You Found Me
Chapter 1 - My First Crush
Holly Applelyn
September
I never have any Holly time. I'm doing the same thing day in and day out each bloody day. It all starts off with getting my wanted lazy ass out of bed at 4:00 am in the morning to take Panda, our golden Labrador that has the cutest face in the world with big dark eyes, for a walk. I say 'wanted lazy ass' because I never have a time to sit down except for when I'm at school. Okay, so maybe I am a bit lazy. But does that count? Oh, I don't know. 4:00 am, yes I know that a stupid hour to walk Panda. But it's mainly for my six year old Brother, Rex. As much as I hate it, I have to leave him by himself with our alcoholic Mother Julia, who cares for no one but herself. She has a temper and she can be quite aggressive towards me and I wouldn't want her to harm Rex. So while they are both asleep it's the best time to walk my buddy Panda.
Returning back to the apartment, I feed Panda and myself on little scraps from last night dinner before cleaning the entire place. When I come home from work it's guaranteed that there are bottles of vodka or wine, rum or gin left scattered on the floor. I trip over them all the time. Since the electric has been turned off because I can't afford to pay the bill, I've been landing on my ass quiet frequently. Rex thinks it hysterical and that little mumble of laughter is worth every bruise and graze I get.
Rex means the world to me. That's why I have to keep him safe. He can't go into care; I won't let them take him away from me. That's why I've got myself a part time job at the ice rink and a bar job in the night time. Yes, I'm only fifteen and yes, I'm working at a bar. I gave my boss a false age after tarted myself up with Julia's clobber. It seems to do the trick with no questions asked. I know lying is bad and I wouldn't do it if I didn't have the choice, who else is going to pay the bills?
Julia won't, not after my Father Pete left her to be with his trampy blonde Nadine. That is when everything got worse, my life, her life, my Brother's life. The drinking flared up from there. Before she was a daily, one glass of red wine in the evening, woman. Now she just wastes the saved up money she has and won't give me a cent to pay for the bills.
Ugh, my family are all so selfish, even my older Brother Finley. He's about thirty one now and I don't have a clue where he is or what he's doing. We don't even know if he's had any children, I could be an Auntie for all I know. Since he left college, he left us also for good. No phone calls. No text messages. No letters. No communication. It's sad really. When I was growing up he was my best friend. Someone I could go to when I was feeling down or I could play with. I was six years old, the same age as Rex when he left. I guess he fell into the curse of the selfishness. I really hope I don't become a fool and dive into the selfishness like all of them.
By dawn the apartment is sparkling and smelling decent at least. We have a big and expensive apartment which Pete is paying for. He is super rich and when he still lived with us we had a huge family home. In his agreement with Julia they sold the house and shared the money between them and Pete continues to pay for the roof over our heads as long as she pays for the bills. Ha, like that ever happened. When the letters came flooding in, I knew we were going to be in major trouble if I didn't open them. I had a massive shock to see how much money we were owning to all the companies. It was ridiculous. Anyway, our home is okay. It's not the best furnished place in the world as we had to have second hand furniture to put in it. But I make it the best I can for Rex.
"Holly!" Rex squeals from the hallway, running like a loony before wrapping his arms around me with a tight squeeze.
"Morning my little dinosaur," I greeted, hugging my little Brother back. Apparently, I'm the only one who is allowed to call him a dinosaur. So every morning I make sure I take full advantage. Once, I tried to call him dinosaur all day that he eventually got sick and banned me to just the morning before school. "Did you sleep well?" I ask him, letting him go and ushering him towards the wooden tatty dining table for his breakfast. He sits down in front of his breakfast that I had already placed out. I couldn't help but comb my fingers through his tangled auburn hair. It's a right mop at the moment he needs it cut. That's something else I have to add into my busy diary.
"Mum kept me awake…" He honestly told me. One thing about my little Brother is that he never spouts a lie. Well, tries not to. Concerning our family private life he muffles around the situation and I'm very grateful that he's able to understand. "She kept banging and I heard bottles smash." Why does that not surprise me at all? "I was going to come and tell you but I knew you needed your rest."
By the fear in his big blue eyes I could tell that he was scared last night, possibly even terrified. Guilt hits me like a ton of bricks and I find myself swooping down next to the chair and hugging him. I know this isn't my fault but I'm the only one now to keep him safe, make him smile and be happy.
