AH1) Welcome to Arcturus High - Ch3 - Struggling

(Josie Sayz: As promised, here is the edited version of chapter two of 'Welcome to Arcturus High' story, which is the first story of the 'Arcturus High Chronicles'. This chapter has a few minor changes to some of the sentences, more so because I was feeling fussy, and I have a right to be fussy, I'm the author. There has, also, been a brand-new scene added, focusing on a couple of characters that were only mentioned in passing before, but held an integral part to Caitlyn's story. I gave a nameless character a name too, not that it bears much relevance, but I am hoping it adds to the multicultural feeling that I am aiming for.

If you have found this page without reading chapters one or two, first, you can find it here:
Chapter One: https://josiesayz.blogspot.com/2024/08/ah1-welcome-to-arcturus-high-ch1.html.
Chapter Two: https://josiesayz.blogspot.com/2024/08/ah1-welcome-to-arcturus-high-ch2.html.)

 

Welcome to Arcturus High

Struggling

“Ready?” Jay asked, as he stood in the doorway to Caitlyn’s house, early on Monday morning.

“Not really,” she muttered, squinting against the rising sun. Looping the straps of her backpack over her shoulders, she closed the front door behind her. “It was hard enough finding my way around on Friday, when it was just us year sevens. How am I supposed to cope now, with the entire school in the building?”

“I know,” mumbled Jay shrugging. “Look, no one said this was going to be easy. If it were, all adults would be teachers or politicians or… astronauts.” Shaking her head at him, Caitlyn giggled. “See,” he chuckled. “We’ve just gotta try our best… and help each other out along the way.” Caitlyn gave Jay a firm nod. “Glad you agree.”

The volume of humming engines increased, as Jay and Caitlyn made their way down the road. Scratching a hand to the back of his head, Jay turned to his friend. “You know,” he muttered. “I don’t say it often enough, but I do appreciate you, Caitlyn.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, feeling her cheeks tingle.

“You don’t dig or pry,” he went on. “You just have a way of making me feel better about things… and I know I can talk to you.” Pinching her lips in, Caitlyn lowered her head, as a rosy hue washed over her cheeks. “And I know you’ve been struggling,” Jay told her with a shrug. “And I’m not the greatest with words, but I wanted to try and cheer you up.” A flutter exploded in Jay’s stomach, as he slipped his right arm out of the strap of his backpack and swung his bag around to his front. Diving a hand inside his backpack, he hummed to himself. “Here,” he said, handing Caitlyn a palm-sized package, wrapped in fuchsia tissue paper. With her lips parted, Caitlyn’s brows slanted upwards. A squeaky gasp escaped her. “Well…” he nodded, gesturing at the pink parcel. “Open it.”

A curious smile crept into the corner of Caitlyn’s mouth, as she peeled off the sticky tape. Fluttering tingled inside her. As she tugged on the tissue paper, the small parcel began to unravel. “Aww!” she squealed, as the contents rolled out of the wrappings, onto her hand. A fluffy, violet bear sat in her palm. Warmth tickled her cheeks, as their hue deepened to a rosy blush. Caitlyn’s fingers sank into the soft plush of the fabric. She stroked a thumb against a cream felt patch that outlined the bear’s stomach. Fuzzy tufts of lilac protruded out of its ears. Sliding her finger into the metal keyring loop, Caitlyn held the bear out in front of her. “Jay!” she gasped. “I love him!” Gripping her bear and the wrappings tight, she flung her arms around Jay’s shoulders. A salty prickle crept into the corner of her eyes, as she hugged him tight. “Thank you so much!” she exclaimed, as she let go of her friend and returned her attention to the bear. “He’s perfect,” she cooed.

“I’m glad you like it,” Jay blushed, running a hand across the back of his neck. “Here, I’ll take the rubbish,” he added, as they neared a bin.

Turning the corner, onto the stretch of street that passed by Kieran’s road, Jay spotted a group of older students crossing the road towards them. His cheeks glowed an identical hue to the tissue paper, as he realised these older students had witnessed Caitlyn hugging him. Jogging back to Caitlyn, on his return from the bin, Jay told her, “I thought you could attach it to the small pouch on your bag.” Her eyes widened, as she turned towards him. “I know you have a texture thing,” he said with a shrug, as he watched Caitlyn stoke her thumbs across the plush. “And that way, you always have something soft with you.”

“You’re amazing,” she beamed.

“And when it rains,” he told her, “you can just tuck the bear inside the pouch.”

“Genius!” Caitlyn exclaimed, as she made the bear clap its hands. Jay chuckled at her.

“Do you want me to attach it to your bag for you?” he asked.

“Please,” nodded Caitlyn, handing Jay her backpack.

The two friends slowed their walk, while Jay attached the keying loop of Caitlyn’s bear to the zip of her bag’s front compartment. Watching Jay fiddle with the keyring loop, a distant figure came into focus. The giggling tingle in Caitlyn’s cheeks faded. An icy shudder crept up her spine. Her stomach flopped. “Hi Caitlyn,” sang an all too familiar voice. Parting her lips, she blinked several times, as Kieran stopped at the cul-de-sac corner on the opposite side of the road. “Oh,” Caitlyn blurted out. “Kieran’s here,” she projected, pointing across the street.

“Good timing,” smirked Jay, as he handed Caitlyn her bag back, with her new keyring attached.

“Yey!” she sang, throwing her arms around Jay once more.

Closing his eyes, Jay chuckled to himself, as Caitlyn hugged him. A warmth tingled at his chest. Flickering his eyes open, he met Kieran’s daggered glare. Rubbing a hand on Caitlyn’s shoulder, Jay forced a swallow.

Leaning out of their embrace, Caitlyn hugged Jay’s right arm, as Kieran appeared on Jay’s left. “Jay’s the best!” Caitlyn exclaimed, pressing her cheek into his shoulder with a hum. Blushing, Jay scratched his left hand across the back of his head.

“What’s goin’ on?” Kieran growled.

