Eva followed her Dad into school nervously. The kids gathered around her, staring at her with smirks on their faces. She felt like a gazelle, surrounded by a pack of lions. Why was she here? She didn't want to move from Moore Brook High School.
"They're staring at me, Dad." She whispered.
"Relax." Christopher Mead replied. "They're just examining the new kid."
"This is exactly why I didn't want to be the new kid. I didn't need to be the new kid either."
"You got excluded, Eva." Chris stopped and turned to her.
"You didn't know what the hell happened there!" She hissed. "Mum didn't care for me, you were here with your life. I got bullied for my messed up family life!"
"This is for the best-"
"I spent the whole of the summer holidays getting ready to move here." Eva snapped. "I'm scared, Dad." She added in a whisper.
"Don't be. I'm here." Chris carried on walking.
"Welcome back, Waterloo Road!" Mrs Fisher tapped the microphone with her finger and it buzzed.
Everyone gasped in surprise and disgust.
"Sorry." Mrs Fisher chuckled. "Now this year...is a new time...a new start...a new syllabus for each of you. It's going to be a new experience for each and every one of you. Year 7's: new school, new children, new friends, new teachers. This year won't be easy but together we can make it. Year 8's: a boring year for you: nothing important to do...don't change your attitude and work hard still. Year 9's: options - these will determine the rest of your life. Make the right choice. Year 10's and 11's: exams, controlled assessments, revision. And the same for Year's 12's and 13's. Do it right now, not later."
Lauren yawned and nudged her friend, Maddi Diamond, rolling her eyes.
"I know." Maddie mouthed, crossing her arms and sliding down in her seat.
"On a final note...we have new students. Two; Frankie Roberts in Year 8 and our very own Eva Mead in Year 12." Everyone craned their necks to look at her. She shot her Dad a glare before sliding down in her seat.
"I'm going to dismiss you one year at a time, starting with Year 7..." Eva clutched her bag to her shoulder as she sauntered through the corridor and to her English class. She hoped this 'Miss Boston' would be a decent teacher. Room 104; she checked all the plaques on the wall. 101...103...105 - what? She turned around. 104, there it was. She hurried in as the class was already seated.
"You're late." Miss Boston frowned.
"Sorry." Eva said shyly. "I got a bit lost."
"There's a spare seat at the back, next to Kyle." Miss Boston pointed to the desk and Eva shuffled over.
"Alright?" Kyle asked when she sat down.
"Yeah, thanks." She said quietly, tucking her hair behind her ears shyly.
"Kyle Stack." He shrugged.
"Eva Mead." She looked up at him with huge, ice blue eyes.
"Now we've done the intro, can we do the lesson?" Miss Boston raised her eyebrows at them.
"I'm making her feel welcome, innit?" Kyle frowned.
"Make her feel welcome in your time, thank you." Miss Boston said, turning to the board. "'The Crucible.' Our new syllabus. Has anyone heard of the play?" "It's that one about Jesus, ain't it?" Someone called.
"No." Miss Boston said.
"It's about the guy and the girl who can't be together."
"No." Miss Boston said flatly. "Think about it. 'The Crucible.' What can it mean?"
"No one knows, Miss!" Kyle shouted.
"That's where you are wrong. No one knows? Or no one thinks they know?" Miss Boston raised her eyebrows. "This play is about witchcraft in America. Ah, you all sigh but this is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever."
"It looks about as exciting as pins and needles." Someone moaned and everyone giggled.
"Have you ever tried walking with pins and needles? That's fun." Miss Boston shrugged.
"You're Miss Boston, ain't you?" Kyle nodded. "Mmm, I can tell."
"Stand up Kyle." Miss Boston ordered. Kyle reluctantly got up, smiling at Eva. "That's none of your business."
The lesson ended and the class stood behind their chairs.
"Where are you going to go for break?" Kyle asked.
"Seens as I have no idea about anywhere else, probably the common room." Eva smiled and Kyle laughed.
"I'll walk you there."
"You don't have to do that." Eva shrugged.
"I know." Kyle nodded. "That was the bell."
Miss Boston said. "Off you go."
The class filed out, pushing and shoving to leave first.
"Like humans and not animals, please!"
Kyle and Eva eventually got out and marched down the corridor.