"I'm sorry Rexy." I kiss his pale cheek making sure that I'm not pressing my lips to hard just in case his toothache flares up again. "You shouldn't have heard or felt like that." Rex opened his mouth to speak but I stopped him before he could. "Tonight when I finish at work, we'll swap our rooms around." Rex's room is next to Julia's, not my choice but hers. My room however is next to the bathroom and I can never hear Julia. "And I'll paint your room blue…" I think we have some blue paint spare under the kitchen sink.
Rex announces, "I don't like blue anymore Hols…"
I stand up, pull the chair next to him out and sit down. Cocking my head to the side I repeat, "You don't like blue anymore?" That shocked me. Blue has always been his favourite colour. Why the sudden change in heart?
Rex shakes his head side to side and he takes a mouthful of his breakfast.
"Why not?"
After he finishes munches on his spoonful of cereal he says, "It's not the it colour anymore Sis. I like green now. It's a cool colour. It's absolute everywhere you look. Can you paint me a green bike on my wall like in my old room in the old house?"
Green huh? I don't have any green paint. I think I only have blue and a horrible rotten cream colour that won't mix for a green unfortunately for me. Maybe I could ask my boss if I can see if we have any in the back. We had a couple of walls painted in the ice rink to brighten up the place.
My Brother waits for my reply and when I look back down at him I smile. I can't disappoint that cheeky little face of his. "Sure," I promise. "It might take me a while to get it done…"
"Take your time Hols." His grin is massive and I'm glad he's looking less scared unlike before. He turns to his bowl and continues to eat his breakfast.
Rex wondered as he handed me his bowl, "Have you eaten Holly?" Even though he doesn't have to he still worries about me.
"Mmm-Hmm…" I muttered as I placed the dish into the cold water in the sink. "Panda and I shared…"
"Good," He said with a clap of his hands before rubbing them together. "I'll brush my teeth…"
I warn before he could run off, "Be careful brushing that one on the side, Dinosaur."
He rolled his eyes at me. "I know I know… I will…"
Rex is having some tooth problems on his right hand side. I give him some medication to help but really I need to take him to the dentist. I can't afford the treatment he'll need though. Luckily, he understands that is why is so careful about eating and brushing. Each month I'm putting money aside for him to go but it's not building up as quickly as I would like.
Rex comes darting back on his short little legs. "Are they sparkling?"
"The fairy will love your teeth when they come out for bigger ones."
"She's not having them just yet," He teased up towards the sky as if she, the tooth fairy, could hear him.
After tossing the towel on the counter I ask, "Get your gym kit and I think we are ready to leave…"
"Sure think," He said rushing off back to his room.
For Julia's breakfast I take her a bowl of cereal with the last bit of milk left. In her dark room, I could just make out the bottles lying across her floor. I pull her curtains back from the window to let the light in so I don't fall on my ass on the empties. As always Julia whinges and covers her eyes with the blanket. I shake my head at her and announce her breakfast is here if she wants it. If she doesn't then Panda will probably eat it.
Leaving Julia to kill herself in her own pit, I head out of her room and close the door. Rex is in the living room with his school bags in his hands. I take the one from him and dump it into my bicycle basket at the front before grabbing my hoodie from a hook and my own bag.
"Bye Panda!" I call out.
"Laters Panda!" Rex copies.
We grab our bikes and pushed them out of the apartment. I steady my bike against the wall outside and lock our door so no one can go wandering in accidently. Rex has already gone ahead of me down the stairs, dragging the bike along with him. I follow his lead and start taking my bike down the stairs which makes a bumping rhyme in my grasp. I wished we didn't live on the top floor. It's a living nightmare with our bikes. I don't trust our bikes down stairs they will probably get stolen or trashed and they are the only way to get around that's free at least.
After a short peddle we get to Rex's school. I help him secure his bike to the holders available. I pass him the key which he tucks into the safety of his bag. I give him a big hug and say, "Now have a good day and be a good boy. Be nice to Zeke too."
"I will. Don't you get into trouble either…" he warned me with a stern finger pointing towards me.
"I won't Dad!" I joked with him.
Rex hugged me again and said, "Go on you'll be late."
"Bye Dinosaur!"
"Bye Hols."
