"Lightning."
"Cauis?"
"What, who is that?"
Lightning's eyes shot open when she realised where she was. Half asleep in the lunch hall with a half-eaten sandwich in her hand.
"Um…no-one." She turned to face her boyfriend Kain. They met each other in primary school, but began dating shortly after Year 11, now in university, they are happily a couple and things are at peace.
Kain was head-boy and Lightning was head-girl and the grades they were achieving they went to any college or 6th form of there pleasing. But Lightning was content. She loved Kain with her heart and soul but memories of someone else always plagued her mind, once upon a time in her Secondary School years , she met someone and she loved him more. And it hurt her to no end.
LIGHTNING:
"My days, Lightning! Why do you have to be so fucking long all the time?" Cauis yelped when the late girl arrived at his house.
"Sorry, Cauis, I had to make sure my sister was at school first init. But it's not like you haven't been bare late before." She pointed an accusing finger at Cauis. "Like last week at the cinema, 3 hours, mate, 3 hours is a lot worse than 3 minutes."
"Your four minutes late, actually." Cauis stepped out his front door, "Bye mum!" He yelled and closed it.
It was the beginning of new school year and like ever in South East Britain there sun was shining mockingly, seeing as it rained all summer.
Lightning was a strong independent women who dreamed of joining the Royal Army when she got older but also cared supremely on school, even down to wearing her uniform, a simple black blazer, trousers, a white shirt and a purple with green striped tie, to perfection.
Cauis on the other hand had little no plan for the future as his grades were sinking like the titanic and attitude towards school was dismissive. He misbehaved in class, either by disrupting it or getting smart with the teachers. And he gave no care in his uniform, he was even wearing trainers instead of his school shoes.
But somehow he had befriended Lightning and they were exceptional close to one another, the best of friends.
School was close to where Cauis lived so the walk wasn't long. They're school wasn't the most prestigious, always being outshined by the grammar schools, but it wasn't an unfeasible place. The equipment was good the teachers were good and it was a generally nice environment to be in. And when the sun is shining like it is today, the field looks immaculate.
"You know what, Light." Cauis started.
"Hmm?"
"This place is shit."
Lighting chuckled again. Cauis was going to go off on his routine meltdown on how crap he thought the school was.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. I mean what school don't allow kids to smoke on the AstroTurf, bullshit!"
"Make that every school, everywhere."
"Nah, bruv, my cousin lives up in London, init, and he says that in his secondary school they can smoke all they please. That's how all schools should be. I mean if they make a rule against it, people will be more inclined to break it."
Lightning listened intently, knowing that even though Cauis can go on a tantrum, the points he makes usually are sound, which makes him sound slightly less childish than the common rebel.
Lightning sighed.
"What. What is it?"
"You say the same thing every day. If we compiled all your complaints, there would be no rules and therefor, by you perception of things, no rule breakage and everybody lived in peace." Lightning smiled to herself. Knowing Cauis wouldn't be able to defend himself on that one.
They arrived at school just in time for tutor and they said they're goodbyes. Lightning's tutor room was in art while Cauis's was in maths.
"See ya at break, Light." Cauis said gleefully and smiled at Lightning. She blushed slightly and said goodbye. She arrived in her tutor room and took her usual position at the back of the class not sitting or talking to anybody. Despite her open attitude towards Cauis, Lightning was quite reserved and didn't speak to anybody or really had any friends outside him. Lightning was a loner and the only people who usual talked to her outside Cauis and the teachers was Fang.
Fang was an Australian and had initially been bullied by the other children for her accent, but as the months rolled by and years she has been living in Britain, she soon fit in like the rest, but her accent still remained.
"Oi, Light!" She called.
Lighting looked up to acknowledge her and smiled back, then resumed to listening to music on her phone, though they technically had assignments to do in tutor time, no one ever did them and tutor himself, Mr Katsroy, gave up and just allowed them to do as they wished.
Lightning wasn't rid of Fang though as the aussie came crashing down on her.
"What the. What are you doing?"
"Giving you a hug, new term, new year. I thought we could make a habit of it." Fang smiled, she had black hair with purple highlights in them, followed by a lovely beauty spot on her lip. She wore her uniform quite like lightning but instead of trouser, wore a skirt that was OBVIOUSLY too high for
school.
"So, Light, how was your holiday?"
"It was…" Lightning thought of all the days spent with Cauis on the Southend Beach. "I was alright, I guess," she replied, "Cauis was being a douche as always."
Fang frowned slightly and lifted her arm from Lightning and sat down next to her.
"You spent the holiday with…Cauis." Fang stated.
"Yeah…"
"Light I need to ask you something. Do you fancy Cauis?"
Lightning could feel her skin crawl at the very notion of it. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she formed a reply to Fang.
"No, I do not. We are just friends. I have told you this before, Fang."
"Calm down, calm down. I know you have but before it was believable when you guys would really only meet in school and on weekends sometimes, now you're walking together to school and spending the Summer Holidays together. Gotta say, smells fishy."