"You seem like a bit of a badman." Eva said shyly.
"Nah, I'm a good boy really." Kyle raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Why are you here anyway?"
"I...I got excluded." Eva managed to say it. "For fighting."
"No way!" Kyle gasped. "That will make you here."
"What?" Eva laughed.
"If you ain't got a punishment to your name, you're nobody." Kyle shrugged. "People don't say it but they're proud of their punishments."
"What have you got?"
"I've been kicked out of two schools, excluded from 1 and I'm on my last chance here." Kyle beamed proudly.
"See, you are badman." Eva laughed.
Kyle shrugged. "I got a soft side."
They reached the common room and Kyle ushered her in, checking out the view from behind.
"Stop." Eva smirked.
"Sorry." Kyle muttered, closing the door.
Eva dropped onto one of the sofas and sighed. Kyle sat down next to her and smiled.
"What do we do now?" Eva asked.
"What do you mean?" Kyle frowned.
"We didn't have this at my old school. We stood in groups talking."
"You can read books and magazines, play on your phone, do homework, go on Facebook-"
"Facebook ain't blocked?" Eva frowned.
"Course it is. There's this link on something to get on it." Kyle raised his eyebrows. "Er, what are you doing here?" A pretty girl stood above them, glaring at Kyle.
"I don't see no sign here saying I ain't allowed in." Kyle challenged.
"We ain't had time to make one." She retorted, falling onto another sofa. "You're the new girl?"
Eva nodded.
"Why you hanging out with Kyle?"
"He just showed me here." Eva shrugged.
"What's your name?"
"Eva." Eva wondered what was with all the questions.
"Ah right." The girl nodded. "Lauren."
"Hi." Eva said brightly.
"You can go now, Kyle.." Lauren frowned at him.
"Why should I?" Kyle glared.
"He'll go once he realises you're not interested." Lauren said.
"I haven't made that clear already?" Eva didn't mean it as a joke but Lauren laughed.
"I think that told you so take your baggy trousers and over-gelled hair and walk on out of here." Lauren ordered, turning her attention back to Eva.
Kyle glared at them both before moving to another sofa.
"Have you got any friends yet?"
"No." Eva said truthfully. "Apart from..."
"We'll just stick with no." Lauren winked. "Stick with me then."
A group of people walked in and sat next to Lauren.
"This is Eva Mead, the new girl." Lauren explained.
Eva hoped that wouldn't be her new nickname.
"This is Maddi, Josh and Trudi - wait, where's Finn?"
"He said he had somewhere to be." Josh shrugged. "He's been in a funny mood all morning."
"I really hope it wasn't the break up." Trudi bit her lip. "I thought we'd sorted that."
"He loves you, Truds." Maddi smiled, patting her leg. "It'll take more than two weeks to change that."
"It wasn't supposed to be like this." Trudi sighed sadly.
"It was a big surprise for him, Trudi. No one saw it coming, least of all Finn."
"He'll be fine." Eva piped up and they all looked at her. "Good things come to an end and if you weren't happy, you shouldn't ruin the good memories with bad thoughts."
"I like this girl." Maddi smiled. "She talks sense. Eva, right?"
Eva nodded proudly. "Your Dad is Jez, isn't it? The P.E. teacher? And Josh, yours is Tom?"
They both nodded.
"So all of you have a parent related to the school and my family is as exciting as unsliced bloomin bread." Lauren sighed.
"Dad being deputy head is not a good thing." Eva shrugged. "It's embarrassing."
"Is it true you got excluded from your school?" Josh asked suddenly and the group turned to look at her.
Slowly she nodded.
"Why?" Lauren gasped.
Eva took a while before saying it.
"F-f...fighting-"
BRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG! The bell rang loudly and they all jumped.
Eva stood outside her Dad's office, ready to knock.
"You must be Eva. Hello, I'm Mrs Fisher." The lady smiled gently. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I'm just waiting for my Dad to finish so we can get pizza." Eva shrugged.
"How was your first day? Do you have any friends?"
"It was fine, thanks. And yes I do, Lauren Andrews and Josh Stevenson..."
"Lovely group they are." Mrs Fisher nodded. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get going. I have a meeting to attend on the new term."
Mrs Fisher disappeared into her office.
Eva sighed impatiently, how long would her Dad be?
