really dark and gothish but whatever. They were just designs mainly, with the occasional demon or scary eyes and knives and stuff...well yeah. So they were kind of creepy. It was pretty much what I looked at most of my life so what else could I draw?
When the second bell rang, all the other students finally walked in, casually and in no hurry. When Jake walked in, who, yeah was in my French class aswell, he walked straight up to me, grinned, threw my bag on the ground and sat down next to me. Okay, what was wrong with this guy? I raised my eyebrows at him and he just rolled his eyes and kind of whispered/mouthed "what? I can sit where I want!"
When Miss. Evans called the class to order and started calling the roll, I paid attention looking up sharply when she called the name Jennifer Muller, and a pretty blonde answered "anseo" [here] quietly and shyly. I read her mind and, yeah, she was really depressed and upset. Couldn't blame her really. Her mind was totally overloaded with the guy, Lloyd, memories of him, feelings for him and of course, grief and confusion. I felt sorry for the poor girl. She seemed like the type who was popular, pretty and had everything she ever wanted. Which made it worse, cause now apparently, she didn't want any of it. She just wanted him.
I obviously looked upset for the girl, and was evidently staring too long, because Jake whispered in my ear, "You heard what happened? To her boyfriend? And not only him, either, but another guy, and now there's one missing aswell." I turned around, and he looked upset too, worried. So once again, I pried where I shouldn't have and saw why he was. Daire was his friend, the one that's missing at the moment. I looked into his brown eyes, noticing for the first time that they were brown, and asked quietly, "Did you know any of them?" He looked at me.
"Yeah, Daire as a matter of fact. He is- was my best friend. He's the one that's missing. I still have hope but I'm pretty sure..." He trailed off and looked away. And it bothered me. Which meant I was starting to care. Which was bad. And I knew the guy was already dead. Which was worse. I sighed and looked in the other direction.
Jake didn't really talk for the rest of the class so I left him alone, and I didn't talk to him for any of the other classes either, even though he sat next to me in most of them.
When the lunch bell rang, I walked out, found my new locker and put my new books in it, the ones I didn't need. I went and sat by myself, but in close proximity to Jennifer, watching her talk to her friends and listening to her thoughts wishing they would go away and just leave her alone, to grieve in peace and to STOP avoiding the subject, because it made her feel worse about it all. When she left to go to the bathroom, and told her friends she was fine to go by herself, I quickly followed. She was in the bathroom, rinsing her face with cold water, even though I could still see tear stains. She looked up when I walked in and quietly closed the door behind me. Her mind filled with dread but I ignored it and tried to approach her the way I figured she would hate less.
"Hey," I said, looking her directly in the face. This already made her feel better. People had been avoiding her gaze since it happened.
"Hey," she smiled, "You're new, right?"
"Yeah. My names Cara." I smiled. "I kinda sensed that you were sick of your friends avoiding the subject of Lloyd so I thought you might actually want to talk about it? With a complete stranger who's never gonna bring it up again or judge you or think your crazy." I added the last bit in in case she felt like sharing about any strange supernatural things that may have happened.
Her face fell slightly. "You already know about it?" She sighed. "I guess people are really gossiping bitches with no consideration for other people, and I was one of them." She looked away. "If one good thing has come out of this it's that I realize that and I'm gonna try my best to change." And she really believed that. Well, that was nice for her.
I looked at her and said, "We all make mistakes. And if you're willing to change your ways then it more than makes up for them." I smiled at her, in a way that invited her to talk next. Jeesh I sounded really weird...and wise or something. Haha.
"I guess I should talk about it," she said hesitantly, "but I don't really know how to start..."
I just looked at her, stared at her and sent a discreet message, that seemed like it was from her own mind, telling her to start with why they were at the beach. Yeah, people didn't really have consciences who spoke to them. I rolled my eyes internally.
Then she spoke, and she kept talking and I made sure to remember everything she said.