“Look!” exclaimed Caitlyn, letting go of Jay’s arm. “Look what Jay got me,” she insisted with a bounce. Slipping her right shoulder out of her bag’s strap, she swung her backpack around. A giggle escaped her, as she gripped her purple bear, making its hand wave at Kieran. “It’s the best present I’ve ever had,” she told Kieran, as she swung her bag back on her back. “I love him.” Snarling his nose, Kieran glared at Jay. “Sorry for hugging you so much,” apologised Caitlyn, noticing Jay’s flushed cheeks. “I can’t help it,” she confessed. “I’m just so happy.”

“I’m just glad I could help,” Jay muttered. A shudder crept up his back, as he caught Kieran’s continued glare out of the corner of his eye. Sliding his hands into his pockets, Jay hunched his back.

 

*

 

Pressing her back against the wooden wall, Caitlyn slid down to the floor. Her intestines knotted, as she glanced up the maths corridor. There was still twenty minutes to go until the first lesson of the day started. Darcia was stood, three classrooms away, talking with a bunch of people outside of her classroom. Rummaging in her pencil case for her multicolour ink pen, Caitlyn flicked open her notebook and began writing. ‘Why can’t I stand with her?’ Caitlyn wondered, as the group’s bellowed laughter echoed down the corridor towards her. ‘I could come by my classroom closer to lesson time.’ Sniffing, she twisted her posture, turning her back towards them.

“No, you can’t,” Darcia had shouted when Caitlyn has suggested that they wait together. “Your classroom is down there,” she sneered, pointing. “I’m in top set.”

‘I was only one mark off getting the same grade as her,’ sulked Caitlyn as she doodled a flower in the top corner of her page. ‘And I had chickenpox during exam week,’ she fumed. ‘I bet I can be just as good as Darcia.’ Clicking the black ink on her pen, the pink retracted, as Caitlyn returned to writing.

As Darcia’s group began laughing once more, Caitlyn flickered a glance in their direction. Her intestines knotted. Samantha was now standing with them. ‘That’s not fair,’ Caitlyn sulked. ‘Samantha’s not in her class. She’s in the bottom set, next door.’ A salty sting prickled into the corner of her eye. She sniffed. Her stomach winced. ‘What’s up with Darcia?’ Caitlyn pouted, as she pressed her pen harder into the page. ‘She didn’t even like Samantha last week, now look at them,’ she grumbled, flickering her attention back to Darcia and her new friends. Leaning against Samantha’s shoulder, Darcia whispered into her ear. The two giggled, as Samantha pointed at the tallest boy in the group, who squealed, “What? Why me?”

Sighing to herself, Caitlyn arched her head around. No one was outside her maths classroom yet. ‘They’re probably with their friends,’ she realised, as she wrinkled her nose and scribbled out an adverb she had written down.

The floor vibrated. She gasped. Hugging her knees to her chest, Caitlyn scrunched herself up, as a stampede of boys, much older than her, hurtled down the corridor. “That was close!” exclaimed a girl, with jet-black hair tied in a short ponytail, as she perched beside Caitlyn. Letting out a nervous exhale, Caitlyn’s spine shuddered with a chill, as she nodded. “Are you Caitlyn?” asked the girl.

“Yeah,” replied Caitlyn with a frown.

“Is this maths room number forty-three?” the girl asked.

“Yeah,” Caitlyn nodded.

“Good,” the girl beamed, curling her legs underneath herself. “Jay said I’d find you here.”

The more the girl spoke, the deeper the creases on Caitlyn’s forehead became. “Sorry,” the girl giggled. “My name’s Aisha. I was put in red band, in the same form group as all the bullies from my old school,” she explained.

“That’s awful!” Caitlyn cried.

“My dad came down after school on Friday and we spoke to the lady on reception, Mrs Doherty,” Aisha told Caitlyn. “He went mental – I’ve never seen him so angry. Anyway,” she shrugged. “I get to move to blue band from today. I didn’t know where my class was, but Jay, who was in my old form, said you’re his friend and are in blue band and were in maths room forty-three, like me – he pointed you out, so I ran over here.”

As Aisha babbled on, the shudder Caitlyn had felt upon her arrival faded. ‘Maybe it was from the boys that ran by,’ she decided. ‘Aisha may be a bit of a chatterbox, but she seems nice,’ Caitlyn told herself.

“So, what’cha writing?” Aisha asked, peering over Caitlyn’s notebook.

“I dunno,” shrugged Caitlyn, pulling her notebook nearer. “It’s just a silly story.” Aisha nodded her head with an inquisitive gleam.

“So, why’re you on your own?” she asked.

“Jay’s my best friend,” Caitlyn mumbled with a shrug. “But we got separated into different bands.” Shifting a glance over to Darcia and the group surrounding her (which Caitlyn noticed had almost doubled in size) Caitlyn closed her notebook and stared at a thinning patch of carpet in front of them. “I guess I’m just not good at making friends.”

“But I just came from Jay’s class,” Aisha gasped, tugging on Caitlyn’s arm. “That means there’s a space. You could transfer into red band and take my place!” she explained with an excited squeal.

“I don’t know,” Caitlyn mumbled. She expected her intestines to swirl into knots, however, to Caitlyn’s surprise an excited flutter buzzed inside her. Squeezing her biceps, Caitlyn attempted to make herself as small as possible.

“I can go with you at break,” Aisha insisted. “I’ll introduce you to Mrs Doherty – she’s super nice. She’s the guidance councillor too, as well as the receptionist.” Aisha’s excitement caused her to speak so fast that Caitlyn felt her brain ringing, as she tried to follow what her new friend was saying. “When you tell her what happened, I’m sure she’ll be happy to help.”

“Are you sure?” Caitlyn asked, snapping her eyes tight, as another racing ramble of boys ran past. Squinting her eyes open, a squeak escaped her.

“Of course,” Aisha cheered, oblivious to the chaos that raged around them. “And I just came from that class, so there’s room for you to move.” Caitlyn prodded her mouth from the right corner, to the left and back again. “We can go at break and ask,” Aisha insisted. “I’ll go with you.”

“Okay,” agreed Caitlyn with a giggle, as a warmth spread from her chest. ‘Maybe things are looking up,’ Caitlyn told herself.

