Indigo's Playlist

Indigo - Tom Milsom

Photographs that I took
That were once black and white would now be free
To be…
In shades of Indigo for you.

The gum had become a sort of legend amongst our families. Every single one of Rose's aunts, uncles and cousins could tell you about the mini 'vanishing cabinets' that Hermione had made especially for us to transport it, the place where Rose had bought it, how long it had been circulating between us. It was just one more thing that everyone found a little hard to believe about how close I was to Rose, and she was to me. To me and Rose, it was just a way cooler version of friendship bracelets. At least that was what it had started out as. Now, it was more a good luck charm. And boy, did I need some luck today.

I was sat at my desk on Monday, September 5th, with my huge headphones around my neck, blasting Death Cab For Cutie at full volume, and staring impatiently at the small 'jewellery box' that was actually a vanishing cabinet. It was my first day back to school, and I had already showered, eaten, packed my bag and got dressed. Now I was just waiting.

My heart jumped out of my chest as Cally pounded on my bedroom door.

"Hurry up!" she yelled over the top of the music. "We're going to be late!"

I ignored her, and carried on my one-ended staring contest. Behind me, the five clocks ticked not quite in time, and I knew that we were going to be late if it didn't come within the next 20 seconds.

I wasn't going to give up, so I grabbed the box, walked over to the door and wrenched it open. In front of me, my pretty, dark-haired, reclusive thirteen-year-old sister was stood. She was wearing the regulation school uniform for the all-girls school we went to. Knee length kilt, matching tie, primly buttoned shirt, ridiculous blazer, long white socks, and black pumps. I was wearing a much messier version, shirt sleeves rolled up and skirt wrinkled, that kind of thing. Cally always cared more than I did.

"We can't leave until it comes," I told her firmly.

"Why?"

I didn't answer, because at that moment the box sort of glowed a faint gold. I wrenched it open and before Cally could even blink I had shoved the gum in my mouth.

"Oh, thank God!" I cried. "I thought it wasn't going to get here in time!"

"In time for what?" asked Cally suspiciously.

"Oh! Err, nothing. Come on, it's time for school."

My first day of year 11. Cally was, of course, just going into year 9. And it had been a whole five days since I waved Rose onto the Hogwarts express. I couldn't say I was exactly looking forward to it.

Mum was sat at the kitchen table in her ridiculous pink silk pyjamas (yes, that is my family). She still looked a mess, but Mummy Hermione had worked her magic fairly well. She gave us each a weak smile and pushed our lunches towards us. Cally kissed her cheek before taking hers, but I didn't bother. I probably should have. I should probably have been trying to suck up as much as I could, just in case I was… God, I couldn't even say it.

We climbed over piles of Dad's stuff in the hallway, cardboard prisons filled with clothes, tennis rackets and cheesy music which is painful to listen to. I kicked every box, before fighting our way out the door. Normally we'd be walking in a comfortable silence, with only the sound of my iPod between us, since Cally was quiet and I was antisocial. But today it was awkward, and I was humming along to the song under my breath (Indigo, by Tom Milsom - it's one of my favourite songs, and not just because my name is the title). I was too nervous to do anything right that morning.

The bus stop was full of people laughing and joking, and Cally quickly slipped away to sit alone on the grassy verge, so I scowled, chewed my gum, and held my headphones to my ears. It seemed like an eternity until the bus came, but I knew that was just me. The butterflies were chewing up my stomach, and I felt more nervous than the tiny year 7s looked. But I wasn't nervous because of school.

You know, this is all really hard to explain. I think I'd better go back to the beginning. Namely, this July.