"Well you can smell all you like, because I don't like him that way." Lightning said in her defence.
"Whatever you say..."
Lighting growled at Fang and continued to listen to her music until the bell rang. She picked up her bag and left the room off to her first lesson, Maths.
"What a great way to start off the new year…" Lightning thought to herself as she walked towards the maths department. It wasn't that she disliked maths, or was particularly bad at it. She just didn't like it, it was boring.
She stepped into the classroom and took a seat anywhere, not really caring seeming as sir would just give them a room set up of who sitting where as soon as he walked in the room. And speak of the devil…
"Good morning, class!" Sir said happily, "I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and I hope you all think of what a wonderful way it is to have you first lesson of the new school year being mathematics. The greatest subject of all."
Lightning could hear people snickering at sir's gestures and excitement. She found Mr Jackson to be a great teacher, helping her a lot during the first few weeks of Year 7, but his antics never seemed too professional. Much too childlike for Lightning's comfort.
"Now to start the new year off." Here it comes. "Seating plan!"
The room in unison groaned at the very gesture of a seating plan.
"Don't be like that, now everyone to the front."
Lightning was the first to grab her bag and then slowed suddenly when she realised everyone else was going at a slower pace. She didn't care where she sat, seeming that she had no friends in this lesson and wouldn't be making any. One by one people shuffled to the front and awaited sir's orders.
"Okay, Yuj Amato, to left by the window." A boy named Yuj, dressed 'fabulously', walked to his seat and sat down. "Gadot Arkus, next to Mr Yamato,"
"Yes." Exclaimed Gadot, obviously happy to sit next to his friends. Sir ran down all the names, but Lightning could only remember hers. Surprisingly, no one in the room had a last name beginning with any letter after F, so Lighting was the last to sit.
"And last, but not least, Clair Farron, next to Hope."
She complied and sat next the silver haired boy named Hope, she judged he was new as she had never seen him before.
"Hello, I'm Hope Eisteim." He stuck out a hand.
She shook it, more to be polite than to be friendly. "I heard." Was her reply.
The rest of the lesson was just sir rambling on about what they'd be learning this term and the rest of the year. GSCE practice or something like that, Lightning just drowned out after a while, even though she knew she needed to listen.
Lightning also felt uncomfortable in Hope's presence. He seemed like a nice enough kid, but she didn't know him and having to sit this close to him was unnerving.
Finally the bell rang after an hour of Maths and Lightning headed towards the canteen in search of Cauis.
"Lightning!" Cauis called from behind her.
"Cauis." Lightning smiled for the first time in an hour.
Cauis came rushing to her side with a smile on his face, "How was your first lesson?" He asked as they sought a table to sit at.
"No, it was maths. Hate maths, it's so boring!" Lightning exclaimed jokingly.
"Make any new friends?"
"What? Cauis don't start off again."
"No." Cauis smiled. "I just want to know my little Light is safe when I can't protect her."
"I have no need for your…protection." Lightning drowned. "And I have only need of one friend."
"Lightning, I'm honoured." Cauis smiled.
They both got out their lunches, Lightning's was a simple ham sandwich with an apple and a coke. While Cauis bought his lunch at a corner shop on the way to school. Crisps, Mars Bar, 35p Energy Drinks. Lovely.
"You know, all those Energy Drinks aren't good for you. Cauis." Lightning stated.
"Shut up! I know what I'm doing." Cauis laughed.
Break was over as in a few minutes and so Cauis took the opportunity to have a fag before the bell goes, Lightning just sat on her table and listen to the mindless drabble the high schoolers had. She was only in Year 8, but she could already tell that she wasn't going to fully enjoy her time here.
Her dreams lay on the battlefield and she just wanted to get school over and done with as fast as she could.
The bell finally went and as Lightning was packing up her things she felt a pair of eyes watch her. She turned and saw the bulk head named Snow.
"Light." He said playfully.
"Snow?"
"Yes."
"Don't call me that, I am Claire to you." Lightning said coldly.
"Ah don't be like that, Light. We're all friend here." Snow was the quote on quote 'popular' boy, probably due to his height and structure. He also was very masculine in his antics and quite charming, which made all the girls swoon over him. He's had a hard on for Lightning since Primary School.
"I don't recall being your friend." Lightning turned to leave, but Snow held her back.
"Light-." Death glare, "C-Claire, can't we go to a football match on Sunday. I got tickets to see Arsenal play West Ham, come on, what do you say?" Snow looked at her pleadingly.
"Why can't you go with your real friends? Or better yet, if you have no one to take with you. Go with you mum and dad."
"But…I mean, I have 3 tickets so Cauis can come to, if you want." Snow stuttered.
"Cauis can come?"
"Yeah, I know how much of an Arsenal fan he is, so this might a nice for him, y'know."
"So the trip isn't you trying to get in my trousers. And really for Cauis."
"Trying to get in your trouser? Claire, I can assure you I'll be a gentlemen."