Chatter echoed around them. Bodies bustled by from left to right. Footsteps thundered the ground. Caitlyn’s heart rattled in her ribcage. A teacher’s yelled warning disappeared into the mass of noise. A paper aeroplane shot overhead. Bellowed laughter exploded from a nearby group. Stiffening her shoulders, Caitlyn’s eyes froze on the small patch of warn carpet, with a dark chewing gum circle, in front of her. “We’d better stand up,” Aisha warned Caitlyn, tugging on the red head’s blazer. “We don’t wanna be stepped on.” Nodding, Caitlyn agreed. Flickering her sight to Aisha, Caitlyn found herself smiling.

“Thanks,” Caitlyn told her.

“For what?” frowned Aisha.

“For helping me,” Caitlyn replied with a shrug. “I appreciate you talking to me and I’m not very good at making friends,” she muttered, flickering her sight to her shoes.

“No problem!” cheered Aisha with a big grin. “I’m happy to be your friend. We’re gonna crack you outta that shy shell and set you free.” Throwing a hand to her mouth, a nervous laugh escaped Caitlyn. “What? You think I’m joking?” Aisha exclaimed. “Nuh-uh. You’re gonna be Confident Caitlyn in no time an’ everyone’s gonna wanna be your friend.” Caitlyn’s nervous laughter turned into a bubble of giggles.

“I don’t know about that,” Caitlyn told her new friend, as she gripped a hand to the back of her neck.

“Nonsense. You’ll be happy an’ bouncy, like me, in no time,” Aisha beamed.

 

*

 

The trembling in Caitlyn’s chest eased, as her maths lesson began. Her teacher, Mrs Arendas, a blonde cheerful lady with a warm voice, was nowhere near as frightening as Mr Penn or as disgusting as spluttering Mr Shaw. The work was not as hard as Caitlyn had anticipated either and Mrs Arendas let them work in pairs. Skimming her eyes down the list of equations, on the handout in front of her, Caitlyn felt a smile poke into her cheek. “You’re really good at maths,” Aisha told Caitlyn from across the table.

“D’you think so?” replied Caitlyn with a furrowed brow.

“You seem a lot more confident doing maths that you did back there, in the corridor,” Aisha pointed out.

“Thanks… I think,” smiled Caitlyn. “I do like maths, but I think English is my favourite subject. What about you?” Wrinkling her nose, Aisha shrugged.

“I dunno,” she sighed. “A lot of lessons are boring. I heard you get to do science experiments at secondary school though – now that sounds exciting!” Caitlyn giggled, as her friend’s eyes widened with excitement. Despite Aisha’s forward self-introduction and Caitlyn’s discomforting shudder when they met, Caitlyn was beginning to warm to Aisha.

A small flutter flickered in Caitlyn’s chest, as her confidence that built during her maths lesson followed her to her geography one. Arriving outside her classroom, the frosty shudder returned to Caitlyn’s spine, as she discovered that her new friend, Aisha, shared her timetable and her form group. ‘How odd,’ Caitlyn noted at her shuddering sensation. ‘Maybe I’m nervous about geography,’ she concluded. ‘I’m sure Aisha’s nice. She’s helping me move bands and she’s being friendly.’

“Hi!” came a yelp from a familiar voice, bringing Caitlyn out of her thoughts. A head of ebony-brown hair appeared in front of her.

“Hi Darcia,” Caitlyn murmured, forcing a swallow. “Hi Samantha,” she added, spotting her shy friend beside her. Caitlyn’s stomach knotted, as Darcia abandoning her, before maths, slid to the front of her mind. Gripping her books tight at her chest, Caitlyn’s eyes flickered to the floor. Another pair of shoes appeared beside Darcia’s. They were leather, lace-up, nurses’ shoes and were much larger and wider shoes than Samantha’s petite ballet pumps or Darcia’s Maryjane’s. Shifting her sight towards the third girl, Caitlyn’s eyes widened, as the girl towered several inches over her and her friends. Lingering beside the group, the girl hugged her orange notebook to her chest. Caitlyn smiled at her, and the girl smiled back.

Conversations swirled around them, as bodies of students filled the corridor. The floor vibrated. Students raced from one end of the humanities corridor to the other. Forcing a swallow, Caitlyn pressed her back up against the wall. “Is this our geography room?” Darcia asked, pointing at the classroom door that they were waiting outside.

“Yeah,” Caitlyn replied. “And this is Aisha,” she told Darcia and Samantha, as she pointed towards her new friend. “She’s just transferred bands, into our form group. Aisha, this is Darcia and Samantha; they’re in our form,” Caitlyn explained, pointing to each of the girls in turn. “Darcia I know from primary school and we met Samantha last week.”

“Cool!” Aisha exclaimed, waving her hand fast, with wide eyes and a huge grin, at Darcia and Samantha. “Great to meet you.” Turning towards the tall blonde girl who remained at Darcia’s side, she asked, “And who are you?”

“Oh,” the girl blushed, shimmying back a step.

“I found my friend, Emily,” Darcia told them, pointing towards the tall blonde. “Her dad’s on the school governing board too,” Darcia explained. “I’ve met Emily at some of dad’s boring meetings.”

“Nice to meet you,” said Caitlyn.

“You too,” beamed Emily. “My dad’s a teacher here,” she told them. “He’s Mr Durrant. He teaches resistant materials and graphic design. So, I know this school quite well.”

“Who’s your form tutor?” asked Aisha.

“Miss Vines,” Emily told them. “She teaches maths.”

“Year sevens?” called a female voice from the doorway. The chatter outside the classroom quietened, as heads turned towards the teacher. “Would you like to come in and find a seat?”

“Will you wait for me at break?” Emily asked, tugging on Darcia’s sleeve. “My classroom’s opposite yours.”

“Of course,” the girls agreed, as Darcia, Samantha, Caitlyn and Aisha entered their geography classroom.

Following Samantha and Darcia inside, the group approached a four-seater table, to the left of the whiteboard. Caitlyn’s stomach churned. A hand squeezed her elbow. Caitlyn jumped, throwing her head over her shoulder. “Sorry,” Aisha giggled. “Didn’t mean t’ make you jump.”