"Eva, you may as well go home." Chris stood in the doorway of his office.
"What do you mean? We're going to Luigi's Pizza Palace?" Eva frowned.
"I really thought I could but..." He trailed off.
"You can't." Eva nodded, gathering her bags and standing up.
"I wanted to, Eva." Chris said quickly.
"But you have work. That's fine." Eva said sadly, heading for the door. "I understand. First day of a new term and that. See you at home, Dad."
Eva closed the door behind her and walked across the school grounds. She was really looking forward to pizza with her Dad. She couldn't remember the last time they had sat down, just them two, and spoken about life. Sure, she'd been living with her Mum for the last ten months, but as father, wasn't is his duty to make time? The sun was setting as she walked through the roads, a chill settling in the air. A handful of people drifted through the streets on their way back from work or school. She passed the highstreet, gazing at 'McClusky's Chicken' and 'Eviten Fashion.' Rochdale was the same all over for Eva; shops, restuarants, flats, houses littered the place - only her Dad's end was more upmarket.
The apartment her Dad lived in was only fifteen minutes from the school, a roomy place in a big white building. She got into the lift and waited as it travelled up four floors, to the top. Out she went, walking along the carpeted corridor and towards the white front door.
'Flat 15A' was attached to the door in gold letters, she stared at it as she unlocked the door and went inside. It was how you would have expected a £1,000-per- month apartment to look; cream carpets, white walls, white leather sofa, glass vase of red roses in the corner, big plasma screen TV. The lounge was attached to the kitchen, a white tiled affair with a breakfast bar disconnecting it from the lounge. There were four doors leading off; bathroom, her bedroom, her Dad's bedroom and her brothers'. She had two brothers, Jake, 21, and Tyler, 19. Both typical jack-the-lads, they shared a room filled with racy pictures of Cheryl Cole and Megan Fox.
"I'm home." She called.
Silence filled the air, Jake and Tyler would be furiously battling it out on the XBOX 360 stupidely put in their room.
"I'm home!" She shouted, even louder.
"Alright, alright." Jake said, appearing from his room. "I don't care."
Eva gave him a fake laugh. "No wonder girls are throwing themselves as your feet with humour like that." She said snidely.
"Shut it, Bozo." He said, ego clearly dented. "I'm too young to be tied down."
"Mmmm." She nodded sarcastically, yanking open the door of the fridge and pulling out a bottle of lemonade.
"I thought you were getting pizza with Dad?" Jake frowned.
Eva got the top off the bottle and set it on the table, casting her eyes up to her brother. "So did I." She nodded. "He said he had some work to do at school."
"Unlucky." Jake shrugged. "What are we having instead?"
"Call us in pizza? God knows how long Dad'll be. I'm going to get changed." Eva disappeared into her room with the bottle.
"Hi, guys!" Chris opened the door and walked in.
"Hi." Jake said, not lifting his eyes from the TV.
Tyler echoed him.
Eva stayed silent.
"Eva? Hello?" Chris repeated, frowning at her.
Eva slowly lifted her eyes and put on a sarcastic smile. "Hey Dad!"
"You're still annoyed at me, ay?" Chris asked, setting his laptop bag on the floor. "You got pizza still." Chris gestured to the empty box.
"Yeah, Dad, I did. From crummy Franco's. I wanted to go out, with you, get a pizza that didn't taste like rubber and have a nice little catch-up. But hey, work calls." She said bitterly.
"Don't knock Franco's." Chris tried to be humorous. "We'll do it another time."
"Don't go making promises." Eva glared, standing up. "One other thing: is this going to be a regular occurence now? You strolling in at half nine and cancelling plans?"
"My job takes time and effort, Eva."
"So does parenthood." Eva stormed into her room and slammed the door.
"She's really angry at me, ain't she?" Chris asked his sons, dropping into a chair.
"If you didn't get it from that reaction, Dad, something is up." Tyler chewed another piece of pizza.
"This is the first time it's happened to her." Chris sighed.
"This is the first day of a new term, Dad." Jake frowned. "Of course, it's the first time."