"Hmm, fine I'll come." Lightning said and then turned to leave.
"Yes!" Snow said quietly to himself.
CAUIS:
Cauis did not return after having himself a cigarette, instead he and some of his mates decided the bunk the rest of the day and they went off to the local park. Usually they would bunk either during tutor or after lunch but because of the delightful sunshine they decided to make an exception.
"Gentlemen." Cauis started, lifting his beer bottle in the air, "M'lady," He bowed slightly, acknowledging the only girl in the group. "Before I left to meet you all, Snow Villiers came up to me and asked me to the Arsenal match."
"Aw, so romantic!" Giggled Noel. One of Cauis's closest friends and the only person in this group that Cauis likes, except…
"You know it's a trap." Said Maqui, Cauis's and Snow's friend. "Snow sees you as an obstacle in his road to Lightning." He sniggered.
"A little love triangle we have here I see." Hope said as he puffed on his cigarette. "Gotta say, the fact that Lightning chose you over Snow is quite intriguing.
"Shut up, Gaylord!" Exclaimed Cauis, "First off, I am in no love triangle with fucking Snow over Lightning, and secondly Lightning didn't choose me over anybody, she doesn't feel that way. I don't! And you all can shut your gobs for suggesting it!"
"Whoa, easy there, Cauis." Said Yuel calmly. "Just some playful fun, init, nothing wrong with that."
"If it's based on lies, it is." Cauis replied.
"Well, I for one am happy Lightning doesn't get you all to herself." Yuel smiled seductively, causing the others to whoop.
"Get in there Cauis!" Yelled Noel, making Cauis bluch a little.
"S-Shut up!" Cauis stood. "This is boring, I am going back to school."
They all whined and moaned for him to come back and that they were only joking while Cauis left the tree they were sitting under and headed towards school. It was the perfect time too. Lunch would probably just be over and he could sneak back without the teachers noticing with all the other kids returning from Lunch.
The school '5th Ark Academy, allowed all students to go out for lunch if they chose to, it was ideal for the children who wanted to be rid of school, and ideal for the school as fewer school lunches had to be prepared saving them a fortune.
Cauis walked into his last class, by far the best of the day, seemingly that his first class (and the only one he went to) was ICT and he hated it with passion. This one was also good because Cauis noticed Lightning was here as well and moved to sit next to her.
"'ello, love." Cauis laughed.
Lightning smiled ever so slightly upon seeing him in her last lesson. She remembered what Fang had spoken to her about during lunch and struggled to keep a blush down. Fang had spoken of the football match being a date Lightning indirectly set up when she agreed whole heartedly to Cauis coming along.
Though initially disregarding it and blocking the thought from her mind, she quickly discovered that she may have a teeny tiny bit of a crush on Cauis. But it had not taken fruition yet so she could just ride it out. But now seeing him laugh like this and call her 'love', she had a hard time not imagining them as a couple.
"Hello, Cauis." She finally muttered out.
"Together in English, huh?"
"Together in English, but it is just temporary." Lightning stated.
"How come?"
"Once we get put in our sets, we will be separated again. I'm shit at English so its bottom set for me." She half joked.
"And I am amazing, so top for sure. And because I am so amazing I will allow you my assistance in English, so we can be in at least one lesson together."
"We're in the same science lesson. But you wouldn't know because you were bunking."
"Bunking?"
"Yes, and when sir sees you, you'll be in big trouble, Cauis. Big."
"Hmm. I am barely out of year 7, they can't really have that big of a punishment. I am not gonna be excluded or anything."
"Maybe."
"Light, don't joke on this. My mum would kill me if I got expelled. Kill me!"
Lightning just smiled to herself as sir brought the chatter to a halt to take the register.
"Hey, Claire." Kain asked.
"Yeah." They were sitting next to each other on the bus to go home.
"Do you still talk to Cauis?" He asked.
"Why…are you asking?" Lightning lifted a questioning eyebrow.
"No reason. Just curious."
"Is it because I called you Cauis today in lunch?"
"No – well yeah – but more because I wanna know what he looks like or how he talks or something. Not knowing is killing me." Kain looked out the window and noticed the bus was nearing his stop and pushed the buzzer to signal it to the bus driver.
"Well he talks exactly like you, except you're not a chav. And he looks quite look a masculine effeminate man. Nothing to worry about, Kain."
"Did you… fancy him?"
"Hmm…maaaybe."
"C'mon be serious Light." Kain pressed.
"I am not telling you as it will cause more trouble than it will solve." Lightning noticed the bus stop. "You stop, init. Bye Kain."
"Humph." Kain patted Lightning's head like he would a scowling child and smiled to himself. "I will find out, don't you worry, Claire." He got off the bus and waved Lightning goodbye through the window.
Lightning was now by herself as she rode the bus to its last stop and then had to walk another 10 minutes to get home.
"Maybe Cauis would like to know where I live." She asked herself as her and the bus driver got off the bus.
Lightning then walked down a street lined with posh houses to her home.