“It’s okay,” replied Caitlyn with a nervous laugh. Pressing a hand to her chest, Caitlyn inhaled several shaky breaths, as she sat down next to Darcia.

“How was maths?” Darcia whispered, as their class fumbled into the room.

“It was okay,” replied Caitlyn with a shrug. The spiralling in her stomach swirled around faster. ‘Are we still friends?’ Caitlyn wondered. Her brow puckered. “It was a lot easier than I thought it would be,” Caitlyn added, wanting to prove to Darcia that she was good at maths, like her. “What about you?”

“It was fun!” Darcia exclaimed. “The boys in our class are so funny.” Caitlyn shot her eyes to the desk. Wrapping her arms around her stomach, the churning increased. “Sam, isn’t Matt hilarious?” Darcia went on with a chuckle.

“Yeah,” muttered Samantha with a nod, as her cheeks turned pink. Caitlyn flickered a glance in her direction. Seeing Samantha and Darcia get along made a smile prod into Caitlyn’s cheek.

‘I’m glad Darcia seems to like Samantha now,’ Caitlyn told herself, as their teacher asked for silence. ‘I have no idea how it happened, but I’m glad it did.’

Clearing her throat in a cantankerous manner, their teacher waited for silence. Caitlyn shot her eyes to the front of the classroom. A worrying tremble vibrated Caitlyn’s bottom lip and her brow shot up, as she examined the woman that stood before them. Their teacher’s charcoal pencil skirt clung to her bones. Her ivory blouse hung from her skeleton. Propping herself up against the back of her chair, their geography teacher introduced herself as Ms Tata. Her cheek bones protruded to the surface of her skin, as she smiled at them. “As you can see, I’m not up to full strength,” she told the class. “You’re my first class back after my operation.” Gasps sounded. “I am well enough to be back at work,” she added, seeing a few puckered brows amongst her students. “I’m sharing this with you, as I’m hoping you’ll be kind and try not to be too disruptive,” Ms Tata explained with a weak grin. Caitlyn beamed a warm smile in Ms Tata’s direction. “Thank you,” Miss Tata nodded, taking her class’ silence as them accepting her request. “Now, we’re going to start with something some of you might find exciting: volcanos.”

 

*

 

As year seven blue band were introduced to their humanities teachers and the subjects that they would be studying for the first half of term, red band began their morning break. Footsteps thundered down the marble staircase, in the science section of the building. Cheers and yelps of freedom echoed through the school walls, as students raced towards the canteen. Plodding out of their science classroom, Jay nudged Kieran’s arm. “I’m gonna head to the toilets. I’ll meet you guys in the canteen,” Jay said, looking from Kieran to Sean and giving the boys a nod.

“No worries,” replied Sean, with a shrug. Darting his eyes towards Jay, Kieran snarled his nose and grunted.

Watching Jay disappear around the corner, Kieran’s feet rooted to the spot. His breathing grew heavy, and his hands trembled at his sides. Sensing his friend’s discord, Sean elbowed Kieran in the ribs. “What yer got a face on yer for?”

“Cuz,” Kieran shrugged, flaring his nostrils, as the image of Caitlyn wrapping her arms around Jay, this morning, flashed to the front of his mind.

“Come on, mate. You were fine on Friday,” Sean replied, with a puckered brow. “What changed?”

“I made an enemy,” growled Kieran, still starting at the empty space in the corridor, where Jay had disappeared around the corner.

“An enemy?” chuckled Sean. “How can you have an enemy?”

“It’s Jay. I hate him,” Kieran snarled.

“Jay?” repeated Sean, as deep lines creased his forehead. “Ain’t you best mates?”

“Not anymore. Now we’re enemies,” Kieran declared. His brows daggered, as he stomped down the corridor, in the opposite direction to the canteen.

“Does Jay know that?” Sean asked, trailing after his friend. Silence. Kieran’s daggered glare remained fixed on his forehead, as he stomped along the corridor that connected the science and maths departments together. “I’ll take your silence as a no,” Sean chuckled to himself, unable to take his friend’s words as serious. “Like, what did Jay do to become your enemy?”

“He ruined my life,” snarled Kieran, clenching his hands into fists at his sides. As they continued walking, Kieran’s footsteps stomped louder down the corridor.

“A little dramatic, don’t you think?” Sean chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. Gritting his teeth, Kieran growled in response. Heat bubbled within him. Rage rumbled throughout his body.

“Dramatic?” Kieran fumed. “My entire life is ruined.”

Sean’s words became a distant blur to Kieran, as his mind tortured him, replaying the same scene over and over and over again. A romantic, translucent, rose-pink mist clouded the background, as the face of a smiling girl, with long bonze hair appeared in front of him. Her caring, blue eyes, bright smile and rosy cheeks made his heart flutter. As Kieran approached her, the girl’s eyes widened. “Hi Caitlyn,” he said, with his biggest smile, waving at her. A head of chocolate-brown hair blocked his view, as his so-called best friend, Jay, wrapped his arms around Caitlyn. ‘But she’s mine,’ Kieran growled. The romantic mist faded to burning flame of fiery crimson and golden, glowing amber. Feeling his body tremble, Kieran’s hands balls into fists, as he watched Caitlyn bury her head into Jay’s chest. Her cute giggle rang in his ears, distorted by Jay’s warm chuckle.

“I love you, Caitlyn,” he heard Jay say.

“I love you too, Jay,” she said back. A pang stabbed Kieran straight through his heart.

Shuddering out of his thoughts, Kieran looked around at his surroundings for Sean. Stood in front of him, Sean had his shoe propped up against a football ball. “I said, would havin’ a kick about help?” Sean asked, with a mischievous smirk.

“Where’d you get the ball?” asked Kieran, with a puzzled frown.