Eva sat on her bed and sighed. If she was back at her old house she could have vented to Chloe or Jasmine about it, but now? She had no one. Sure, she'd met Lauren, Trudi and co but she didn't have their numbers nor friendship to text them. And what was the deal with this Finn guy? He'd been MIA all day from what she could tell. Everyone seemed really reluctant to talk about it around Trudi, as if trying not to tread on egg shells. Eva had silently sat there at lunch, chomping on her ham sandwich whilst she listened to them talking about exams, school and partying. It didn't interest Eva; her exams were in a few months, this was a new school - what was there to talk about? - and partying? She'd had a few parties in her day but not with them. For the first time in ten months, she felt alone. She heard a soft knock on her door and sighed. "Come in."
"Eva..." Chris sighed, leaning on the door. "I'm sorry about being such a plonker tonight. I should have ditched work for Luigi's."
"It's ok. Things are going to be different now then they were at Mum's." Eva nodded.
"I chose a laptop over a chilli pizza - I must be mad?" Chris grinned and Eva giggled.
"Promise me...things won't change dramatically? Promise me I'll like this new life?" Eva asked.
"I promise. Waterloo Road is a great school with great students." Chris smiled.
Eva managed a nod.
"Come here." Chris wrapped his arm around Eva and pulled her close to him.
"I love you, Dad." She whispered.
"I love you too, Evie." He whispered.
Eva walked into her tutor room the next day and sat at a desk, dropping her bag onto the table.
"What are you doing sat there alone?" Lauren appeared in front of her, frowning.
"I just sat down." Eva shrugged.
"Don't sit there. Follow me." Lauren carried on till she reached the back of the classroom, Eva grabbing her stuff and following. "This is where I sit." "Doesn't someone sit here?" Eva frowned, pulling out the chair.
"No. Finn sits in front but this seat is empty." Lauren shrugged, gesturing her to sit down. She whipped out a mirror and started applying lipgloss. "What do we have today?"
Eva pulled the timetable out of her bag and read it. "Period 1, Science. Period 2, Maths. Period 3, P.E. Period 4, English. Period 5, Music."
"What a rubbish day." Lauren groaned, dropping the lipgloss and mirror in her bag. "What Science teacher have you got?"
"Mrs Diamond?" Eva read.
"Lucky. She's well nice, she is. It's Maddi's step-mum. Maddi doesn't really like her but most of Year 12 do." Lauren shrugged.
"Is she-"
"Mr Diamond's wife? Yeah, although he's hot and she's...how can I say this nicely? Average." Lauren shrugged again.
"Can I have silence please?" Mr Chalk asked as he walked in. "That was an order, not a question. My, we are missing a few. Where's Travis Green? Mya Fred? Finn Sharkey?" He frowned.
"Finn's just late, sir." Lauren called.
"You're right. Two minutes according to my watch."
The class did a mock-gasp and he rolled his eyes.
"Alright, alright. Settle down now. Sharkey and co will turn up soon."
"Sorry I'm late, I..." A boy with a Scouse accent bounded in, a huge smile on his face. He trailed off when his eyes met Eva's and he seemed to go shy. "I-I...never mind." He kept his eyes down as he walked over to the desk and sat down.
"Oi. Where were you yesterday?" Lauren hissed, forcing him to turn around.
"Detention." Finn shrugged.
"All day?" Lauren frowned.
"We were around town as part of my business project and me and some of the lads got caught winding up the locals so we got put in double detention." Finn smiled at Eva. "You must be the new girl. Josh told me about you." He leant on her desk.
"She's got a name, Finn." Lauren rolled her eyes.
"It's Eva." Eva said shyly.
"Finn." Finn replied.
"Hush, class." Mr Chalk called. "We're still missing Travis so we'll just carry on. Get out your homework and off we go. If you haven't got any, the book box is on Tony's desk."
The class started moving around to get their equipment and Mr Chalk made his way over to Eva. "I don't believe we've met yet. My name is Mr Chalk and you are?"
"Eva." Finn filled in.
"Eva. Oh yes, Mr Mead's daughter. We're all a friendly bunch and I'm sure you'll fit in just fine." Mr Chalk got up and walked away.
"What was that all about?" Eva frowned.
"It's his little welcome speech." Lauren smiled. "He does it to all the newcomers."
"I would say it was sweet but it's slightly patronising. 'We're all a friendly bunch?' Purlease, this isn't my first day at primary school." Eva watched Mr Chalk bustle around the class.
