I sat down on the corner of my bed, as the tears I'd fought so hard downstairs yesterday finally broke free. I'd never felt so rejected in my life. I had been rejected by my school, my boyfriend, if he could even be called that anymore. But this wasn't the worst, most hurtful thing to come out of my situation: the rejection of my parents. A thing all children fear the most. Parents are supposed to support their children in anything, stand by them. Believe them. Mine couldn't even do that.
Taking a deep breath, I walked over to my wardrobe and retrieved my suitcase from the bottom. I set it down on my bed, opened the zip, and reached back in my wardrobe for the nearest pile of clothes. I didn't care what I was taking, I didn't even bother looking. Tossing in a couple of different coloured ballet flats, I began to glance around my room. It was difficult to choose what to take. I decided on my favourite books, my IPod, my diary and my favourite teddy growing up. I placed them all delicately into my suitcase and zipped it up. I looked at the alarm clock beside my bed, telling me it was 6am. I looked at the photograph beside it. My heart froze. Maddie.
I quickly scooped the photograph up and held it to me, falling back onto my bed as fresh tears threatened to spill. The photo was of me and Maddie on the beach, a huge sand castle we'd built together between us. It was taken last year in Spain, before the visions started. My breathing sped up. How could I leave my little sister here alone? She was the thing I cherished the most in the whole world. Just then, a small knock came at my door. My mother opened it timidly.
"Ali? It's time to go."
I stayed quiet, simply wiping the last of the tears from my face. She closed the door again, eager to get away from the awkward silence, or maybe her dysfunctional child. I stood up and grabbed my leather jacket, pulling my suitcase behind me out of my bedroom door. Before I left, I picked up a small stuffed puppy on my shelf.
As I walked past Maddie's room, I stopped to listen. Slowly opening the door, I crept across to her bed and planted a kiss on her cheek. She looked so peaceful as she slept. It was best to leave her this way, rather than causing her any upset. I carefully placed the puppy toy beside her, adjusting her duvet to keep out the cold.
I reached the bottom of the stairs to find my parents lingering awkwardly around the front door. Movement in my peripheral vision made me glance into the living room. It was my Grandma. Of course they wouldn't be leaving Maddie alone. She walked over to me slowly, an apologetic look in her eyes, and pulled me into a hug.
"If it's any consolation," She began in whisper, pulling me tighter so my parents couldn't hear, "I believe you and think your parents are bloody idiots for sending you away." I pulled away supressing a smile. I had always loved the way my Grandma spoke her mind, not caring who heard her.
"Thanks Grandma. Look after Maddie for me won't you?"
She nodded as Charlie opened the front door. My mother followed him out, climbing into the car and shutting the door. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and followed them out. Charlie took it off me to place it into the boot. Just then, the front door flung open.
"Awi nooooo!"
I flipped around to see Maddie running at me, her arms out in front of her. She grabbed frantically at my leg, struggling to breathe properly through her tears. In this moment I thought my heart had broken. I knelt down slowly before her.
"Maddie look at me," I whispered softly. Her little brown eyes met mine, swimming with distraught tears. "This is only going to be for a little while, I'll be back before you know it."
"NO y-you can't gow! Don' leave me!" She shouted, breaking into fresh sobs. I kissed her forehead as I stood up. Grandma was walking towards us, sorrow now in her expression.
"Maddie come on, let's go back in the house and watch Phineas and Ferb." She said quietly, picking Maddie up. Maddie couldn't even speak anymore for crying. Grandma led her into the house and shut the door. I turned to face my parents, my expression full of loathing.
"I hope you're both happy with yourself. You've managed to not only ruin my life, but ruin Maddie's as well." And with this, I climbed into the back of the car, moodily slamming the door.
"Ali –"Charlie began from the front seat.
"Save it." I cut across him firmly, jamming my headphones into my ears.
We'd been driving about an hour when I felt a vision coming on. I was getting better at detecting them now, as I had them more and more. I rested my head against the seat and closed my eyes as if trying to sleep, waiting patiently for it to formulise.
The car came to a stop in front of some intricately weaved wrought iron gates. They began to open slowly as a brown haired woman, dressed smartly in a high-waisted skirt and blouse approached the car. I glanced up at the building, gasping at its size. It was like a mansion. Red bricks made up its exterior, filled with as many windows as it could take. I counted up the ascending windows. 8. There were eight floors. Not to mention the vast width. This place was huge.
