Chapter 3
Alex opened the door to his Tutor Room. It was small, but cosy. The large windows had velvet red curtains over them, and the smell of fresh pine and roses filled the air.
His teacher sat at her desk. Her short hair was whitening and curly, gracing her shoulders. Her desk always remained neat and tidy, paper stacked in the top left corner, three blue folders in the top right, and a laptop in the centre. Her frail old hands tapped at the keyboard, and her horn-rimmed glasses glistened with the blue-white glare of the screen.
"Good Day, Mr. Scotts," her voice was so kindly and gentle, but firm. He nodded and sank into his chair, and dumped his bag on his desk.
"Hey, get my present?" Alex span his head around, and in the row behind him sat Ryan Hurst, his best friend. The two had known each other since Nursery and, despite a few spats; the two had remained friends over the years.
Alex nodded to Ryan, who grinned. "I'll read those books
in English." he replied politely.
"If 'The Bull' lets
you, that is," Ryan remarked, and Mrs. Greenwich, their tutor
suppressed a giggle.
"You shouldn't call her that," she told them, and both boys nodded.
The door opened and a clique of three girls entered.
One was Amber; she was very pretty, and very popular. Her hair was blonde, with brown highlights, to her shoulders, and her eyes were pale blue. She wore her white shirt, her blue-and-yellow tie hung loosely round her neck, and her grey skirt, just a little-less than knee length.
The second girl was Amber's best friend, Lilly Moonbeam. Her long curly brown hair was to the small of her back, and in a French plait. She wore the same uniform as Amber, but her tie was neatly knotted in the famous Windsor knot.
Thirdly was Drew, a pretty girl, and Alex's ex. Her hair was dark red, and her eyes blue. The red hair was styled into bunches. She wore trousers instead of a skirt and in her arms, was a large present.
Drew sat next to Alex, and Amber next to Ryan.
Lilly sat behind Amber, with her other friend Mary.
"Happy Birthday," Drew and Amber chorused, with Lilly a second too late.
Alex grinned and opened Drew's present. A Large Blue Folder, with silver stars across it, and his name in loopy gold pen, neatly, in the top corner.
Alex Scotts
He hugged her, and checked the contents. An A4 sheet of paper, also in the same, loopy, curly writing was the first page he came to.
To Alex,
On his 19th Birthday,
May your day be full of happiness,
Lots of Love,
Drew
He went red and hugged her again, flipping through the remainder of the file. Several photos of the Groupeé, as they liked to call themselves, from summer last year;
Alex and Ryan splashing each other in the sea.
Drew sunbathing.
Amber and Lilly with their latest boyfriends.
At the very end of the photo album, was a final photo, with the same gold curly script.
ALEX AND DREW
There was a final section, dedicated to images of Alex and Drew hugging, and kissing.
He smiled. Today couldn't get any more perfect.
The door swung open and the mousy-haired secretary sped over to Mrs. Greenwich. Her magnified eyes grew wide with fear.
"Alex,"
There was a painful silence.
"Your Gran is in hospital."
Alex's heart stopped. "Gran!"