Finn and Lauren laughed and Eva smiled.
"I hope I don't have to go through this all day now too - yesterday was bad enough."
"Why did you move to Waterloo Road?" Finn asked.
"I got excluded...for fighting." Eva bit her lip and waited for the gasp of horror but it didn't come.
"No way!" Finn laughed. "Who with? Why?"
"These girls in the year above. They were winding me up...I was stupid enough to break her nose." She shrugged. "It was only an suspension but Dad thought it best I move schools." She wasn't trying to impress Finn, God knows she wanted to, but she wasn't proud of herself. She'd let the girls win and that shamed her.
"You stood up for yourself, that's good." Finn smiled.
"Trust me, Eva. You'll need that in this place." Lauren smiled at Finn.
Since he had walked in less than five minutes ago, Eva felt her world turned upside down. He had dark hair, dark eyes and only a few spots. She knew fancying him was dangerous, something had happened between him and Trudi but she couldn't help it and apparently, neither could he.
"What have you got first?" Finn asked, filling the silence.
"Science." Eva replied, meeting his eyes.
"I'll walk with you then. Do you have Mrs Diamond?" He watched her nod. "Me too."
"Pack up your books and stand behind your chairs." Mr Chalk called, watching the class do as he ordered. "Off you go."
Once again, everyone jostled towards the door, trying to get out.
"This way." Finn held her onto arm as he gently pulled her down the corridor.
"Thank you." She whispered once they were next to each other. "I'm not very good at Science."
"Don't worry. Neither am I, but Mrs Diamond will make it a lot easier." Finn's smile reassured her.
"What are you doing with her?" Kyle demanded once they reached the classroom.
"What are you talking about?" Finn frowned.
"I'd like to know too." Eva nodded.
"I was showing her around." Kyle glared.
"Clearly not." Finn smirked.
"Don't smirk at me." Kyle shouted.
"Or what?" Finn demanded.
"You wanna find out?" Kyle shoved him against the wall and held him up by his collar. "You wanna find out?"
"Hit me! Go on then, hit me!" Finn challenged. "Nah, you're too chicken." He smirked.
"I ain't a chicken. I just don't hit girls!" Kyle argued.
"Kyle, let go of him!" Mrs Diamond ran forward and pulled him off Finn.
"Are you ok, Finn?" She asked.
"It'll take more than that little girl to hurt me." Finn smirked and Kyle glared at him ferociously, lunging forward.
"Kyle!" She shouted, standing between them. "Cooler now!"
Kyle stormed off, throwing open the doors and slamming them closed again. "Inside you all go."
Once inside, they stood around the back of the classroom, waiting to be told their seating position. "I've made a seating plan according to ability. Higher and lower grade students are all sat together as a resource for yourselves. Use it. On the back row I want: Max Calvin, Beth Carter, Holly Grace, Finn Sharkey and...I think I've made a mistake on here. We don't have an Eva do we?"
"I'm Eva." Eva stepped forward, raising her hand nervously.
"Eva Mead, of course! Sorry!" Mrs Diamond sighed to herself. "Settle yourself down next to Finn."
Eva couldn't pretend she wasn't happy about that and neither could he as Mrs Diamond finished the seating plan. Mrs Diamond walked over to Eva and leant on the desk. "I'm sorry about that, I know it's not easy starting a new school. I thought I'd made an error."
"It's fine." Eva beamed.
"Mrs Fisher tells me we haven't recieved your grades yet from Moore Brook yet but do you know roughly where you were?"
"I got two B's and a C in my end of year exams and two B's and an A in my GCSE's." Eva smiled.
"Well remembered." Sian beamed. "That's fine then." She got up and walked to the front of the class.
"I thought you said you weren't very good at Science?" Finn whispered.
"I'm not." Eva smiled.
"With grades like that you are." Finn grinned.
"Shush it!" She grinned back, playfully punching his arm.
"Pack up and stand behind your chairs." Mrs Diamond called. "Charlie, that's not the way to behave in a Science lab."
"It's not a lab, it's a classroom." Charlie retorted.
"Shut up, mate. You ain't funny." Finn said and the class agreed.
"That's the bell. Off you go."
Eva sat on a sofa in the common room alone, rooting through her bag for her mobile. Finn had hurried towards the canteen, heroically asking if she knew where she was going.
