I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up, but in the meantime here is chapter two. There is a lot more development of the plot in this chapter, and the next one will be more action-filled (I hope - sometimes I end up going off plan). Thank you all so much for the lovely reviews, both on here and on tumblr; they make me so happy and really do spur me on to write. Keep them coming!

Enjoy!


My first lesson the next day was psychology. I was sat next to a girl called Alicia, who informed me that she too was a friend of Robyn's and asked if I'd like to join them for lunch. I accepted eagerly and she grinned at me, happily colouring in her notes. The teacher was Miss Dixon, or 'Dixie' as everyone else seemed to call her, and she introduced herself to me as my housemistress. She told me where her room was situated and that if I ever needed anything or had any problems all I had to do was knock on her door. I was glad of this.

Last night Connie and I didn't speak a word to one another. I was about to speak, but then she gave me a look of such disregard that I thought better of it and went and got into bed, and she went into the bathroom. She must have been in there ages, as I don't remember hearing her go to bed, and I woke up to the sound of the door being slammed shut, her duvet scrunched into a ball at the end of her bed and her pyjamas in a heap on the floor. I sighed, getting up to the bathroom to get washed and ready for my first day of lessons. On my way out I picked up her pyjamas, tossed them under her pillow and made her bed. I wasn't sure why I'd done it, but I had felt compelled to. Perhaps I was just conscious of the mess.

After psychology I had a free period, which I spent in the library going over my biology notes in preparation for the next lesson. I only needed two B's and a C for my nursing course, but I was desperate to get an A in biology as it was my favourite subject and a good thing to have for nursing. I looked at my timetable. Dr Keogh was my teacher, and the lesson was over in the lab block. I left the library fifteen minutes before the lesson began so that I wasn't late if I got lost. The walk wasn't too long, but it was a wet and dreary September day and the only way to the lab block was outdoors.

Soon I arrived at my destination, wiping my feet on the mat before tentatively walking down the corridor to see which room was the one I needed. I found it almost immediately, and with ten minutes still to spare I decided to go for a wander. It shocked me how modern the buildings were, having came from a run down, inner city comprehensive which only just passed its health and safety inspection. In the winter, I recalled fondly, the rain would cause the roofs to leak, sometimes to the extent that entire classrooms would be out of bounds. One day, when the rain had been particularly bad, the ceiling of one of the RE rooms caved in entirely, and everyone got to go home for the day whilst they repaired it. There was no chance of that here.

Upstairs there were more science labs, and some storage units. As I reached the end of the corridor I could see a large, grand-looking board with names of people that had won science contests over the years. As I scanned it I was surprised to see a familiar name there. '2013: Constance Beauchamp (Year 10)', it read. So that's why she thinks she owns the place, I thought to myself, she's rich and clever. The following two years were filled with names that I didn't recognise, so I moved on.

I glanced out of the large window next to the stairwell as I descended it, looking in awe at the large buildings and gardens. I was about half was down when I noticed two dark figures standing outside in the rain, behind the maths block. Sure that they wouldn't notice me, I leant closer to the window, realising who they were.

Zoe Hanna paced back and forth along the building, her coat huddled around herself protectively. She was talking animatedly, her face twisted into a frown. She had a cigarette in one hand, and her packet and lighter in the other. Leant against the wall next to her was Connie Beauchamp, also with a cigarette but seemingly forgetting about it as she raised an eyebrow at Zoe. She looked relaxed, carefree, and at first I thought that they must be friends. That was until Connie suddenly reached across and violently grabbed the head girl by the wrists, the contents of her hands tumbling to the floor as she looked at her attacker with an expression of alarm and fear. Connie had pulled her up so their faces were mere inches from one another's, in a similar way to how she had confronted Robyn yesterday, and I watched as they conversed frantically until the bell signalling the start of my next lesson shook me out of my trance. I was swarmed almost instantly by a crowd of GCSE students coming out of a science lesson, and by the time I managed to look out again both had disappeared.

There was nobody familiar in my biology class, so I wasn't bothered when Dr Keogh informed be that there was a compulsory seating plan. I was placed on one of the far benches, next to the prep area and the fume cupboard. On my right was an unremarkable looking boy. James, he was called, or something along those lines. On my left was an empty seat. Dr Keogh began to lecture us all on lab safety, as if we weren't all old enough to know better by now, and soon had us all taking notes for an upcoming practical exam. About ten minutes into the lesson the door burst open.

