The light knocking on my door would never have woken me up. Fortunately, for whoever was knocking at my bedroom door, I was already awake. To my surprise the make-up that I had pointlessly collected over the past few years would now get put to good use. My brother, Will, and I were starting at a local comprehensive after our dad left our mother for the work-experience girl. Will was going into lower sixth (Year 12) and I was starting year 11. Will and I had both previously attended single sex schools, so this was a huge change for us both.
I was excited at the prospect of meeting new people, boys in particular. It was Will that I was worried about. I wasn't sure whether he could talk to boys never mind girls. We were going to find out.
I hopped to the bottom of the staircase merrily and was greeted by my mother at the bottom. My mother was beautiful. Her long dark hair flowed down her back and her body was still great for age. If I wanted anything in life it was to look as good as my mother at her age. In the kitchen my beautiful images of my mother were soon distorted by the image of Will ironing his shirt in a pair of Y-fronts and a vest. He was oblivious as to how ridiculous he looked – as usual. "Are you honestly going to school like that?" Will finally piped up. I scowled and strolled over to a full length mirror that had yet to be put in its place from the move. The image staring back at me was something I was proud of. Never in a million years did I think I was drop dead gorgeous but I didn't think I was below average either. My hair was in a messy pony (Will didn't get that this was the 'in' thing so he could have been referring to this), my make-up was simple but effective and I knew there was no chance he had even noticed I was even wearing any. The white blouse I was wearing was clean and modest I wasn't revealing anything that suggested I need to be degraded. My bodycon skirt was mid-thigh (an acceptable length that had been reiterated in the prospectus for Ridge Park) and I was wearing tights. I turned, Will's eyes still examining me closely, I smiled at him "Yes I am going to wear this, it looks fine." Before leaving him to feel guilty over the self-consciousness he had caused me.
At the front door I slipped into a pair of brown brogues and my black cardigan. With it being August I didn't feel the need for a jacket but instead threw a hoody into my large brown satchel. "William, could you hurry up please?" My mother's voice rang in my ear as she unlocked the door. It was at least another five minutes before Will arrived at the car. He was carrying a briefcase, which might have been acceptable at his geeky, all-boys, private school but not where we were going. The drive to the school was quick – thank goodness – I couldn't take much more of Will's hypothetical thinking. It was embarrassing being in sixth form and getting dropped off by your mum at the school gates but Will made it worse, what with his blazer and briefcase. We walked towards a building that housed the name of the school above the entrance. I walked beside Will, reluctantly. Our stroll seemed too slow motion for my liking and was thankful when we entered the modern building that was home to a bunch of fuchsia coloured seats. We took seats beside each other and a group of others who were presumably new. They were more Will's 'type' however.
My thoughts were interrupted by a huge man with a fierce expression and an even harsher voice. "Newbie's, follow me." Sheepishly we followed the giant down the corridor to a conference room where we were introduced to the head. As always, we were given the usual roll-call you were given at any new school. Will and the fierce man, Mr Gilbert, who introduced himself as head of sixth had already started their relationship that I could tell wasn't going to be one either of them would enjoy. Will was questioning Gilbert's intelligence and we'd only been here 10 minutes.