"Heya."
Eva looked up startled. Trudi stood above her, smiling.
"Oh hey." Eva beamed.
"We haven't really met properly." Trudi smiled, dropping onto the same sofa.
"I haven't had a chance." Eva replied.
"I'm Trudi, Finn's ex-girlfriend - not sure why I included that in my introduction." It was evident she found it hard to laugh at that. "I've hardly been here either. About six or seven months."
"I'm Eva, Mr Mead's daughter. This is my second day." Eva smiled and Trudi laughed.
"Lauren's taken to you." Trudi said. "She's tough to get on with so well done."
"Thank you?" Eva was unsure what to say. "I know it's none of my business and I hope you don't mind me asking but why did you and Finn split up?"
Trudi looked taken aback at the question but forced a smile.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Eva blushed beetroot.
"Don't be stupid, it's fine!" Trudi exclaimed. "Only my brother and sister know this so you must keep it a secret. Please!"
"Of course." Eva nodded.
"Me and Finn were really serious and the first time we...I got pregnant." Trudi whispered, looking around nervously. "I couldn't tell him - I couldn't tell anyone - but I couldn't deal with him not knowing."
"Oh my God!" Eva gasped. "That's understandable! Does he know now?"
"No." Trudi said shamefully.
"He'll find out, won't he?"
"No." Trudi said again.
"I see." Eva understood.
"I had to. It would have ruined us - ruined me! Before this I had a future. I was going to Cambrifge and studying medicine. I would marry into a nice family and have children with the right man - even if that was Finn. I ended it in the most heartless way possible. I lied to him, telling him it was over and it wasn't love, that it was fun." Trudi's voice cracked and a tear ran from her eye and dribbled down her face.
"Trudi, I understand. I would have done the same." Eva said sympathetically.
"Would you though?" Trudi asked as if she was being selfish. "I always thought I was a kind, honest girl who could face anything. If I lied about this, what would everyone else do?" The sobs escaped from her mouth now.
"Come here." Eva gestured for Trudi to hug her and Trudi obeyed.
"What's going on here?" Suddenly Finn was towering above them, watching Trudi crumple.
"Nothing!" Eva said immediately.
"Do you always hug tearful girls- Trudi?" Finn gasped as Trudi sat up.
"Finn." Trudi nodded. They both lacked words so Eva found herself filling in the gap.
"I just told her the sad story of me getting bullied and she got a bit upset." Eva lied.
Trudi nodded, cottoning on. "She got bullied because her parents were divorced!"
"Really?" Finn frowned.
"People are mean." Eva nodded.
"You're ok though, ay Trudi?" Eva smiled as Trudi forced a nod.
"What's this? Sad People Unanonymous?" Josh asked, appearing with Lauren.
"That's what I said, mate." Finn nodded.
"No offence Josh buy you might want to keep that joke anonymous." Eva teased and they all laughed.
The day was over quickly and once again Eva waited outside her Dad's office. She was watching the people walk past, trying to work out names and ages. "Are you waiting for your Dad?"
Eva looked over and saw Finn leaning against the wall.
"Yeah." She nodded. "What are you here for?"
"I have to collect my report." Finn shrugged, sitting down next to her.
"Ohh, has somebody been a naughty boy?" She teased, mock-gasping.
"I ain't a bad boy really." Finn stared in her eyes deeply and she stared into his. She could see his hand move slowly up towards her cheek-
"Finn?" His hand shot down and his eyes moved away as he heard Mrs Fisher's door opened.
"Yes, Miss." Finn stood up and followed her in.
She was so close to getting a kiss! Did she want one?
"Are you ready to go, kiddo?" Chris appeared above her.
"Yeah!" She nodded, getting up and following her Dad out.
They sat in the car as it drove back to the apartment.
"Mrs Fisher said you were sat with Finn Sharkey. Is he a new friend of yours?" Chris asked, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Yeah, why?" She asked bluntly.
"Finn's...been known to get in some trouble at school. Just certain things he's said and done in school." Chris shrugged. "Don't be so abrupt."
"I'm sorry but you're sat there questioning my friends." Eva shrugged.
"I'm not questioning them!" Chris' voice went high as he defended himself.