“Just found it lyin’ here, outside a the drama hall,” Sean shrugged, as he passed the ball from his right foot to his left. “Wanna give it a whirl?” Flicking the football ball up, with the tip of his shoe, Sean kicked it into the air and kneed the ball in Kieran’s direction. Kieran’s eyes lit up, as he let the ball drop in front of him and began dribbling it down the main school corridor. Passing the ball to Sean, Kieran jogged ahead of him. The two passed the ball back and forth several times, before Sean said, “Kick it up; I’m a header it.” With a nod, Kieran flicked the ball up with the tip of his shoe and booted it towards Sean. Bouncing up on his toes, Sean tapped the ball with the tip of his head. It bounced off the wall, towards him. Sean’s eyes widened, as he sidestepped. Following the ball’s movement, Sean let it thump against his chest and drop down to his feet, before tapping it down the hall to Kieran.

A smile stretched across Kieran’s face, as he exclaimed, “Let me try!” and passed the ball back to Sean. Retrieving the football ball, Sean passed it between his left and right foot a couple of times, before swinging his right leg back and giving the ball a deep kick. The air whistled, as the ball flew into the air. Chuckling, Kieran thumped his head against it. The ball bounced to his left. Smash! Glass shattered. The boys’ eyes widened. They gasped. The football ball had shot through the deputy head teacher, Mr Llewellyn’s, office door window. The door swung open. The boys bolted.

 

*

 

Chatter boomed down the humanities corridor, as year seven blue band raced out of their classrooms, ready for their morning break time. Fumbling her way out of the classroom, Caitlyn staggered forwards, as someone barged her out of the way. “You okay?” gasped Emily, as she reached out to grab Caitlyn.

“Yes, thanks,” Caitlyn panted, steadying her balance. “Ms Tata seems nice,” Caitlyn told her friends, arching her head over her shoulder to include Samantha, who trailed behind.

“Yeah,” nodded Samantha. “I’m not sure I like volcanos though,” she muttered. “They’re dangerous.”

“So, we ready to go to the canteen?” Darcia asked, leading the group down the corridor.

“Actually…” Caitlyn hesitated, flickering her glance from Aisha to Darcia and back again. “Aisha said she’d go with me to talk to Mrs Doherty.”

“Oh,” muttered Darcia.

“Mrs Doherty? Why are you going to see her?” asked Emily.

“There’s something I need to do,” Caitlyn confessed. Admitting this out loud, the tightening in her shoulders relaxed. Her chest released a breath Caitlyn had not noticed she had been holding in. ‘I know I’m doing the right thing,’ Caitlyn told herself. ‘Something just hasn’t been right since I started at this school and rather than stand by and struggle, I’m going to be brave and fix it myself… well, with Aisha’s help.’

Having parted ways with Darcia, Samantha and Emily, Caitlyn and Aisha made their way towards the reception area, at the front of the school. “Are you ready?” Aisha asked, skipping down the stairs.

“I’m kinda scared,” Caitlyn confessed, twisting her studded earring.

“You know you’re doing the right thing though, right?” asked Aisha.

“Definitely,” Caitlyn nodded. “It’s the only thing that doesn’t make my stomach spiral into loads of knots.”

“Good,” Aisha nodded, as they approached the main hall. Biting her bottom lip, Caitlyn dropped her eyes to the floor. Her pulse pounded. Cupping her hands around the cuffs of her blazer, Caitlyn attempted to scrub the sweat from her clammy hands. Seeing Caitlyn’s lowered head, Aisha asked, “Do you want me to do the talking?” Pinching her lips in, Caitlyn nodded.

“Yes please,” she squeaked.

“Okay,” Aisha giggled, as the girls stood in the doorway to the reception room. “Mrs Doherty…” Aisha called from the doorway. A tiny lady, with a frosty perm, sat at a desk that peered out through the wall hatch, into the visitors’ area. Acknowledging the girls, Mrs Doherty, smiled and nodded in Caitlyn and Aisha’s direction. “My friend needs to speak to you about changing bands. She’s all on her own in blue band and her friends are all in red band.” Clinging to Aisha’s side, Caitlyn pressed her chin to her chest.

“Okay dears,” Mrs Doherty sang. “Just wait there,” she called, as the phone rang. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”

Giving Aisha’s elbow a squeeze, Caitlyn whispered, “Thank you.” A slight frown formed upon Caitlyn’s forehead, as she noticed that a cardboard box had been taped to the window of the door to the deputy head teacher’s office, to their left, with brown parcel tape.

“No problem,” Aisha shrugged. “I’d hate seeing you upset if there was a simple solution to make you happy.” Shuddering out of her thoughts, Caitlyn returned her attention to Aisha, smiling at her. As the girls giggled, a set of footsteps appeared from behind.

“Morning girls!” boomed the deep voice of Mr Penn.

“Hi Sir,” the girls replied. Shimmying towards Aisha’s side, Caitlyn clawed her fingers into her friend’s arm, as the creeping shudder that Caitlyn had sensed the first time she met Mr Penn, crawled up her back once more.

Mr Penn passed the girls, as he entered the reception area. He plonked a stack of papers into a crimson-coloured tray labelled, “Bills.” Scratching a hand to his head, a growled sigh escaped him, as he shook his head. Caitlyn trembled. As Mr Penn turned around, he smiled at Caitlyn and said, “I hope you’re settling in well,” locking eyes with her. Lowering her sight to his shoes, Caitlyn hunched her shoulders.

“Kind of,” she muttered, as he strode back through the doorway.

A sinking thud dropped in Caitlyn’s stomach. Her eyes shifted from right to left. ‘Something’s not right,’ she warned herself. Mr Penn’s footsteps stopped. She widened her eyes. Her ears pricked up. She held her breath.

“Right,” announced Mrs Doherty, as she appeared beside the girls. Caitlyn flinched. She shook her head, freeing herself from her thoughts. “What are you new students bothering me about, now?” she snapped. Caitlyn’s eyes shot open, as her heart skipped a beat. Gripping Aisha’s elbow, Caitlyn’s tongue scrapped against the roof of her mouth.

“My friend, Caitlyn, got put in blue band on her own, Miss,” Aisha explained. “Her friend’s in red band – the form group I moved from. Might she be able to swap?”

