Tank grunted and shoved Ripp's shoulder, "Hey girly boy, why aren't you sitting with your normal group of wusses?" Ripp raised his head and snarled at his brother. "None of your business, Tank! And I'm not girly!" Tank chuckled, plonking one of his lean legs onto the bench resting his huge bulky arm across his knee. He bellowed with a smirk spreading across his lips "Are too!" Lucy, quiet thus far huffed. "And what's wrong with being girly?" She asked. Tank glanced over at her, surprised by her confident tone. Ripp was even a little startled by this sudden outburst.
Tank had been caught off guard, his lips trembling for a moment, rendered speechless for a second. He then pursed his lips and shurgged it off. "Nothing wrong with it. Except for when a boy acts girly. It's well gay." Ripp snapped. He hurled his body at Tank, attempting to tackle him but it was useless. Ripp just ended up banging his head against Tank's knee. He groaned and Tank simply brushed off his knee then skulked off. Ripp knelt on the floor, rubbing his sore socket. Lucy was at his side, patting Ripp's back to reassure him. The boy whimpered like a baby, his eye throbbing. Lucy glanced up at Tank and scowled. He was surely a big meanie.
Soon lunch ladies were drawn over by the noises, waddling over in their lazy sway. They ushered Ripp out of the lunch room, his body huddled into theirs as he sobbed, his eye turning red. Lucy tried to chase after him, but she was shooed away, and ordered to finish her food. She sniffled, returning back to her cold tray of mush. Glancing up from her half-eaten meal she noticed Tank lurking in the doorway, his brow furrowed and his eyes firmly set on her. She gulped, scoffing down her food, then slipping out of the lunch room and into the playground.
Stepping out into the baking heat was hardly a comfort, however it did relieve the pressure of Tank's intimidating scrutiny. There were kids dashing about across the dry grass; girls gossiping in their clustered corners, and boys blundering about an old soccer pitch. Lucy gawked, wondering how they could withstand such heat. Perhaps there was some kind of Strangetown-heat-resistance-gene. Lucy sighed heavily, taking in the scene. She could feel the sweat rising through her pores already, fanning herself, she glanced around looking for a shaded spot to rest. The shadow of the looming lunch room made a suitable spot. The darkness flanked right side of the building, following the brick walls of the school.
The terrain began to slope downwards, the pathway decorated with bright stones, leading to a cool shaded garden of sorts. There were pots set with fruits and vegetables beginning to flourish, a wooden canopy, with shrivelled up tendrils clinging to the framework. And then in the far corner of the garden was a single apple tree, the leaves faded, the bark blanched and brittle. Glued to the tree was a small figure. Lucy recognised the blonde braids and dark skin of the girl, whom had her back to her. She'd seen this girl in her literature class but couldn't recall the name. Taking a step forward, Lucy crept down the creaking steps leading down from the decking to the path. The girl flinched, her gaze fixed on Lucy.
Ophelia had been daydreaming again, snapped back awake at the sound of another approaching. Worried that it might be a teacher or grounds keeper come to drive her out of her garden, she felt relief wash over her, however her muscles remained tensed, her nails digging into the bark of the tree. Her stony green eyes were fixed on Lucy. Little Ophelia shifted so that she faced the new girl. Dressed in dark jeans and a burgundy tank top, with matching sandals, the two girls eyed each other up for a few moments.
Lucy took a tiny step forward. Ophelia's eyes widened in fear, as she spun around and darted away, hiding in the mossy corners of the vegetable pots. Taken aback by this sudden reaction, Lucy glanced around, hoping that no one had seen. She was worried that perhaps someone else might have scared the girl. Brushing past the foilage, Lucy sat upon the edge of one of the wooden crates, nestled beside the veggie pots. She mustered a warm smile, peering down at Ophelia "Hi... I'm kind of new here... D'you mind I share this spot with you?" Snuggled up tight in her corner, Ophelia felt waves of dizziness dance in her eyes for a moment. She tried to shake the feeling, meeting Lucy's brown eyes, she decided that the new girl was not here to patronize her like the rest. Ophelia nodded stiffly.
The sweet relief from the heat was greatly refreshing, and of course the botanical beauty (or whatever remained of it) was nice too. As Lucy embraced the coverage, it soon began to dawn on her, that she didn't know the girl's name. She asked, however all that could be heard was an inaudible muttering. Lucy bit her lip and introduced herself, however it became quite obvious that this girl didn't talk much when all she was able to get out of her were nods and the occasional word or two. However, the fact that she was actually having a conversation with someone was an achievement of itself. Especially on the first day.
The day drifted long and slow, however finally the bell signalled their freedom as the students burst from the school halls, and out onto the near-deserted roads, heading home. Lucy smiled to herself, wondering how these kids could have so much energy in such a dry dreary town. She shrugged it off though; she quite liked that energy. Hopefully she would get used to it, and perhaps begin to cultivate some spark of her own. Grinning as she skipped along the road, finally coming to a halt when she spotted a red hot Monaro, with a familiar man wearing a checkered green cap atop his blonde hair, hanging out of the car window, waiting for her approach. With tanned skin, green eyes and a thin blonde beard, she smiled and ran towards the car to greet her father. She lunged through the window, wrapping her arms round him. Either he was out for lunch, or perhaps he'd finished work already.
Whatever the case, he accepted the hug, smiling and patting her back. He released the lock and she slipped inside. And whilst they drove home, he began to grill her on all the details on her first day of school – and vice versa. They teased each other, taking comfort in one another's presence, lightening some of the tension they'd both been feeling since they'd moved to town. Quirky and awkward as they were, they were both looking forward to getting home, where they had a nice air-conditioned apartment, with three meals a day, plenty of entertainment and tolerable neighbours.
Life seemed good... Although, Lucy was concerned for the two Grunt brothers and their fighting at school. How long had that been going on? Why had no one reported it sooner? And how soon would it be until Tank took out his anger on someone else – such as herself? Another thing that bothered her, was that loner garden girl. She seemed quite disturbed, but how? Why? These were probably things that the class made their regular gossip. Hopefully Lucy could get answers from them. Or maybe even the teachers. Either way, it shouldn't have been a concern of hers. She had other things to focus on. Like extra math homework.