"Well we were just taking a walk on the beach you know? We do that a lot really and he was upset because Dan, the first boy to...die...was his friend so we were just talking and then..." She looked up at me and asked, "Promise you won't think I'm crazy?" I nodded and said "sure."
"Okay, so like I said we were talking and he was kind of upset and all of a sudden we heard screaming. So we both looked around and I saw nothing, but he started saying there was a girl out there, drowning. I looked as far as I could, but I didn't see her and I have perfect eyesight! I told him he was probably imagining it, I mean he was still grieving and he kept going on about needing to do it. He HAD to save her, even though he's not like a great swimmer or a lifeguard or anything." She took a deep breath before continuing, "He said he had a chance to save someone, and he couldn't let anyone drown like Dan had so he just ran into the water and swam over. I screamed and begged him to stay but he wouldn't listen and...he got out pretty deep. And it was like someone was pulling him underwater. But I still couldn't see anyone else and I...." Tears started falling from her eyes. "I didn't do anything. I couldn't. It was like I was glued to the spot. I just panicked. And then I was found by some tourists and they went and got help but...it was too late. They didn't find his b-body until the following morning and they said it looked like.." She took in another deep, shaky breath, "Like he had been dead for weeks but, he wasn't!! I mean, I was there!" She started properly crying now. Sobbing and shaking. Which was really awkward. What was I supposed to do now?! I awkwardly hugged her, patting her on the back and she just- kept crying. Oh god. I felt sorry for her- I really did. But I was no good with this stuff! I didn't have friends, remember?
"Do you remember when it happened?" I asked softly. "What time?"
She kept crying but looked up at me as she pulled away slowly.
"Well, yeah it was like nine at night. I think it's the same time Dan went missing ...Do you think I'm insane or something? No wait." Her eyes had dried up. "Don't answer that. Just please don't spread it around the school."
I laughed lightly. "No, I don't think you're crazy. And I won't tell anyone. Promise."
She kind of smiled, like a semi-sad smile but in a friendly gesture.
"Thanks, I actually do feel better. And thanks for not calling me crazy, even though I'm pretty sure you think I am" She laughed shakily. I shook my head at her. "Course I don't."
She smiled again. "Anyway, I better be getting back to my friends...they'll be wondering where the hell I am." Right on cue, one of her friends, Stella, walked in looking for her.
"There you are! We've been looking for you for like aaages!" She saw me, and her face fell slightly. She said "Oh. Hi! Are you new?" Even though she was thinking that I was a cheeky bitch who was trying to steal her friend. What a ditz.
I replied, knowing I wouldn't be able to stand a girl like this as a friend. "Yeah, nice to meet you, anyway, I'll see you around." I smiled at Jennifer and waved to both of them before walking out and closing the door after me. Nine o clock. Well I reckon I was gonna have to be at that beach for a few nights around that time then. I was trying to remember any other important facts she'd told me when I practically walked into some guy. I looked up to see a guy called...I mentally checked...Rob.
"Watch yourself new girl." He glared at me. And now I was pissed. I had been about to apologize but now he'd really annoyed me. Just like that. I think I had anger issues.
"It's a free world. If you were in my way that's your problem. So basically, Go to hell."
And then he got angry. "Listen here, bitch, you don't wanna mess with me or I will make your life hell here." What was wrong with this guy?!
I laughed at him. "Can you see the fear on my face? I think I'll never leave my house again." I said, mockingly with a fake innocent, scared voice on. Then I changed it, so that it was low and threatening. "I could take you any day assh-" And then, just like that, something popped out from his mind, he's Daire's brother. I stopped mid-sentence and started to walk away.
"Where do you think you're going freak? I am NOT finished with you!"
So I turned around, and said the last thing anyone would've expected me to say.
"I'm sorry about your brother. And I really hope they find him." His eyes widened in shock and he asked, "How did you know?"