“I’d really appreciate it,” Caitlyn squeaked. Keeping her head low, she shifted her sight to the receptionist, who stood a few inches taller than her.

“And why must I listen to two whiny, little schoolgirls?” raged Mrs Doherty. Both Caitlyn and Aisha flinched. A gasp escaped Caitlyn, as Mrs Doherty roared, “You do not tell me how to run the school. Be gone with you,” she ordered, pointing her arm down the corridor.

“B, but,” stuttered Aisha.

“You dare defy me, girl,” Mrs Doherty snarled. “Be gone at once or it’s consequence three for the both of you.” Letting out a squeal of fright, Caitlyn and Aisha power walked away from the receptionist as fast as they could, without risking receiving detention for running.

“I don’t understand,” Aisha cried, as the two of them leant against the corridor wall, outside of their geography classroom. “She was so nice just a moment ago,” she panted.

“I know,” Caitlyn breathed. “She snapped – just like magic.”

“I’m really sorry Caitlyn,” muttered Aisha, rubbing a hand on Caitlyn’s shoulder. “I was only trying to help.”

“I know,” Caitlyn shrugged. “It’s not your fault,” she insisted. “I’m starting to think this whole school is cursed, or something,” she told Aisha with a nervous chuckle. “Ever since that guy, Mr Penn, showed Jay and I inside, things have just continued in a downward spiral.”

 

*

 

Bodies pushed and shoved their way through the drama studio door. Ducking, as an elbow rammed towards his head, Jay escaped a black eye. With his friend, Sean, at his side, the two of them spotted an empty space in the drama studio hall and sat down on the carpeted floor. “Where’s Kieran?” Sean hissed, as year sevens filed inside and sat down, ready for their year group’s assembly.

“No idea,” shrugged Jay. “I haven’t seen him since break.”

“Yo!” exclaimed a guy from their form group, named Amar, as he sat down beside them. “D’yer hear, some kid smashed a ball into Mr Llewelyn’s office window, during break?” he asked, with a booming grin.

“No way!” gasped Sean, with a chuckle to his voice. “Did they catch who did it?”

“Dunno,” Amar shrugged. “I bet he gets expelled though. Can you believe it, we ain’t even been here a week?” Amar smirked, shaking his head. “Whoever it is, that kid’s got guts.”

“Yeah man,” Sean agreed, as the two boys fist bumped. Jay rolled his shoulders and arched his back, keeping his head low.

‘Why are they excited?’ Jay wondered, as grins remained on the faces of the two boys at his sides. ‘Someone’s destroyed the deputy head’s office window, they’re gonna be in serious trouble, yet these guys think it’s cool.’ His insides churned. Whispered murmurs spread around them.

“That’s scary,” he heard someone say.

“Why would anyone do that?” gasped another.

‘Great,’ Jay thought, as his shoulders sank lower. ‘Why are my friends the only ones that think damaging school property is cool?’

Chatter increased in volume, as the drama studio hall filled with year sevens. Clambering onto the floor, elbows jabbed in people’s sides and knees prodded into the backs of the person in front. “Settle down year seven,” yelled the female PE teacher, Miss Ferguson, who stood at the front of the drama studio hall. The loud chatter lowered to mumbles and whispers.

“Quiet!” Mr Bruges roared, cupping his hands around his mouth. Students shuddered at the intensity of his roar. Silence.

“Much better,” grinned Miss Hirons, at his side. “And welcome all to your first drama studio assembly,” she announced. “Once a week, you will meet here, where all of the year seven form tutors will share any information that we need to pass to you all.”

The entrance to the drama studio hall creaked open. Heads spun around, eager to see the disruption. The school’s deputy head teacher, Mr Llewelyn, stood in the doorway (at the back of the drama studio hall) with Kieran at his side. A smug grin etched on the boy’s face, as his eyes searched the pool of students. “Sorry to interrupt,” Mr Llewelyn told them. “But can I borrow James Hilton for a moment, please?” Gasps, whispers, and a chorus of, “Oooow!” rang out around the room. Eyes turned towards Jay, as he rose to his feet.

Jay’s heart sank to his stomach. Forcing a swallow, he clambered through the mass of bodies. Pulse pounded in his ears. Sweat clammed up his palms. His eyes locked with Caitlyn’s, as he neared her. “What’s happening?” she mouthed. Shaking his head, Jay shrugged. Reaching the back of the hall, Jay’s heart rattled in his ribcage. His bottom lip trembled. Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, a shudder drained the colour from his face.

“Thank you,” Mr Llewelyn nodded to the front of the room, as he led Jay into the corridor.

 

*

 

Since the incident that morning with Mrs Doherty, Caitlyn had been on edge. Not knowing what had happened to Jay earlier, when he got called out of the drama hall assembly, made her stomach spiral even more. Throughout the day, she jumped every time her name was called. She kept her head down in attempt to not draw attention to herself. Even Darcia noticed something was wrong and proceeded to poke Caitlyn, at regular intervals, during double science, last lesson.

Once their science teacher, a broad, bald man, named Dr McAuley, dismissed them for the day, Caitlyn hurried out of the science block. Racing to her locker, Caitlyn pulled her bag out and squeezed her bear keyring tight. The hammering in her chest eased, as she exhaled. The swirling in her stomach subsided. A tightness loosened around her temples. With a groan, she rolled her shoulders back, hearing her joints crack.

Fumbling her way through the crowd, Caitlyn scrambled past the bodies to safety, at the fir tree on the far side of the grassy area, known as the quad. She scanned the crowd for Darcia, having agreed to walk home together. A different brunet caught her attention. “Jay!” Caitlyn called, as she waved him over. Turning to face Caitlyn, Jay gave her a nod of acknowledgement, before plodding towards her. “Do you want to walk home together?” she asked. Prodding the left corner of his mouth into his cheek, Jay nodded. “Yey!” exclaimed Caitlyn. “Let me just tell Darcia I’m walking home with you instead.”

“Don’t abandon Darcia on my account,” muttered Jay.

“Don’t be silly,” Caitlyn told him. “You’re just as important to me as Darcia is – more so, even. Wait here. I won’t be a sec.”

