I took a deep breath and left the house. I padded on the stone steps that lead into my neat front-garden complete with pink and purple flowers. Totally the opposite of my back garden. Then I walked up the long,winding path to the Clawner's. Even though we are neighbours, it's because Ms Clawner's house is on a hill. A hill. I can see them watching me steadily-

No, no, NO. They aren't on the flipping hill they're on  the flipping floor. I then have to walk all the way down the hill . . . Still, I gotta to say, the hill house's view is nice. The clear blue sky waves at me and the picturesque mini homes dotted all over the countryside look like something out of a fairy tale. The lush green grass sways gently in the wind, I can see tall trees and bluey-green mountains in the distance. 

I hear a shout," We're over here! " I know Clawner. Sighing, I head towards them.

" Melinda, may you hurry up and take my daughter to school- " Ms Clawner glared at me, attempting to flatten her short,spiky hair.

" I don't need to be taken to school, Gran ! I can do it well enough myself, " insisted Helena, giving me an icy look.

" Quit with your nonsense girl, " Ms Clawner said sharply, then looked at me," I believe this is yours? "

My eyebrows shoot up and I go beetroot red when old Clawner hands me my teeny clock. The one I chucked at her on Monday . . . 

Surprisingly she shoots me a smile," Well Melinda, didn't I say you should hurry up? " 

So, she's cranky, but I didn't mistaken that smile for a glare.

" Yes, of course Clawner- Ms Clawner," I turn away before she kills. 

Helena stares at me pointedly. If I want to get Kick what he really needs I'm gonna need to NOT murder bratty Helly.

" Okay Helena let's go," I say.

Helena gives me a smile that's supposed to be 'sweet,' it's anything but. And sure enough the second we turn a corner she stares at me.

" My name isn't for you to say, oh and I can walk a few streets, " you wanna be difficult? Fine, you be difficult. But first let's stick to the facts?

" Sorry Helena, but the school won't let you in on your own," I give her a sweet ( and sickly ) smile and continue walking on.

" For your information, Melinda," she said Melinda like Mweh-Lindaa, as if she was tasting my spit," 'The school' is MY school, so I know what's allowed and what's NOT! " She started speeding up and racing in front of me.

Bog off beach-brain. As if anyone ever wanted you, not even your poor Grannie. But if I want that money I have to walk brainless Helena. Am I right?

I'm on Riverstayn Road, a few streets to Barten Primary. Next to Barten Primary is Barten Private School.

I sigh and yell," Helena! Come on! "

Angry residents glare at me from car windows and bedrooms. Okay, okay. Riverstayn houses are prim,tidy and neat, Riverstayn adults are angry, perfect and dissaproving, Riverstayn children are nosy, interfering and clever. 

I know this because of every time I walk through here and because half the children in Riverstayn are in Barten. Kiko, Millane and Sihanna are the worst of them all, trust me.

Fine, you play that game Clawner. So will I. I absolutely will NOT run after you like a maid-girl. But I don't want to be late for school do I?

" Sorry," I call," Rather late for school." I glance at their disapproving faces, you know I couldn't care less.

I see Helena striding along on the other side of the road. There were lines of traffic in between, she caught my eye and determinedly looked away. Huffing in impatience I glare at her stupid hair then curl my own.

Then I look at the lines of traffic, there are small gaps in between so the cars don't crash into each other. I smile and give Helena a devious wink, which she doesn't see.

I sidle into a gap in front of me, a green car in front and a red Range Rover with the driver on his phone wearing earphones and the pretty lady next to him on her phone putting on blood red lipstick-

Suddenly the traffic begins to move and so does the red Range Rover. I start screaming but the driver and his wife don't hear me even though their windows are open. I start running forward on the road but the car is no match for me. Most of the other cars are gone and the people behind the red rover can't do anything because they can't see me.

I hear yelling and shouting near by," Help! NO! NO! NO!" Helena roars at the range rover comes closer and closer-

My heart is beating hard and the world is beginning to break down, somebody shoves me onto the pavement and I black out. The last thing I remember is a shriek of pain.

🕧🕟🕐🕑🕒🕙🕚🕘🕗🕖🕔🕓

I'm wearing plain green clothes and the place smells of antiseptic. A hospital! I open my eyes wider and shut them a second later because of the blinding light. After a little more blinking I get used to it and look around, a curtain is drawn around my area, a green chair, a green desk and a lot of medical equipment.

In m 'room' stands a lady wearing hospital uniform. She smiles as I sit up," Why hello Melinda! " She says brightly," My name's Jana-"

Yeah whatever. 

" What happened?" I say sharply.

" Now obviously you're feeling a little flustered but I- "

" Hannah- Jana, just tell me! I have a right to know! " I demand. She looks a little surprised.

" Why- Oh alright! " She looses her bright smile and looks worried and angry," Your friend saved your life! She pushed you aside and the car crashed in-in to her . . . She saved your life-"

I give her an extraoridinarily horrified look, if she d-died b-because of me, I won't be able to survive -

" No, no," says Jana hastily," She's not dead. Promise. She pushed you aside and she finally caught the driver's attention, his car wouldn't stop for a while but it stopped before it was too late. He reversed and called the ambulance. We're all wondering why the driver didn't notice you, girl. The police is wondering too but we're NOT letting them in," she looked firm and determined.

Shaking hard, I tell Jana everything that happened after I left Riverstayn Road then I burst into tears, scared as ever.

She gives me a brief hug," It's not all your fault Linda. "

I like how she told the truth. She didn't. The real truth is that it is all my fault. But it's better than saying it's not my fault because it is and I know that, but I don't know for definite that it is all my fault. There is a small hope.

" As for that driver-man," she shook her head, looking cross.

I cry more," Oh Jana, I don't want to be a murderer, I can't live with myself! "

" Oh yes you can," her eyes look hard," If someone can't live with their self it's me. Anyways you're Helena will survive," she looked firm," Course she will. Now calm down Linda. You want to see your family or not? "

Hmm . . . What does she mean she can't live with herself- The though of Helena breathing through tubes and near-death stills my curiosity.

Her being hard helps and fuels my courage," No. I don't need you either! "

" Oh yes you do," she muttered and gave me a wink.

" So . . . where am I in this hospital? " I know it's the children ward but I still want to know which one, the Intense or the Small injuries. They never tell you if you're in the intense or not but you can always tell with the amount of doctors and the theme of the walls. Green elephants for Small injuries and green koalas and caterpillars for the Intense.

I can't hear much screaming from outside my 'room' just muffled crying and slow talking. I'm worried it's the Intense, I can't be that-

In response to my question Jana pulls the curtains open the curtains, it's totally different and the wallpaper is twittering green birds. 

" W-which ward am I in? " I say hoarsely, I already know the answer, but just in case I'm mistaken-

" Children's psychotherapy ward," she confirmed.

No, no, no.