It was just two weeks earlier that I had found out she was coming to our school. I hadn't thought much of it; some people spoke of seeing her look around the school with the headmaster and Mr Oliver had asked Claire to 'look after' her when she arrived. We had already had two students that year: A strange Ukrainian boy who spoke little English and so spent most days in Assisted Learning, and a quiet girl with mousey blonde hair who could have been Ukrainian with how little she spoke. I think her name was Amanda. I figured this girl couldn't be anymore interesting. None of use were expecting someone like Cam.

The morning was like any other morning. I woke up and got dressed, ruffled my hair and gave a silent pep talk to myself in the mirror. You've got through every day up until this point, you can do it again. My older brother Liam sat topless at the counter in the kitchen, groggily slurping his cereal. It was painful seeing him up so early, but he had a job now. Unlike the majority of his generation he in fact did not work at McDonald's, as he claimed he would not bring himself to that level. He worked at Burger King.

Avoiding his outstretched leg I said my goodbyes, grabbed my bag and left for school. On the way I knocked on for my friend Sam. As usual he wasn't ready and answered the door half dressed with a toothbrush half hanging out his mouth.
"It won't happen again!" He called as he ran upstairs, tripping over his trousers as he went.
"But it will."
"Yeah it will."

Sam had messy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He exercised a lot and so was very muscular and strong. Girls swooned at the sight of him, but he seldom had a girlfriend; he was very focused at school, unusual for a boy as good looking as he was. His mother entered the hallway as I waited by the door.
"Good morning Joel," she said with a wink. "Sorry he's not ready, he overslept again."
"That's fine," I called. "He's late earlier than usual today."
She laughed and went into the kitchen. Sam's family were very well off and their house was very grand. I often stayed there and his mum would fill me up with food whenever I came. "Growing boys need lots of energy!" She'd say. She was such a kind lady; her husband had left her when Sam and his sister were just babies. They were twins and Sarah had very little money at the time but she worked hard, and now she owned a very successful business. I knew it was something to do with beauty products, but she hardly ever spoke about it. "I'll speak about work when I'm at work." She would retort.

"Would you like some breakfast Joel?" She called. She was from Edinburgh originally, and had a kind voice.
"No, thank you Sarah." This had become a morning ritual. I shouted up to Sam and he apologised again, saying he wouldn't be much longer. I sighed and took a seat on the bottom step of the stairs. I looked up hearing footsteps, but it was Sam's sister.
"Hello Joel." She said, keeping her eyes forward and above my head.
"Hello Claire."

Oh God, Claire. She had a beautiful face, but an ugly soul. Despite him being my closest friend, I often dreaded going to Sam's house in the morning, knowing I was walking directly into the firing line of the devilish witch that owned our school. She had hurt me like no other person had before and although every ounce of my being burned with anger in the sight of her, my heart was filled with sorrow with the painful memories she made me recall.

"You look tired," she spat as she made her way to the door. "Did you just get out of bed?"
I sighed and made my way up the stairs; I had given up trying to argue with her a long time ago. Although I faced away from her I could sense the smirk on her face as she closed the door. I knocked quietly on Sam's door.
"Come in, I'm dressed."
His room was a stark contrast with the rest of the house. Notepads, school equipment and dirty clothes were strewn across the floor and the curtains cast a gloomy darkness across the room. The majority of the house was hospital clean, with crisp magnolia walls and soft, grey carpets. Sam's room was dark blue, and god knows when he last cleaned it.

Sam scrambled on his knees along the floor, gathering his books and stuffing them in his bag. I sat on his desk chair and leaned back, closing my eyes and thinking for a moment.
"Was it Claire?" He asked.
"What?"
"Is that why you came up here."
"Oh right," I scratched my head. "Yeah." I couldn't lie to Sam, he could always tell a mile off.
"I don't get why you let her get to you that much," he said, taking a bite from the toast on his desk. "I mean, I don't like her either, and I'm her brother, but still."
I leant onto my knees and looked down at the floor. There was a half eaten bag of Doritos at my feet that seemed like it was becoming part of the carpet.
"I know but..." I was lost for words. "I just- I can't help it."
"I know she really hurt you Joel, but you need to pick yourself up and let it go." He patted me on the shoulder.
"I know," I nodded. "I know."