CHAPTER 6
Kelly woke up with a start, clutching her throat and gasping for air. The nightmare had drained all energy from her, she felt the urge to puke and immediately ran to the toilet. After washing her face, she looked up and took a glance at the mirror. Her face was pale, the sharpness that was usually in her electric blue eyes was no longer there and her hair was a tangled mess. She knew it would take her years to comb it out.
The nightmare was horrible, she had been in the car with her family and they were laughing about something. And suddenly, all she could see was blood. Lots of it. The car had tumbled and hit another car. The paramedics came and helped them but they were all dead except for her. The entire car seat was soaked with blood, the bodies were sprawled on the road and the car was in an awkward angle.
She felt bile come up her throat as she remembered the dream and ran to the toilet seat to let it all out before seizing the opportunity to have a bath.
Freshly dressed, Kelly got out of the room to find Paris still laying on the floor. She gently tapped her hand. Her skin was soft, Kelly noticed.
After all attempts to wake her gently came up futile, she slapped her on the leg and Paris jolted up.
"Whattt?" She whined.
"It's morning. Go get dressed."
Paris took one glance at the bedside clock and immediately shot up and ran out of the room rambling about how she didn't have much time to put her make up on or straighten her hair. Which, by the way, was already straightened and only needed brushing out.
That was so like Katie. Kelly smiled fondly but the smile immediately dropped when she realised Katie was six feet under, never to be seen again. She picked up her bag and walked out of the room to take breakfast.
Halfway through her meal, Rosa struggled down the stairs with a huge travelling bag.
"Morning Rosa." She greeted.
"Hey, Kelly. Morning, how are you?" Rosa spoke in a rush.
"Fine thanks. Where are you going?" Kelly asked helping Rosa with her bag.
"I'm moving to Washington 'cause of the company. I have to be close by y'know." She said gently.
"Oh right, Washington. Right, see you when?" Kelly asked awkwardly, not knowing what to say to Rosa who was taking over her mom's company.
"Hmm next month I guess." She shrugged before adding, "Take care of Kevin. If anything happens, give me a call."
"Yeah, sure." Kelly said putting on a smile to shield her sadness. Rosa was the mother figure in her life at that moment and now she was leaving, she didn't see how she would cope with it, she'd never been without her mother for more than two days and now the replacement was leaving. She sighed and went to finish her food even though she had lost appetite. Couldn't waste food.
***************
Preston high was the same like other schools, the noise of students, the clattering of lockers and the social ladder. It was no different, especially the social ladder.
Jacqueline and her crew strutted up to them - Paris actually - as they walked into the school, given the way she was ignored. Almost immediately, they were engaged in a conversation about something that was on Jacqueline's phone.
Feeling like an outcast, Kelly walked away from the group and towards her locker. She dumped her books inside and picked only the few she needed and headed towards her class even though the bell hadn't rung yet.
As she walked into the room, all eyes turned to her and she immediately became self conscious. There wasn't many people there though. She quietly walked to the back of class and picked the seat that was right at the corner, leaned her head against the table and fell asleep.
But once class started, the boy to her right tapped her awake. She gave him a grateful smile before turning to focus on the teacher. It was English Literature. She had the class with Paris but she was nowhere to be seen.
Finally, ten minutes into class, the door to the class opened and in came Paris and Lloyd. And after pleading with the teacher - that was Paris' doing - she let them go. Kelly noticed something had happened between Lloyd and Paris, they wouldn't meet each other's eyes and when they walked to their seats, Paris was clumsy and there was a tinge of red on both her cheeks. She looked like she was happy and at the same time angry and sad. She noted to ask her later.
The class was uneventful, the teacher kept on talking on and on about a poem written by a dead and gone poet. She almost sounded like she adored the poet. Kelly didn't see what good poetry would do to her future, if she had one, but she offered the subject anyway.
Kelly walked past the rows and rows of lockers as she made her way to the library. It was lunch. The door was ajar and she quietly slipped in and shut it.
"Hi Lucy." She greeted and received a smile in return.
She placed herself on one of the chairs there after picking a book. She was about to start the book when a figure made it's way towards her, easily towering over her.
"Hey Vino."
The boy was impossible!
"Hello Ian."
"Still ain't got no nickname for me, cheesecake?"
"No bruh, I'm working on it." She said looking at him. His eyes shone bright and she instantly wished the sparkle that was in his eyes was in hers too. But she'd lost hers.
"So you seem to like my presence, don't you? I mean, after all, you came back for a piece of this candy." He said cockily, sitting himself down on a chair to her left.
"You wish Ian, you wish".
"Y'know, I don't know you. Tell me about yourself Vino." He said balancing in a chair beside her.
"Tell me about you and I'll tell you about me."
He tsked at her. "Not falling for that one again Vino."
"Alright. No problem. My name is Vinorita, but my friends call me Vino. I'm a princess and I have 4 siblings."
"That's bullshit. Lies." Ian scoffed.
"I told you something." She shrugged.
"You're something else V." He said to her. She was getting used to the name.
"So your cousin Asher, said you lived in Washington before moving here. How was it like?"
"He told you?" She asked in disbelief. "What else did he say?"
"He said it wasn't his place to tell."
"So that's why you want to know about me?" Her blonde hair whipped against her back as she shook her head. "To get to know the reason why I moved here? You can't mind your own business?" She said, hurriedly packing her bag.
"No. That's not it. You just.." He sighed. "You intrigue me."
"Well thanks for being intrigued but bye." She said walking away but he held onto her arm.
"Please, that's not how I meant it. I'm sorry I got you upset."
"And I'm sorry but I have to leave." She said and yanked her hand away before walking out.
On her way out, she met Lloyd and Liam.
"Hey Kel." Liam greeted her.
"Bluey." She acknowledged him and fast walked past them.
"Something's happened." Liam said and Lloyd shrugged before pushing open the Library door and walked in. They met Ian with his head in his hands.
"Hey man." Liam said to Ian.
"Hey." He replied.
"What's wrong? We saw Kelly walk out looking upset and you're here crying. What happened?" Liam asked.
"I'm not crying. She just misunderstood what I said and I misrepresented a question."
"Ahh I see. Lemme give you a way to apologize?" Liam asked and Lloyd snapped his head to Ian who gave a weak smile.
Liam took the smile as a yes and began helping him plot. Talking about kidnapping her and then forcing her to accept.
"Ehh, I think I have to go now". Lloyd said getting up.
"Me too." Ian said quickly getting up.
"You guys don't want to spend time with me? Fine, I'll just go play with Kel." He said and skipped away. Literally skipped away.
Lloyd ran a hand through his curls and shook his head. "I don't understand how girls fall for that guy."
"Me neither." Ian shook his head before walking out. "I got a question."
"What is it?" Lloyd asked, stormy grey eyes looking into the green ones of his friend.
"How do I apologize?" Lloyd smiled. Ian wasn't one to upset people, he hates it when people are angry at him and always apologize. At fault or not. Behind his 'bad boy' facade, he was a really nice guy.
Unlike him.
******************
~EnnyWrites 💕💕