As Rex said, I was fifteen minutes late for Mr Reeves' English class and I know he'll kick my ass today for disturbing the class and being late. Me and him just clash and I don't think there will be a day we don't argue.
Caleb Grey
Oh, there she is. I've fancied this girl since the start of elementary school. I haven't yet had the balls to even pluck up the courage to even speak to her since we started here a few years back. It seems stupid now but I asked my Dad if he'd let me come to this school to be with her instead of the school he insisted on with my Brother Teddy and Sister Phoebe. Dad isn't aware a girl was involved with the reason why. I just told him that I didn't want to be away from my friend Henry and he seemed to believe it.
Her name is Holly Applelyn and to everyone else thinks she is just a normal student who turns up late for school occasionally. But to me she is a stunning beauty that I have not seen in any other girl before. She has thick curly brown hair that falls pass her shoulders and down her back. As the fan blows it captures her fringe which is adorable as it sweeps to the left, hitting the ridge of her broken glasses. She's had those frames for a while now; she could do with some new ones. They are broken on the right side of the frame as she taped it up. Peeking from her glasses is her cute button nose that is covered with faint freckles which is another charming feature I adore about her.
Today on her lips is a straight line; I can't tell whether or not she's happy or sad. She tugs her rucksack off after getting a warning from Reeves and slings the bag down to the foot of the table across from mine. As she takes out her seat I capture the sweet smell of her perfume, the smell of peaches. It's wonderful. She slams her tiny body down into the seat besides Kyle who is a very lucky man, she huffs out a sigh. Something's wrong. Usually my apple trick will guarantee a shy smile. When no one is looking, apart from Kyle who's in on my secret, I place a green apple in front of her when she falls asleep. It's a bit cheesy but at least I always get that smile.
During our boring English lesson with Mr Reeves, Holly makes herself comfortable by leaning on her desk. Her arms are folded and she lays her head on top. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her blinking as she yawns, looking in my direction to the window outside. Within seconds she is out of it and falling asleep. When Kyle gives me the nod, I reach to my bag and get the apple. When Mr Reeves has his back turned I lean over and place the apple in front of Holly. I flinch back just as Mr Reeves rotates back. With a goofy grin plastered on my face, I smile brightly till my cheeks start to hurt.
Mr Reeves notices that Holly has fallen asleep, again. He has a disappointed expression on as he marches up the row and stands diagonally across from Holly. "HOLLY APPLELYN!" He screeches with an almost ear deafening sound I never would have thought would come out of his mouth. It even made me jump back into my seat.
Holly's reaction is priceless though. Unlike everyone else it just awakens her and not probably makes her jump out of her skin that Mr Reeves was going for. Instead her eyelashes flutter and she quickly makes herself composed again by adjusting her broken glasses. She sees the shadow on her desk and looks up with all blameless eyes.
"Er… Sorry Sir," She says innocently, ducking her gaze to the table looking guilty and realising why she's in trouble with him for.
Mr Reeves snaps his fingers and demands, "Report?"
She licks her dry lips before leaning down and digging around in her bag before returning into an upright position handing him the yellow report card.
"You are on a fine line already Holly," He says as he glances over the details on the card. "Why haven't your parents signed this for yesterday?"
"Um…" I could see her struggle for an answer for that. "I… erm… Forgot… I forgot to give it to them. I'll make sure it gets signed, don't you worry Mr Reeves."
At her reply he just grunts rudely and turns and walks back down the row. "You better Applelyn," He says at his desk, "Otherwise it's off to the principal's office and I doubt very much that she would like to see you in there."
Holly doesn't reply and Mr horrible Reeves carries on with his boring lesson that no one is paying attention to. From the corner of my eyes I watch Holly. She yawns, adjusts her glasses again, wipes her mouth on her sleeve before settling her brown soft eyes onto my daily surprise. Her lips tint into a small secret smile as she reaches out for the apple sitting in front of her. She rolls the apple in her hand and I hear the small sweet sigh drowning into the air. That makes me grin too. I see her looking to Kyle and he looks at her and shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. She turns her head to me and I pretend to be concentrating on Mr Reeves. I so wasn't. My attention was all for Holly. She gave up once again to find out where this mysterious apple came from.
We all hear a loud sigh from the front of the classroom and my attention is snapped back as well as Holly's. "Holly, you can put your lunch away now," Mr Reeves barks.
