One Week Later

The bright orange numbers glowering from the darkness beside my bed informed me it was 6am. I rolled over onto my back and sighed. I hadn't been sleeping well. Tonight I'd slept for just under three hours, last night it was four. This week had been hard to say the least. The guy whose car I destroyed had gotten into contact with my dad. Turns out we were owing him $5000 dollars- an expense I knew we couldn't afford. Things had been…tense. Amongst the solid silence that filled the house, my mom had been disappearing to 'rest' in her room. I discovered the other night this meant sobbing uncontrollably into her pillow. I'd heard murmurs from their room earlier this evening, probably discussing what they were going to do. The worst part was my mom thought I was doing this for attention.

"…probably to try and get Jake to pay attention to her again." She had muttered to my father one night. I had to excuse myself before the anger spilled over. The fact they thought I was doing this for self fulfilment was unbearable. Even Maddie had noticed a difference to the surroundings. Tuesday night she had declared to the table that it was 'too silent around here'. We forced laughs to appease her.

I climbed out of bed and grabbed my shower bag. Sleep was out of the question. I opened my door and crept down the corridor to the bathroom. I flicked the shower on and brushed my hair whilst I waited for it to heat up. The water crashed down on me, soothing my muscles in a warm caress. Moments later I was out and back in my bedroom. I glanced at the clock again, 6.43am. I quickly threw on some clothes, grabbed my school bag and left the house.

I stifled a yawn as I walked towards the entrance of school. Luckily it had been opening early for the past few weeks for 'breakfast club'. It wasn't this I bothered with though. I walked down the familiar corridor towards the library. I was lucky in the sense of once I'd found a good book, I could quite literally lose myself in it for several hours. This skill was most beneficial these past few days.

Half an hour later, the bell rang signifying the start of the school day. I closed my book and placed it back on the shelf. My eyes felt full of grit. It hurt to keep them open. I trudged down the corridor towards first period English.

"So nice of you to join us, Miss Brandon." Miss Mullins said as I walked through the door. A few people sniggered as I walked to my chair.

"…totalled her parents car I heard. Must be the drugs, no wonder she's always falling asleep." I heard Leah declare to Emily. They both cackled like witches. I scowled and opened my folder, glancing to the board to jot down the date. April 15th. Wow time really was moving slow these days.

"Okay class. Today I want to collect your Antony and Cleopatra essays in. Have them at the end of your desks ready." I pulled mine out and set it in the top right corner of my desk, feeling proud. With all the crap going down at home I'd had plenty of time to focus on it, I was feeling pretty good about the grade already. I found myself staring off into space as Miss Mullins walked around collecting essays. My eyes focused on the board again. April 15th. Suddenly the calendar in the main office flashed into my mind, last weeks vision following along behind it.

"Shit!" I shouted. Miss Mullin's whipped around.

"Language, Alice!" She shouted. I blushed to the chorus of laughs in the room.

"Sorry. Erm, may I go to the toilet?" I asked with a smile. She sighed.

"If you must. Honestly people these days, you all have the bladder of a five year old!"

I quickly rose and left the classroom, running in the direction of the janitor's closet. I arrived minutes later to find it ajar. I pushed it open and stared at the electrical circuit just as it began to smoke.

"Shit!" I shouted, running back to English. I burst through the door. "You all need to get out! The circuit has sparked and has caused a fire!" I shouted frantically. People began to fidget for their bags. I ran back out.

"Miss Brandon! Everyone stop moving!" Miss Mullins ordered. I ran to the fire alarm lever, smashed the glass with my elbow, and pulled it down. The alarms scattered around the school blared around me. People erupted from the classrooms, heading for the fire points in the grounds of the school. I ran back to the janitor's closet . The flame had spread significantly, angrily licking at the corridor as it travelled towards the main part of school. Someone grabbed me from behind. I whirled around to find, Angela.

"Come on! We have to get out!" She shouted, dragging me along with her.

Moments later we were all in the grounds before the school. People screamed as a window burst from the second floor. Angry black smoke was billowing from every available gap.

"…Most likely an arson offence, although it is uncertain to tell at this moment." I heard the Chief tell the Headmaster from a few feet away. My breath sped up. This was real. My vision had actually happened. Again.

A loud explosion crashed through my thoughts, as I turned to see the clock tower crumble, blurring into the rest of the school exterior. People jumped back from the flaming bricks. I watched as Miss Mullins walked over to the Head and said something. All three of them turned to stare at me. Shit.

"I'm telling you I didn't set fire to the school! I was going to the bathroom when I smelt smoke. I turned and saw it coming from the Janitor's closet!" I shouted. The Policeman leaned back in his chair.

"Alice, I have been informed by your head teacher that the ladies bathroom is in the opposite direction to the Janitor's closet." He said carefully. I froze. He was right.

"Well, I tried them and they weren't open. I was going to the second floor ones instead." I responded. It was already too late, I could see it in his eyes he thought I was guilty. He nodded grimly.

"We'll take you home for the time being. We'll call upon you again in a couple of days." He said, pressing stop on the recorder.

I watched the cop car drive away before entering the house. "In here, Alice." My father's voice came from the living room. I turned the corner to see my mother patting her eyes with a tissue.

"Oh, Alice, how could you do this to us?" She asked me with tearful eyes.

"I didn't do anything." I said, for the fiftieth time today. They acted as if I hadn't spoken.

"The Police came round earlier, explained what had happened. They can't prove you guilty due to insufficient evidence, but they do suggest a change for you." My father said softly. I raised my eyes to meet his gaze.

"A change? What does that mean?" I demanded. My father went to sit beside my mother. He pulled a leaflet out of his pocket and handed it to me. I glanced down. It was for some sort of school. My stomach dropped. "You're sending me away?" I whispered, my voice breaking.

"Myself and your mother have been talking about it for some time. It says they can help you out with these fits you've been having, a specialist team it says." He responded. I opened my mouth to argue they weren't fits but decided against it. There was no use. I swallowed loudly.

"When do I leave?" I asked, my voice detached. My parents looked at each other.

"We'll drive you tomorrow." I nodded and turned for the stairs.

A:N/ I'm baaaack! I'm so so so sorry i have been gone this long its completely inexcusable! Well here's the third chapter! I hope you enjoy it (if you forgive me enough to actually read it lol) Please let me know what you think! The next chapter should be up tomorrow, i've started it already! I'm really excited to share this story with you! So is Alice's mom a bitch for the Jacob comment? Are the Police out of order? How about the school for blaming Alice when she was trying to save them? Let me know! Thanks xoxo