As soon as Caitlyn had spoken to Darcia, she returned to Jay’s side and the two of them walked back through the school and out of the main entrance. Caitlyn found herself pouting, as her eyes lingered on Jay. Dragging his feet, Jay’s shoulders deflated, and he slid his hands into his trouser pockets. The corners of his mouth arched down, and his chin sank towards his chest. Caitlyn’s heart panged. ‘Something’s wrong,’ she knew, as Jay kicked at a stone, lobbing it across the street. “So, how was your day?” she asked, as they exited the crescent and turned onto the main road.

“Alright,” mumbled Jay, his voice no more than a whisper, almost lost amongst the nearby chatter and traffic.

“Sounds like my day,” Caitlyn told him. “Aisha started in blue band today.” Keeping his eyes on the ground, Jay hummed in acknowledgement. “She said you pointed her in my direction,” Caitlyn continued, as Jay kicked at another stone. “She thinks very highly of you,” she added, twisting her studded earring around in her ear. “She went with me to see Mrs Doherty. She tried to help me change band, into your form group, but erm…” Caitlyn forced a swallow and her brow puckered before continuing. “Er, Mrs Doherty kinda screamed in my face and we ran away.”

“That sucks,” Jay muttered, still staring at his shoes.

“Having my bear has made me feel better though,” Caitlyn told him, giving Jay a big smile.

A twinge in her heart caused Caitlyn to sigh. Her shoulders drooped. ‘I can’t bear to see Jay like this,’ Caitlyn cried to herself. Watching Jay’s hunched posture and his glum expression made her stomach swirl. “So,” she chimed, in an attempt to change the subject. “Did you get a lot of homework?” Jay shrugged. ‘This isn’t going well,’ she exhaled, in defeat. Fiddling with her earrings, Caitlyn’s eyes danced around at their surroundings. Several groups of students congregated outside the chip shop, newsagents and pastry shop. Spotting three boys bounce out of the newsagents, with handfuls of sweets, a smile prodded into the corner of Caitlyn’s cheek. “You know what I wanna do?” Caitlyn asked, with a curious grin.

“What?” muttered Jay, not taking his eyes off the ground.

“Make an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sundae,” she giggled. Jay smirked an exhale through his nostrils. “I think we deserve it,” she beamed. “Well, you definitely do,” she added, “as a thank you for my bear.” Humming, Caitlyn pressed her palms into one another, tapping the tips of her fingers together. “I want chocolate ice cream… and strawberry,” she daydreamed. “Caramel sauce, gummy bears… oow and those chocolate buttons that have sprinkles on one side.”

“Don’t forget the chocolate flake,” Jay added, as he turned towards her with a grin. “That’s the best bit.”

“Yeah!” agreed Caitlyn. “What d’ya say? Wanna come over and make one?”

“I dunno,” Jay shrugged, as his smile drained.

“But you were excited a second ago,” muttered Caitlyn, pouting. With a shrug, Jay grunted. “It’s okay,” Caitlyn sighed, as she stiffened her shoulders. “We could watch a film… or maybe start on homework.”

“I dunno,” Jay grumbled again.

“I won’t be hurt if you’d rather be alone with your thoughts,” she told him, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I understand. Sometimes I need to be alone to think.”

“Thanks,” Jay muttered, forcing a half smile.

They walked on in silence of some time. As they entered the park, Jay arched his head over his shoulder. Forcing a swallow, he glanced around, taking note of everyone nearby. The lathering in his stomach subsided. He straightened his back and faced Caitlyn. Running a hand across the back of his neck, he muttered, “Erm… Caitlyn?”

“Yeah?” she replied, with a soft breath.

“If I tell you something, you have to swear not to tell anyone,” Jay warned her, puckering his brow. “Not Darcia, not Aisha – not even your mum… and especially not mine.” His shoulders rose, and his arms dropped to his sides, as he forced a swallow, waiting for Caitlyn’s response.

“Okay,” she nodded, wide eyed. Taking in a shaky breath, Jay hooked a hand to the back of his neck and squeezed tight.

“Kieran tried to get me suspended,” he muttered, shifting his sight back to his shoes.

“What?” she gasped. “Why?” Unable to look at her, Jay shrugged.

“I dunno,” he mumbled.

“But he’s your best friend,” exclaimed Caitlyn, with a puckered brow. Jay’s shoulders sunk, as he let out an exasperated sigh.

“He and Sean were caught by the old guy, Mr Llewelyn, for kicking a football through his office window, at break.” Caitlyn gasped. “Sean pretended he hadn’t seen anything, and Mr Llewelyn let him off with a warning.” Shaking his head, Jay let out a sarcastic laugh. “I wasn’t even there!” he exclaimed, spiking his fingers out in front of him, in frustration. “I went to the toilet. I didn’t know anything about it until Mr Llewelyn called me out of assembly.” Caitlyn stiffened her shoulders. Folding her arms, she squeezed herself tight, as Jay went on, “Kieran told Mr Llewelyn it wasn’t him – even though he caught him, and Kieran said it was me.”

“What?!” Caitlyn cried.

“That’s when I got called outta the drama assembly,” Jay told her, as he flickered his sight to Caitlyn’s.

“He’s not getting away with it, is he?” Caitlyn squeaked. “Why would he do such a thing?”

“I dunno,” Jay shrugged, returning his hands to his pockets. “I spent the afternoon in Llewelyn’s office,” he muttered. Throwing his head over his shoulder, Jay scanned the area to check who was behind them. “Luckily, there’s a camera in reception,” Jay went on, as he returned his vision to where he was going. “And it caught Kieran and Sean runnin’ by, kicking the ball, so I think I’m in the clear… but Mr Llewelyn just kept yelling: “Why would this boy frame you?” at me over and over.”

Jay flickered a glance at Caitlyn. Reaching a hand out towards Jay, Caitlyn retracted it, as their eyes locked. ‘Why would Kieran want to frame Jay?’ Caitlyn wondered. ‘Jay is Kieran’s best friend.’ She shrugged and gave Jay a half smile, lost with what to say. A flutter from Jay’s heart sank to his stomach. His eyes began to sting. Lowering his line of vision to his feet, Jay sniffed.