"Alice, we're here." My mother's voice stated, bringing me back into reality. I sat up and looked between the two front seats. Sure enough, the vast iron gate from my vision was just visible in the distance. I glanced now out of my own window. Grass was visible from every angle. It seemed that this was all there was around the school. I guess that was to be expected. A school nobody has ever heard of would have to be in the middle of nowhere. I felt like I was in one of those cheesy films, being carted off to some boarding school full of stuck up people that I had no interest in getting to know. My mother rolled down her window as the woman from my vision approached the car.
"Good Morning Mr and Mrs Brandon," she said, flashing my mother and father a smile. "And Alice." She added, bending down to peer at me in the back of the car. In spite of myself, I flashed a small smile. I still couldn't be rude to people, despite my mood. My mother opened the car door and got out. Charlie and I got out at the same time, him crossing the front of the car to be at the same side. The woman extended her hand out to me.
"Alice it's nice to finally meet you properly, I'm Mrs Jenks. Welcome to Lakeview Academy." I shook her hand and stared dumbly at my feet. "Right, let's get you inside and settled into your new room. First I'll give you a couple of minutes to say goodbye. I'll be waiting in the entrance to the school." She said, returning the way she came. I turned to face my parents.
"Ali, you know we both still love you deeply. We just want to help you with these fits so you can control them better." My mother said. I'd begun to forgive them both when she began to start speaking, until she called them 'fits' again.
"Mom, they are not fits. They are visions! You may not believe me, but I can see the future."
Her expression pretty much indicated she didn't believe me, but she nodded anyway and opened her arms. Keeping my expression empty, I gave her an awkward hug and went to meet Charlie at the boot. He lifted my suitcase out and placed it beside me. Out of both of my parents, I didn't blame Charlie for this. I know he was just trying to please my mom. He looked at me nervously. To avoid another forced exchange, I pulled him into a hug. His posture relaxed slightly as he hugged me back. Before the tears resurfaced, I grabbed my suitcase and began walking towards the school, hearing the car's engine restart and the gravel crunch as my parents drove away.
Miss Jenks was stood in the doorway when I finally reached the school. A huge marble staircase took up the entrance, with vast banisters that looked to be made of gold. I still hadn't seen any of the school residents. I was starting to think there weren't any.
"Alice welcome again. Follow me I'll take you to your room." Miss Jenks said, walking to the grand staircase. Corridor after corridor ensued as Miss Jenks led the way to my room. She didn't talk though, probably inferring I wasn't up to it. This made me warm to her slightly. I was concentrating on our route, trying to process it so I knew at least where one thing was. It was impossible. How people knew where everything was in this school was beyond me. Miss Jenks slowed outside a room that read 1504. She reached for a key and placed it into the lock, flipping open the door.
"I'll leave you alone now to unpack your things. The school's main documents are over on the desk, along with a map and a timetable. If you have any problems, feel free to come and find me, or just knock on your neighbour's door. Here is your room key. Everybody is really friendly, and I know you'll settle in in no time." She flashed me another smile and then walked away down the corridor. I wheeled my suitcase into my new room and closed the door behind me.
The walls were a crisp white colour, looking only recently painted. The floor was laminate, with a large chocolate rug that looked comfy enough to sleep on. The room was a modest size, equipping a double sized bed, which I was surprised at, as well as a desk, a wardrobe and a chocolate arm chair. I opened the wardrobe to find wooden hangers had already been provided, as well as what looked like a uniform on the shelf. I lifted my suitcase onto the bed and unzipped it.
Unpacking the contents of my wardrobe hadn't taken as long as what I thought it would. The room was now starting to feel more homely. Although I felt tired from being up so early, the last thing I felt like doing was taking a nap. I walked over to the desk and picked up the school documents, sitting on the corner of my bed to read them. Just then, a knock came at my door.
A/N: Okay i know it has been aaaages! Like nearly a year and i'm so so so so sorry! Stuff has just been really hectic recently, what with exams, and university applications! Anyhow, if there is any of you left out there that haven't given up on me, here is chapter 4! I've finished school now until i (hopefully) start Uni in September. So, this gives me plenty of opportunity to devote time to this story. Regrettably i've decided to scrap my 'The Inside that Counts' sequel, due to lack of inspiration. There's no point writing it for it to be crap, it would have been a huge let down! Thank you for reading! Be sure to review!