"First day back and already Miss Beauchamp is late. That's a new record," Dr Keogh said sarcastically, his hands on his hips. She ignored him and quickly rushed to her seat. It took me a moment or two to realise she was coming in my direction, and as she caught sight of me she seemed to pause momentarily before striding on and taking the seat next to me without a word. I wondered if she had seen me watching from the window.

She was silent for the next fifteen minutes, not even taking notes from what Dr Keogh was teaching, until Cal Knight, the head boy, started answering a question on homeostasis and she laughed obnoxiously.

"Something funny, Miss Beauchamp?" Dr Keogh asked, again placing his hands on his hips. he seemed to like that position.

"Not at all, Dr Keogh," she replied, her face twisting into a sardonic grin. "I'm just marvelling at how incredibly dense our dear head boy is. Well done, Mr Knight."

"Really, Connie? Are we really going to continue this, this term?" He gave her a pointed look, and she stared him down until he eventually held his hands up defeatedly.

"Right. Can you leave now, Connie. There are people here who actually want to learn."

She seemed pleased by this, and packed away her books victoriously before swiftly exiting the room. I gaped after her, further baffled by this girl that I was unfortunate enough to have for a roommate. Everything I learned about her only served to puzzle me more about her true nature. First her confrontation with Robyn, then seeing her name on the honours board, watching her attacking the head girl and now this. My best option, it seemed, was to try to have as little as I could to do with her, to whatever extent that was achievable.

This plan seemed to fail though, as I had my first chemistry lesson after lunch and found myself once again seated next to her. Dr Hardy was much less strict than Dr Keogh, and he didn't have an allocated seating plan, but the classroom was small and so the only free seat was next to her. She again acted as though I didn't exist, and twenty minutes into the lesson simply got up and left.

I started to get the feeling that she had a problem with me, which was understandable, I suppose, after I had confronted her about Robyn. However, to go to the extent that she would leave a lesson if I was in it seemed a bit exaggerated. I wondered if I should maybe speak to Dixie about switching rooms, it seemed to be for the best. But I didn't want to. Something about her compelled me to stay. Maybe it was the desire to be her friend that held me in. I don't know why I wanted anything to do with her, really, but there was a part of me, a rather large part, that wanted to know more about her. She was this dark, mysterious figure that had suddenly been cast into my life and I was desperate to understand her.

Then I remembered how she had grasped Zoe so violently, and the look of terror on the friendly head girl's face and she shook her and my stomach went cold. Whoever this girl was, she was heartless, and whatever I had to do with her I knew could only turn out bad.

After dinner I was tired and wanted to get to bed as soon as possible, so I politely dismissed myself from my new group of friends and heavily made my way over to the Sparrow dorms.

As I walked I wondered if I would ever get used to wandering past dark classrooms and lockers at night, and at the end of the day not having that feeling of exhilaration as I rushed to the gate for freedom. I sighed heavily. My final year of education spent in captivity.

I turned a corner and suddenly I heard voices. I ducked behind a locker, sensing one to be that of the headteacher, Mr Fairhead, who I hadn't yet had any dealings with. Then came another voice, her voice, and my heart was in my mouth.

"Really, Charlie, it's a disgrace," she spat and I heard him hum in agreement. A door creaked and as I quickly glanced around I could see him holding open a classroom door for her. His forehead was creased and his eyes squinted in displeasure.

"I can't believe it, I really can't," she continued heatedly. "It's absolutely ridiculous. How could…"

And that's all I heard as the door clicked shut. Was she complaining about me to the headteacher? If so, that really was serious, and my stomach turned cold. Would I get kicked out, having only been here less than three days? What would I do then? Mum and Dad would be on the flight to Australia now, and after that there was no turning back. My heart hammered in my chest.

I rushed back to my room, my mind in overdrive. Was she really that pissed off that I had stood up to her? I wanted to cry, emotions running through me like waves as I went from anger to fear to sympathy to sorrow. She became more perplexing with every hour I spent in this place, and more dangerous. She had the headteacher on her side, that was obvious from the fact that she was on first name terms with him, and I was all alone.

I slept fitfully that night, dreaming of expulsions and fights and Connie Beauchamp. The next morning I woke in a sweat, my stomach heavy with dread as of what was to come. I glanced across the room to see her bedsheets, again crumpled up and her pyjamas left on the floor. A fleeting feeling of fondness passed though my mind at this little habit, but it was gone before I could even properly register it. I got up and dressed ready for the day ahead, and, despite my best efforts to resist, quickly made up her bed on my way out.


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