Chapter 4 - "Assemblies..."

Clara's PoV

'So. Why psychology?'

'I like the idea of working with kids one day. So maybe child psychology. I just love learning how kids develop. In fact I love learning about people develop. Sorry that sounds so dull'

'I asked. Anyway, you coming for lunch?'

'Where?' I asked, as he pointed at the gate.

'The gate! Why are you pointing at the gate?'

'We've got an hour. There's a chip shop down the road. Only a 10 minute walk. I'm going to show you what real chips taste like' he said with a wink, leading me to the gate.

'Should we be doing this?'

'Year 11's have the trust to leave campus within curfew and seeing as it's not 8 o clock at night I think we'll be okay' he chuckled.

'You must think I'm so boring with my stupid ways. Wanting to be on time and not breaking the rules'

'You'll learn. By the end of the year you'll be skipping classes here there and everywhere' he smirked.

- - -

'You are right about one thing... These chips taste so much better than the cardboard they serve in the canteen'

'It's all cheap shit in there isn't it? We might be a fancy school which people pay for god knows what reason almost 30 grand a year for, but the food is still shit'

'Whoa. 30 grand a year? Fuck that's a lot of money'

'You say it like its the first time you heard that. Your parents loaded or something?'p

'Says you. There's three of your family here' I pointed out picking the crunch chips out of the bottom which in my opinion is the best bit.

'True. But to be fair the second and third kids get discounts. Kind of the way it works I guess, but yeah. I S'pose' he shrugged.

'I'm on a scholarship anyway. That's why I didn't consider the cost I guess. My Dad just pays a couple of grand for me to eat - otherwise I'm on a scholarship'

'Wow. It's really hard to get them at OakHills, you must be one Fucking brilliant drawer'

'I dabble' I joked.

'You'll have to show me some time. I'd be intrigued to see just how brilliant your portraits are' he said fluffing his hair. 'You could draw me'

'I'm more of a landscape kind if person but I can draw people. Just let me know - I'll need to double the size of the canvas to get that chin in the frame'

'I'm offended. What's wrong with my chin?' He smirked.

I lifted my arm up and grabbed it between my fingers, like you would grab a dogs snout. 'It's huge'

'And your short. We've all got problems' he scoffed.

'Crap, did I offend you?'

'Of course not shorty' he laughed. 'It's just banter Clara. You must have had a laugh at your old school?'

'Not really. I hated school. Kind of why I was desperate for the scholarship. It wasn't awful... But it was nothing like this' I shrugged.

'Here. Give me your phone'

'Why?'

'Just give' he requested, as I unlocked it and handed it his way, where he tapped away and then handed it back. 'Chin Boy? I like it' I laughed hysterically.

'Don't loose that number... It might be valuable when I'm a rich and famous footballer'

'You gonna be the next David Beckham?'

'Of course. I'll be modelling for Calvin Klein before you know it' he smirked lifting the fence and allowing me through first like a gentleman.

- - -

'This way'

'Too?'

'Well it's the end of the day on the first day. Assemblies are so dull but we all have to go. Especially being year 11 with exams and shit coming up'

'Come on Matt. I don't want to be sat at the front. Can we please sit at the back?' Lilly scoffed.

'Do what you want' he snapped at her, as he went to sit next to a group of guys who he turned to chat too while I stuck to where I was in the middle.

Lilly and Richard eventually followed him which didn't surprise me, and I suddenly realised who his brother must be, seeing as he was sat next to him and they looked pretty similar - but they obviously weren't identical.

We all watched a fat, quite frankly bald looking woman stand at the front and drone on for quite some time about curfews and detentions and punishments and activities. It was the most depressing thing I have ever dat through.

The most exciting thing to happen was that someone had already pulled a prank on the first day and pinged their tie at the head mistress.

'Be warned - just because your away from home I want no sloppiness. If your going to lessons then you wear your uniforms and ties' she scoffed as some more teachers came in to talk about the canteen and after school clubs and exams.

By the time the assembly was finally finished it was almost 7 o clock - which meant it had gone on for what felt like forever, yet wasn't really anymore than an hour, where we were all dismissed.

I decided to go back to my room to change into actual clothes and do the crappy maths homework so that it was done and out of my way, and was shocked to find my room in such a state.

My straighteners had been snapped in half on my bed and my hairdryer had been melted. What the hell possessed a person to actually destroy someone else's belongings like this I don't know.

'Did you do this?' I asked, looking at Casey who was on her bed with a wide smirk.

'I told you to keep quiet and stay out of my way - so far you've not done any of those things' she scoffed.

'This is my room too' I mumbled.

'It doesn't have to be. You could always sleep outside' she shrugged turning away.

I had no idea what I had done to actually offend her but she was being so horrible and I just couldn't understand why.