Scott POV-- 6:40 am

I woke up to Lauren in my face. "Wake up sleeping duckling, the prince said you're too ugly to kiss awake" she said sarcastically. I glared at her. "Your a witch" I spat. She made a face then smiled. " Aww thanks I am a Woman In Total Control of Herself"she said. I rolled my eyes as I tried to escape the prison I'd made for myself out of my thin blanket. "I bought you Eliz (fashion line owned by Katherine's parents) for you for the first day of year 10 but I guess you don't need it" Lauren said. With that she grabbed a bag in the corner of our room and walked out with it. "Dammit Lauren this is why I can't have nice things!" I screamed. She didn't come back. If she really did buy Eliz clothes for me how did she afford it? Our allowance was about 3 pounds a month unless she'd been stealing or saving for years plus any extra money went to getting mom her medicine. I struggled out with of bed and went to the bathroom. Lauren was in there holding the bag as she brushed her teeth. She looked really angry. When she saw me in the mirror, she said "Tell your mother that there is nothing wrong with me using my allowance to buy a phone for myself and not her". I stared at her blankly. She sighed seeing my face in the mirror. She rinsed her mouth and turned to face me. " Your mother said that I shouldn't have used my allowance to buy a phone for myself but instead for her because I use up so much money some how" she explained. I bit my bottom lip, mom and Lauren had never gotten on well. "She's your mom too Lauren" I said finally. Lauren snapped "My mom would praise me for being in the best school on scholarship, my mom would praise me for being valedictorian 4 years straight from Year 6, my mom would thank me for working my butt off for months to gather enough money for the treatment she needs and she does none of that! You're in the best school in the county because mom is paying 3000 pounds somehow to enrol you each term, she loves you and me?! All she does is criticize!". I just looked at the floor. She wasn't wrong, she left the bathroom in a rush and I heard our bedroom door slam.

-- 7:30 am

There was silence at the table. Mom glanced at Lauren as she ate. Lauren was wearing a white tank top with a golden jacket and black leggings. She looked like one of those supermodels on TV. Too good to be sitting with us. I was wearing a white round neck shirt, navy blue trousers, a patchwork coat and a little patchwork fedora with a feather. Dad had long gone to work. Mom said it was because he had to reach the market before the school kids started filling the buses but I knew it was because Dad didn't have the time or energy for her mood swings. Mom suddenly broke the silence. "Why exactly are you dressed like a $\*t Lauren?". Lauren just stared at her. "ANSWER MY QUESTION!!"Mom screamed. "You know what I'm not going to deal with this" Lauren said as she suddenly stood up from the table and started dialing a number. Mom stood up with her. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!". Lauren once again ignored her. " Hello yeah Joey can you pick me up I'm far too tired to wait for the bus " Lauren said. "You'll be at my house in 5 minutes? Sure that's fine". Mom tried to pry Lauren's phone out of her hands but Lauren held in place with one arm. "Thanks Joey, see ya soon". Lauren pushed Mom away now that she had both hands. But mom quickly sprung up and slapped Lauren across the face. " NO DAUGHTER OF MINE IS GOING OUT LOOKING LIKE A π0!". Lauren looked close to tears but returned the slap. Lauren grabbed her handbag and sprinted for the door. Mom tried to chase her but Lauren wasn't captain of the track team for 3 years straight for no reason. I ran after her and mom. Lauren sprinted through the wheat fields like it was no problem while I was starting to loose breath. By the time I finally reached the gate I was covered in sweat and panting as Mom screamed at Lauren as she drove off in Joey's car.