"Well people told me, and they'd shown you to me but I didn't realize it was you unti-" And he cut me off.
"Nobody knew he was my brother." He stared at me. Shit! Why couldn't I just have kept my stupid mouth SHUT??? Just then, he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me into the nearest classroom. "How did you know? Nobody knows" I searched his mind for anyone who would've known and I found one name, a name he was beginning to suspect.
I silently called Jake to the classroom without it seeming like it was actually me. I could've just said it was him but I didn't want to get him in trouble. He was my only friend and he didn't seem too happy with me anyway. So I'd let him decide.
"Who the hell told you, you little bitch??" He swung me around so that I was pinned to the wall. I didn't fight back. He would've only found me again anyway, or found Jake. I had no idea what to do so I let him shout at me. Just as he was about to slam me once again against the wall, Jake walked in. I breathed a sigh of relief. No idea why, but I did. Jake looked at us with a confused expression, that turned to anger.
"Rob? What the fuck man?? Let go of her!" Rob looked up at him, let go of me, and started for Jake, seething with raw anger.
"Care to explain to me, Jake," he spat, walking threateningly over to him, fists held by his sides, at the ready, "How the new girl knows that Daire is my brother, when you're the ONLY person in the whole school who knows?"
Jake glanced at me, confusion in his eyes, then turned back to Rob, who was standing less than a meter away from him.
"Sorry, Rob, mate. I was talking to her about Daire and it just...slipped out. I didn't mean to say it. I swear." He lied. Which meant I was in a whole lot of trouble with Jake but I preferred it was him then Rob.
Rob launched himself at Jake. Started beating the shit out of him, and Jake wouldn't fight back because he knew the guy was worried about his brother. I walked up behind Rob and grabbed his arm mid-punch. I swung it behind his back and held it there. Both guys turned around and stared. Rob tried to pull his arm free but I had a grip on it and he couldn't. That didn't mean Rob gave up though. He started shouting at Jake and calling him names. "You asshole! The stupid newbie bitch will tell the whole school! Do you have any idea what you've done? She's already probably told people. Dad will go insane!"
"Will you calm down?" I practically screamed, "You're giving me a headache. I'm not going to tell anyone and he said it by mistake. I am really sorry about your brother, and I don't know why no-one knows you're not brothers but I am NOT going to tell anyone. So relax. Please." He relaxed slightly. I let go of his arm, but not before I made sure he wasn't going to flip out again. He turned around to face me.
"Swear you won't tell. Swear on your parents lives that you haven't and won't tell anybody about any of this." My parents lives. That was pretty pointless wasn't it? Mom was dead and I wished my dad was so I guess it wouldn't mean much. It didn't matter. I knew I wouldn't tell. I'd just swear.
"I swear. On my parents lives, and I really do hope you find your brother." He walked out and ignored Jake, who in turn, looked at me. Great. Here it came.
"Look Jake, before you say anything. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you in trouble and I apologize sincerely. And please, please, don't ask how I knew, or anything like that." He looked at me for a minute, and then said, "Fine, I'll ask a different question, what's the story about your parents?" That I didn't expect.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, when he asked you to swear on their lives, you hesitated, and I know it wasn't because you planned to tell everybody about his brother." Oh crap. I should've just answered straight away. "So....?" He prompted. Here goes nothing.
"They're dead." Plain and simple, and apparently he didn't expect that, because shock and worry or sympathy or something were really evident on his face. It was pretty much the truth, my dad was dead to me at least.
"Oh. Crap. I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." He trailed off, clearly regretting the question.
"It's okay. Seriously, it's fine. It was ages ago. I'm pretty much over it now. Didn't like my dad much anyway." I laughed lightly. Just then the bell rang.
"See you in class." I walked out in a hurry without looking at him. I was over it but...the memory still haunted me. I shivered just as I sat down in Irish class. Jake wasn't in this class, thank god. And so the teacher started to drone on...and on......