"You were like 'is he a new friend of yours?' You just seemed...about it!" Eva sighed.
"You're too defensive, Eva." Chris frowned.
"My bad." Eva muttered.
"What has got into you?" Chris sighed.
"Nothing!" She protested.
"Your whole attitude is wrong, Eva. I don't know what's changed in you." Chris said quietly.
"Are we nearly home yet?" Eva snapped.
"See what I mean?" Chris muttered.
Eva didn't reply, simply hopping out of the car when they arrived home and running into the flat.
"Have you had another fall out with Dad?" Tyler smirked.
"No." She snapped. "I'm just tired."
And angry, she thought as she marched into her room. Angry she didn't get a kiss from Finn that afternoon. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Eva called.
"Can I have a word?" Chris asked, leaning against the wall.
"Have four: please leave me alone." Eva put on a bittersweet smile.
"Don't talk to me like that." Chris frowned.
"I said please." Eva's voice turned bittersweet.
Ignoring her, Chris continued. "I need to go away for a few days this weekend. Tyler and Jake'll be around but are you alright staying here?" Chris asked. "Yeah." Eva nodded. "Where are you off to?"
"Leeds. It's some training the school are sending us on." Chris shrugged. "It's going to be as exciting as pins in my eyes but I have to go. The senior team have to go - me, Mrs Fisher, Mrs Diamond and Mr Clarkson."
Eva laughed. "I'll be fine. Its Tweedldum and Tweedldumber that you need to worry about."
"Tell me about it. The apartment will have burnt down and my cars crashed and keyed." Chris raised his eyebrows and made a tutting noise. "Keep them in line, ay?"
"Sure will." Eva nodded, a grin appearing on her face.
"Good." Chris smiled. "Tea will be ready in half an hour. Bangers and mash."
Eva entered the common room the next day and sat on one of the sofas. Everyone was already in there, looking up when she walked in.
"Party at mine. Saturday night." She beamed.
"What?" Lauren gasped.
She could imagine how the Dep Head's daughter would party. "We are talking alcohol and wild party not plastic cups of coke and cocktail sausages?"
"The last time I had one of those parties I was 10." Eva smiled sarcastically. "I'm talking alcohol, fags and fun."
"What about your Dad?" Trudi asked.
"Meady'll be in Leedy." Eva winked. "It'll be my two brothers but they'll join if anything."
"I'm in." Josh said instantly.
"And me." Finn nodded, winking at her.
"It's a party - count me in." Maddi wooped.
"Yeah, go on then." Lauren agreed.
"I don't know." Trudi bit her lip.
Eva went over and draped an arm around Trudi, resting her head on Trudi's. "Come on, Trudi." She sang.
Trudi sighed. "Go on theeeen..." She smiled.
"Yeees!" Eva cheered. "Bring whatever you want!"
The music rang through the flat - Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil' Wayne, everything. They were already half-drunk, in various states of alcohol-induced behaviour. Eva stood in front of Josh, swaying to the music as Josh bobbed up and down.
"Oh my God, I love this song!" She gushed as 'Starships' came on the stereo. "Let's go to the beach, each. Let's go get away. They, they, what they gonna say? Have a drink, clink, found the bud light..."
"The patron own, let's go get it on The zone own, yes, I'm in the zone Is it two, three? Leave a good tip..." Josh sang back.
"Do you want another drink?" She asked, waving her empty bottle at him.
"You're alright, babe." Josh grinned.
"I'll be back in a second for the chorus. I have some drink hidden in my wardrobe." She winked, hurrying into her room and closing the door.
The wardrobe doors were half open from her outfit session earlier on. She bent down and started to rifle through the mess at the bottom.
"Nice room."
"Oh my God!" She gasped, jumping up in fright. "Thanks. What are you doing in here?"
"I don't know." Finn shrugged. "I thought it was the bathroom."
"You aren't peeing in here, mate." Eva smirked.
Finn stared at her, slowly walking over. Gently he pushed her against the wall with his body before stroking the stray strands of hair off her face. She looked up at him, the smile disappearing from her face - she wanted him badly - wanted her lips on his, his hands on her waist. He bent down and nuzzled her neck with his lips. Instinctively she lifted her hands up and gently held onto his hair, closing her eyes. He dragged his lips up to her ear and whispered: 'You look really...really hot tonight, babe."