“I dunno,” he sighed. “Guess he didn’t get what he wanted an’ blamed me.”

“What?” Caitlyn murmured, with a frown. “I don’t understand. What did Kieran want?”

“Forget it,” Jay shrugged, shaking his head. He took a quick glance at Caitlyn, before shifting his sight back to the ground. “I shouldn’t have told you,” he muttered, as the swirling in his stomach returned.

Nearing the end of their walk together, Caitlyn and Jay turned onto their road. Since Jay’s reveal of his fall out with Kieran, he and Caitlyn had remained silent. Caitlyn’s chest jittered, as she attempted several times to start up a conversation with Jay but failed. Her intestines knotted. ‘I wish there were something I could do,’ she sobbed to herself. Folding her arms tighter into her torso, Caitlyn hunched her shoulders and turned to face Jay. “What’s going to happen at school, now?” she asked him. “Are you gonna be okay?”

“I don’t know, Caitlyn, okay?” he growled. “I don’t know.” Caitlyn’s eyes darted to the ground. Her heart crashed against her ribcage. Her stomach flopped. Blinking several times, she forced a swallow.

“You don’t have to call for me in the morning if you don’t want to,” she mumbled. Lowering her head, she felt the inner corners of her eyes sting. Silence. She sniffed. Stepping towards the curb, she formed a distance between them.

“I’m sorry,” Jay sighed. “I didn’t mean t’ yell,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s okay,” she muttered, sliding an arm out of her backpack. “Looks like you need Mr Bear as much as I do,” she told him. Having swung her bag around to her front, Caitlyn gripped her bear keyring and made the bear’s paw wave at Jay. He smirked, exhaling through his nose.

“Thanks,” he muttered, with a little chuckle.

“If you ever want to talk… about anything, it doesn’t have to be this… you know where to find me,” Caitlyn told him, as she stood in her driveway. Prodding the right corner of his mouth up, Jay nodded.

 

*

 

Flicking through her notebook, Caitlyn paused the page at her timetable. A sigh escaped her, as she gazed down at the grid of subjects and break times. It was Wednesday. She had maths first lesson again. Darcia and her maths group could be heard laughing from the opposite end of the corridor. Staring down at her notepad, Caitlyn’s writing blurred. Letters danced around the page. Her stomach spiralled. Snapping her book shut, Caitlyn closed her eyes. “Why are you on your own?” asked a familiar male voice. Caitlyn shot her eyes open. “And on the floor?” Jay added with a chuckle. “If you’re not careful, you’ll get trampled on.”

“I know,” muttered Caitlyn. “It’s just, Darcia doesn’t let me wait with her when we have maths – I have no idea why,” Caitlyn told him with a sigh. “She’s only there.” As Caitlyn pointed towards Darcia’s group, three classrooms away, Jay shook his head. “She lets Samantha wait with her, and her friend Emily’s in that class too,” she added. “I can hang around with them any other time, just not before maths.”

“How odd,” replied Jay with a shrug. “What about Aisha?”

“Her dad doesn’t drop her off until right before lessons start,” Caitlyn sighed. “He sounds cautious of her making friends.”

“Too bad,” Jay muttered. “Well, I’m heading to music for twenty minutes,” Jay told her. “I start in my new form group today and I’m meeting some of the guys there.”

“That’s great!” gasped Caitlyn. Her eyes sparkled as her grin grew.

Following Kieran framing Jay for breaking the deputy head teacher’s office window, on Monday, Jay no longer felt safe in the same form group as his former friend. Mr Llewelyn agreed that it was best for the two boys to distance themselves. Caitlyn had suggested that Jay transferred to her form group, however, after discovering the motive for Kieran’s actions, Mr Llewelyn did not want to place Jay in a situation that could aggravate the tension between the boys further. After being introduced to a group of guys during PE, Jay decided to transfer form groups to Mr Ferrante’s class.

“Well good luck,” Caitlyn told him.

“Thanks,” replied Jay. “You too. Catch ya later,” he sang with a wave.

Watching Jay grow smaller, the further along the corridor he traversed, Caitlyn’s heart sank. ‘I’m happy for him,’ she told herself, as she shifted her sight to the chewing gum stain in the carpet in front of her. ‘I just… I wish things were different.’ Fanning the pages of her notebook with her thumb, Caitlyn gazed up the corridor, towards Darcia’s maths group, congregating outside the classroom. ‘So much feels different,’ Caitlyn sighed. ‘But not new different.’ Her intestines spiralled into knots. ‘Changed different. There aren’t words to explain it. It’s like magic,’ she decided. ‘Things were supposed to go a certain way. People always act a certain way… but then some thing happened… and the future got changed… somehow.’ Her heart dropped to her stomach. Her mouth froze open.

Leaping up, Caitlyn stepped towards the window opposite her classroom. She gazed out. As gleams of sunlight rose over the building, a shimmer caught Caitlyn’s eyes. The black tower. ‘Does that have something to do with this?’ she wondered. ‘This odd feeling that I’ve had ever since I stepped foot inside this school. That something odd and strange is happening.’ Shaking her head, Caitlyn laughed to herself. ‘Have I gone mad?’ she chuckled. ‘There’s no such thing as magic. It was a nice thought though,’ she mused, coming out of her daydream.

Turning her attention back to Darcia’s maths group, she stared at a student lingering nearby. A boy, with scruffy brown hair, stood outside of the friendship group. Leaning against the window, with his hands in his pockets, he gazed down the corridor. Caitlyn’s lips parted, as her eyes met his. She shot her eyes to the floor, feeling her cheeks tingle. ‘Maybe I should be more like Artie,’ Caitlyn told herself, as her smile poked into her cheeks. ‘He’s not afraid to do his own thing and be on his own… I admire that.’ Flickering another glance in his direction, Caitlyn’s shoulders relaxed, as she saw Artie staring out the window. ‘He’s really brave,’ she admired. ‘I wish I could be more like him.’

- Josie -