Lauren POV-- 7:50 am

I took a sigh of relief. "Thanks Joey, saved my booty back there" I said. "Well your welcome but I'm so defended you didn't notice my outfit" he whined. "Your defended?" I asked. "Yes very defended" he said. I stifled a laugh. He didn't know it was offended. "I'm really sorry I didn't notice you look great Joey" I said holding in my laughter. "Apology accepted, so you ready for year 11?". " Ready as I'll ever be" I said. "You'll probably be valedictorian again" Joey said. Did it really matter if I got it my...no Scott's mother didn't care and Dad was never home. "Maybe I'll let Gem have valedictorian this year, not sure though" I said finally. "Well your choice". He connected the radio to his phone and was listening to Enemy by imagine dragons. " I didn't know you liked imagine dragons Joey" I asked. "Not really, its just I dropped my phone the other day and I haven't gotten a new one yet. I'm surprised I could see your call. This is the only song it'll play" he explained. I listened, interesting lyrics. I need to watch Arcane sooner or later. 'Oh the misery everyone wants to be my enemy'. "Hey Joey could you pick me up like this everyday?" I asked. This was much better than waiting till eight to drag myself and Scott to the bus stop. "Its gonna cost ya" Joey warned. "How does 20 pounds a week sound?". He thought for a while. "Make it 25 and you've got a deal" he finally said. "Deal, how bout 7:40?" I said. "Sounds decent" Joey said. Thank God for people like Joey. 'I'm hoping that somebody pray for me, I'm praying that somebody hope for me'. Same JID same.

Lizzie POV-- 8:10 am

I leaned against the great oak tree in front of the school. Joel sat at the base of the tree. He was so handsome. "Are you hungry?" Joel asked. "Yeah" I said. He brought out a zip seal bag with two cheese toasties inside. He handed one to me. I munched down on it this was my first meal of the day and I was starving. Joel gave a loud groan. "What?" I asked. "Its Joey" he whined. I looked down at the car park. It was Joey..and Lauren. "Lauren's with him" I said. "Really? I can't see her from here". The hill was quite steep. I guess Joel just saw Joey's car. Lauren dashed up the stairs while Joey tugged his legs up the stairs. " One more weak move like that Joey or I might have to put you on suspension from the League again" I said when he finally reached the top. "Hey not all of us are morning people" he protested. "You got booze mate?" Joel asked Joey. "Only cider today, my cousins visited and ran off with the good stuff" he explained. "Well?" Joel asked impatiently. Joey brought out a cider bottle and some wine glasses from his bag. I always wondered how he fit so much stuff in there and his bag didn't look like a balloon. He poured glasses for everyone. I held my cheese toastie in one hand and cider in the other. Joel held the toast "To almost reaching the end of our misery aka highschool". We clinked glasses. Lauren climbed into the tree to drink hers. And Joey sat down under the tree using me as a kitty wall between him and Joel. " You could've done better Joey" Joel complained. "I'm sorry b!h next time you bring the drinks" Joey spat. "Watch it Graceffa you're talking to my boyfriend and your in a kick's reach" I demanded in a firm tone. Joey shut up and moved a little away from me. "Ya hear the gist?" Lauren said breaking the silence. "No" Joel said. "Apparently some 10 year olds decided it be a good idea to try their dad's booze, so they stole it and drank the whole bottle in an alleyway. One of 'em died before they were found" she explained. "They real shitty kids" Joey said. Me and Joel kept silent. I looked at the sign in front if the school 'Inerenity high, dignity is our excellence'. What a strange name. I heard noise of people. "Did you hear that?" I asked standing upright. "No what noise?" Lauren asked. 'Right you're a cat dummy you can hear better than they can' I mentally face palmed. "People are on their way" I said. Joey gathered the bottle and all the glasses and stuffed them in his bag. We went to a wall and leaned against it. Leaning against a wall while everyone walks in is tradition. Joey and I pulled our hoods over our heads. Lauren quickly ran away as not to reveal she was part of the League of Golden and Joel... well he looked menacing enough with his big biceps. 5 minutes later, students poured in and we looked on at them menacingly.

This was an over ambitious chapter with over 1500 words so don't expect chapters like this. I won't have a regular schedule but at least twice a week. Thx for reading

- CalicoQuartzs 2 Nov 2022