She smiled to herself, hearing him say the words made her feel she looked good.
He moved away from her ear, she felt his lips slowly move past hers. He was teasing her - he knew how much she wanted him to kiss her. It felt like eternity before he finally placed his lips on hers and kissed her deeply.
She grabbed onto his shoulders, entwining her fingers with his hair as he kissed her. It was passionate kiss that lasted for ever but was over so quick.
As he pulled back, she stared at him mischeviously, biting her lip. She reached up and planted a kiss on his lips before pushing him back gently and returning to her booze hunt in the bottom of the wardrobe.
Finn stared at her, rifling through the wardrobe, her clothes sliding off the coathangers and landing in messy piles on the floor.
The beer had made him bold - if she had been anybody else, and he was sober, he'd never had been able to kiss her like that. She made him feel nervous, like he had to please her. She would accidentally push him away but it kept him coming back.
Slowly he backed out of her room, closing the door behind him.
"What happened in there, mate?" Josh staggered over to him, clutching a bottle of something brown.
"I kissed her." Finn winked, sipping his beer can. "Proper kiss."
"No way! This close to Trudi as well?" Josh whispered.
They both turned to watch Trudi dancing with Lauren and Maddi, moving her body in a suggestive manner.
"It's over between us, bruv. I got other fish to fry." Finn winked.
"Got it!" Eva fell out of her bedroom door, waving another bottle of vodka.
"Pour me some!" Maddi staggered over, clutching her glass.
Eva unscrewed the lid and poured some of the clear liquid in Maddi's glass and then her own.
"We haven't played any drinking games." Lauren smirked.
"We should now." "What one?" Josh asked.
"Spin the bottle. Kiss or shot is the best!" Maddi clapped.
"Kiss or shot." Lauren nodded.
They all put a cushion on the floor each and put an empty wine bottle in the middle.
Maddi reached forward and spun it. "Josh." She grinned and Josh smiled.
"Maddi: kiss or shot?" Lauren asked.
"Kiss!"
"Josh: kiss or shot?"
"Kiss!"
"For a gay guy you're unusually keen on kissing girls." Finn teased.
"Shut it you!" Josh playfully shoved Finn before leaning forward. He tucked Maddi's hair behind her ear, they both closed their eyes and slowly they kissed. "My turn!" Lauren shouted.
She spun the bottle and it landed on Eva.
"Lauren: kiss or shot?" Maddie smirked.
"I ain't no chicken - kiss!" Lauren cheered and they all clapped.
"Eva?"
"Can I have a shot before the kiss?" Eva smiled.
They all looked at each other and nodded.
Finn poured her a glass and passed it to her, watching as she knocked it back. Lauren moved forward and kissed her, pulling away quicker than Josh and Maddi had.
Eva giggled nervously and they all laughed.
Eva woke up the next morning, sprawled on the sofa, surrounded by empty cans and bottles.
There were one or two supermarket carrier bags filled with colourful sick. She spotted a discarded box of fags and realised they must be Finn's. She pulled one out and took her brother's lighter out of the kitchen drawer. Out on the balcony, she lit up and took a puff. Her head was stinging, her throat felt like someone had rubbed at it with a nail file, her skin was dry, she was thirsty and hungry and she felt like she was going to throw up. She closed her eyes as she inhaled the smoke.
"What are you doing with one of them?" The old bat, Edith, from next door sat on her balcony in her dressing gown, scowling.
"Get lost, you old hag!" Eva snapped.
"I could tell it was a heavy night last night - the music was so loud!"
"You tell my Dad what you 'think you heard and saw' and I'll find a way of teaching you a lesson." Eva threatened. "I don't need old bats like you poking around in my business just because your days are over!"
"How rude!" Edith gasped.
"I can get worse." Eva scowled, taking another puff and closing her eyes. "I was just a sixteen-year-old having fun with her friends."
"Shame it wasn't fun for the rest of the block." Edith added snidely.
"It's a shame you live alone, I'm sure there's another single nag just dying to meet you!" Eva growled.
"I live alone because my husband died!" Edith looked as if she was about to cry.
"Is that what you tell yourself?" Eva knew it was low but she didn't care; her head hurt way too much. Edith stood up, tears in her eyes, and disappeared inside.