The school bell drilled long and shrill, echoing throughout the empty halls. Kieren walked past the long rows of identical doors as a rumble of chairs and chatter began to stir behind them.
That was it. The end of the day. The last day of school... ever.
Kieren wouldn't have to endure it a moment longer; a thought that almost made him smile. His happiness wasn't that simple though, and he knew that the end of the worries and strife of school just left room for more to fill their place.
Bunches of short people dressed in uniform filed out of the class rooms. All the small secondary school kids, running out and screaming at the thought of no more school. Nearly all of them were shorter than Kieren, something that he'd always hated. Height got you noticed. Saying that, being short got you noticed too, and Kieren was somewhat relieved that there was one less thing for people to tease him about.
He could see a small bunch of sixth formers at the end of the hall, but couldn't see the one he wanted to see. They were mainly from the football team, and half of them were jumping about at the prospect of summer starting. Gary smirked as Kieren walked past, flashing his teeth as he put his arm around a blonde girl and turned back to his friends laughing.
Kieren walked out into the sun and started to head home. Most of the upper sixth were all crying and laughing and hugging one another at the thought of leaving school. He didn't understand that. There was nothing here that he was sad to leave. He didn't have any friends to say good bye to...
Rick.
The name always popped into his head when he was least expecting it, every time making him feel slightly unhappy and excited all at the same time. Kieren didn't really know if Rick and him were friends or not. Friends didn't leave you hanging for days without even a word or a passing glance. But friends were there for you when you needed someone; to comfort you and make you happy. Rick did all of these things all at once, and Kieren didn't know whether to hate or love him for it.
I walked briskly across the school yard and out of the gates, stopping to sit on a wall outside the school. The girls grammar had just been let out, and dozens of girls in tartan skirts and blazers gushed out, arm in arm with each other. Two walked slowly down the street, one holding the other as she sobbed deeply.
'I just..ju-just can't believe she's g-g-gone...' she said, tears pouring down her face as they neared.
The two girls stopped and hugged each other. 'It's not fair, I know. They never said the cancer was that aggressive. She should of had longer...' The non-crying girl spotted Kieren sitting on the edge of the wall and gave him an 'it's none of your business' look before they continued to walk down the street.
'Jesus, Rick. Hurry up,' Kieren said under his breath, pulling his hoody up around his shoulders and leaning against the iron bars behind him, staring up at the clear blue sky. The bright rays of sun were a nice change for one of Lancashire's dampest valleys, but it did nothing to lighten Kieren's mood. He wanted to run as far from the school as possible. He wanted to have nothing but Rick and him and days of happy summer and safety.
Of course, that was impossible. Instead it would just have to be Rick, and him, and tonight.
Ahh! Why is this show so brilliant!?
Please review if you liked it/didn't like it/want to read more, because I'm not sure whether to continue it or not.
Thanks for reading!
