November meant back to college, I wasn't looking forward to it. Clara would have to pay more, as I lost the scholarship. I told her that I'd find a job, to help her.

As soon as I entered the building, all eyes were on me and I hated it, despised it in fact. I'd never been one for attention, to me, it felt like being trapped. I shifted my gaze from the staring students and towards the ground. "Be proud of who you are." The wind whispered, swirling around me.

I looked around, at the students, but I couldn't tell who said it, or if anyone even said it at all. "Your timetables." A woman stated, handing Nate and I two sheets of gridded paper. "Thank you." We both replied and carried on walking towards the dorms.

I didn't bother to look at the sheet. It reminded me that it was reality. No more freedom, out in the fields of Cornwall. No more sea breeze.

"No!" Nate groaned, running his hands through his fluffy blond hair. "What?" I questioned. "I have double biology, first thing tomorrow." He muttered, stuffing the paper into his pocket. "Hah," I replied, as we reached my dorm room. "Do you need any help unpacking?" Nate asked as I unlocked the door.

"I'll be ok, thanks, besides, Morgan should be here soon." I pushed the door open, to reveal, what could be considered a pigsty. "Woah, what happened?" Nate asked, walking into the mess. "No idea," I responded, walking in too. The floor was completely covered in clothes, I couldn't even see the floor. Coffee was spilt all over the desk and was seeping into the carpet. "Morgan?" I called, stepping over a suitcase. There was no response. It looked like a tornado had swept through the room.

"Maybe she went to get something?" I nodded and kicked some of the clothes out of the way. "I'll see you later Nate," I said, waving to him, as he walked to the door. "Text me if you need anything." He smiled, before closing the door. I texted Morgan, to see where she was.

I was not looking forward to seeing Maddison and her sidekicks. "Hey, Morgan," I said, answering my phone.

"Scarlett, I can't find my keys, are they in the dorm?" She asked.

I looked around the room, but it wasn't very easy to see them, as the room was a mess. "I'm not sure, the rooms a mess," I replied, kicking some of the clothes out of the way, so I could see the floor.

"I'm here so don't worry too much," I added. "Alright, I'll be back in a minute."

I put the phone down and moved her clothes to her side of the room, so I could have some space. I picked up the coffee cup and lid and threw them in the bin, to my surprise, a piece of paper fluttered out from the cup. I picked it up and sat down on my bed.

Meet me at the pizza parlour, at 8 pm, come alone.
-C

The note was written on lined paper and the handwriting was neat and tidy. "Scarlett, open up!" I heard Morgan yell, as she relentlessly banged on the door. I stuffed the note in my suitcase, out of the way.

"Coming." I replied, grabbing my keys to open the door. "There's my best friend!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a rib shattering hug.

"I missed you!" She sang, rocking us from side to side. "I missed you too." I chocked out. She let go and I took a deep breath, relieved that she had let go of me.

"What the hell happened In here?" She questioned, starting at the coffee stain on the carpet.

"Well I did say it was a mess." I responded, going to help her pick her things up. "I tidied it up a bit, it was a lot worse when I got here." I added, picking a white pair of converse up.

"That's really weird, everything was tidy when I left." She mumbled, checking that no one had taken anything. "Come on Morgan, you're not that tidy." I laughed. However, she just nodded.

"Everythings here." She finally said, looking incredibly relieved.

Unfortunately, like most days in England, the rain hammered down against the cafeteria windows. The rain was usual for that time of the year, as were thunderstorms. Many students were scattered around the room. Some were on their computers, getting head starts on their assignments. While others were catching up with friends. I was sat with Nate and Morgan. I zoned out, as Morgan and Nate discussed what they had got up to, during the break.

The salad, that sat in front of me, was ignored, as I continued to drown in my own thoughts. I pondered over and over about whether to go or not. However, the cons weighed down the pros. For once, I didn't want to die, I felt like there was finally something for me. But then again, I was given a chance to understand what was happening, I had to know.

"Look here comes clueless!" Morgan giggled, as to my displeasure, the three girls I had least hoped to see walked in.  "Good one!" They both howled with laughter.

They barely registered the three of us as they waltzed past. I did notice, that throughout dinner, Cara attempted to catch my eye, multiple times, but each time, I looked away, I didn't need their pity. By the time that we had finished eating, I had constructed a plan, of how I would escape unnoticed.

➖

"How did you cope with nothing to watch?" Morgan complained, as she continued to flick through the channels. "The Simpsons? Seriously I've watched that so many times." She moaned, throwing the remote down on the sofa. "Oh wait, Friday night dinner is on!" She exclaimed, grabbing the remote and quickly pressing on the programme, as if it would disappear.

7:42 Let stage one begin.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, there was no way that Morgan would turn down food.
"Yeah, are you, we can just order pizza." She answered, putting the remote down.

"It's ok, I'll go and get the pizza." I smiled, getting up and grabbing a coat.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? Do you want me to come with you?" She asked, also getting up. "I'll be fine." I grinned, zipping my coat up.

"Call me, when you're on the way back, you're lucky I can't be bothered to move." She replied, throwing me my phone, which I caught with ease.

"See you in a bit." I replied.

7:45 Stage two.

I shut the door and followed the corridors. A few students were in the hallways, looking very drunk. I ignored them and got into the lift. I pressed the ground floor button and waited. The doors slid open and I got out. No one was in reception, so I snuck past with ease.

The doors shut behind me and I walked past the main buildings and out into the streets. A few men walked past me and I kept my head down and continued walking.

The pizza parlour stood in front of me and I conjured up as much courage as I could and walked into the shop.

The shop was small and dimly lit with neon signs. The shop was empty apart from a few couples. I looked around, trying to sus out who had sent me the note. The man with the dark hair looked suspicious, his white pearly teeth shone in the lights, as he sent me a small smile, before he continued his conversation with the woman seated next to him.

"Good, you came." A voice said from behind me. I instantly turned around, preparing myself for whoever it could be.

"Cara?" I questioned, utterly confused, as I came face to face with the strawberry blonde seventeen year old. Her hair was tired up on the top of her head in a messy bun and her freckled hands were placed on her hips. The unmistakable red pizza parlour apron was tired loosely around her neck.

"Don't look so disgusted Ripley, we're not all as rich as Hearst and Maddison."