Holly Applelyn
Every day this apple turns up on my desk in English. Someone put it there but no one will tell me who it's from. Kyle who should have witnessed it said he didn't have a clue and that Mr Reeves probably fancies me or something. I toss the apple between my hands, quickening the speed as I sit on the stairs at lunch time. Whoever this is I am grateful because this is all I'll have for lunch. They might not know it but it's what keeps me going during school.
After the very long day at school, I bike as fast as I can over to Rex's friend's house. "Hello Mrs Ravin," I say as she opens the door with a massive grin and wearing her cow printed apron. "I've come to collect Rex…"
"Holly lovely to see you again dear…" She says with a sweet politeness to her voice. Mrs Ravin is so wonderful I wished she was my Mother. "Are you taking him to work with you again Holly?"
I nod my head and shame shows on my face.
She steps out onto the step and closes the black door behind her leaving it ajar. "Rex is playing upstairs with Zeke on some game thing. He's okay here. How about you pick him up when you're done at work?"
I bite my lower lip not sure what to say to that.
"Go on dear; he'll be okay here…"
"Thank you Mrs Ravin I really appreciate this. I do finish at "
"Coming up!" Mr Ravin calls as he crosses the street, coming home from his day at the office. He takes the steps two by two before joining me on the same step. "Holly, how lovely to see you again."
"You too Mr Ravin," I say with a smile. I haven't seen him for a while as he took a business trip to New York. I thank them both for taking on my Brother for a while longer before skipping down the stairs to my bike.
I return to the cold apartment and walk Panda before work starts.
Out on the ice I skate around in the huge oval keeping a check on everyone. There are a few people I recognise from class. They must be here to unwind from the hard week at school. Katie, Ruby and Genny from art class are here, swirling around impressing some guys I recognise. Trevor, Max, William and Arthur are going around and around watching the girls with their tongues hanging out. They seem to think fooling around is the best way to get into the girls pants. I actually think from the smirk Katie is giving that it's working. Past them I see another group of people but I don't know them except from the guy in my English class. Caleb Grey. Oh June, Mark and Maddie are here too, they are our regulars and like to hang out here.
"Hey where are your gloves missy?" Josh my co-worker asks nosily.
I glance at my hands in front of me and they are burning up from the cold. "Left them at home… Again!" I seem to be saying that regularly these days. The truth is Panda thought it would be hilarious if she took them from my bag and chews on them. They don't even look like gloves anymore. Anyhoo! I can't afford to buy another pair but I know my buddy here will supply me when we're on the ice. He always carries two pairs with him. It's his pulling trick for the girls with no gloves. If they whinge about having cold hands he'll slide right up to them and let the magic gloves appear. They are always most grateful and ends up every time with a kiss or something more. However, in my case that never happens.
"Here babe put these on." Josh tosses the pair from his work pants and I catch them without letting them fall to the slippy ground.
"I owe you Josh!" I say, quickly whipping them on, letting them wool graze against the coldness of my skin making them warm up gradually.
"You should see if there is a spare set in lost property," Josh suggests.
"I will." Good idea. Why didn't I think of th –
I hear the loud yelp before the sound of the blades shredding the ice. I spin on my own skates to find Caleb Grey in the mix of people who have fallen over. As usual he is the most clumsiest here. I glide over to him and the rest of the poor people around him. A lad who Caleb grabbed down with him stands up and brushes the ice off him before laughing and joking with his mates about it. "You okay?" I ask Caleb who looks a little daze. I hold out my hand to help him up.
His gray eyes go wide and he licks his lips before looking down at my offer of my hand.
"If you don't take my hand then you won't be able to get up," I tell him.
At that he takes my hand and I help pull him up. He scratches the side of his head and mutters and embarrassed, "Thank you."
"No probs," I say before gliding swiftly back to the centre of the ice to Josh. From this distance I could hear his friends picking on him because he got helped up by a girl. It's my job dumbasses.
For the rest of my time on the ice Caleb Grey kept peering over to me. He caught me looking at him when he nearly went down again. I'm sure his eyes were searching for me to come and help but Josh seemed to get there first.
A/N - So this idea sort of came to me one day when I was at work. I hope you enjoy this first chapter. Let me know what you think by reviewing. There will be a few twist in the story and I can't wait to write them!
