Pushing Taya away from where her tears are making my t-shirt wet, I kiss her again.
“This place is boring now all the fun‘s over. What do you say we take it somewhere a bit more private and make our own entertainment?” I suggest.
Taya’s tears instantly disappear. “I can’t think of anything better. I hope you’ve got some more of that elixir you made. It’s delicious and the buzz is amazing. Come on, girls, we’re out of here.”
The assembled crowd part, allowing us to walk unhindered through the arcade and outside; the king and queen of Caspian. Our school. Our rules. No one can destroy us.
“But Juniper didn’t start it, Mrs Donovan!” Emmie cries, frustration tinging her every word.
I can see the indecision in our headteacher’s eyes. She wants to make an example of me, but she doesn’t want to endure a confrontation with my father for punishing me, and she’s also not unaware of the antics of Taya and her band of supermodels. Not much has changed it seems.
“Now, Emmie, I can see you’re feeling very passionate, but you need to take a breath and calm down.”
“She’s right,” I say turning to Emmie as she opens her mouth to argue.
“But…”
“No.” I shake my head. “I shouldn’t have reacted.” I turn to Mrs Donovan. “I’ll accept whatever punishment you see fit to impart, headmistress.”
What I don’t say is I’m secretly hoping she will expel me, then I can get back to my mum. But I know she won’t. My dad’s wrath is never something to be taken lightly.
“Emmie, please go to class. I want to speak to Miss Ambrose for a moment.”
Emmie looks at me, and my eyes plead with her to listen and go back to class. The only privilege having the King as my father affords me is getting out of situations like this, and whilst Mrs Donovan is fair, Emmie wouldn’t have the same privilege. I don’t want her pushing the headmistress’s patience.
With a sigh Emmie leaves, slamming the door behind her.
“Seems I’ve upset Miss Draven.” Mrs Donovan says with what sounds like a little sadness in her voice.
“She’ll be fine,” I reply. “I guess she feels a little vexed. I can’t condone my behaviour, Mrs Donovan, but Emmie is right, Taya started the altercation.”
“Sit down. Juniper,” she invites, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk. I take a seat and wait to hear what she wants to say to me.
“Your mum was one of my best friends in school, did you know that?”
My gaze jumps from the edge of the wooden desk I was studying to meet her eyes. “I didn’t know that.” I swallow my emotion down.
A smile plays on her lips as her eyes wander behind me in obvious wonderment at her own memories.
She nods. “Yes, we were so close. Lived in the same flat, spent our holidays together, double dated. Best friends.”
“What happened?” The rasp of my voice betrays me as I try to hold in my emotions.
“Your father.” She stands at the same time she speaks, her tone is sharp, and I can hear the hurt in her voice even though she tries to mask it with anger.
I can’t ask any more questions, though, as she seems to make a decision, and walking over to her window, she turns her back on me. “I’m aware, Miss Ambrose, of exactly who your father is, and so I will not expel you this time.” She turns back towards me, raising a single eyebrow and challenging me. She’s obviously expecting some kind of argument. When she doesn’t get anything from me, she returns to staring out the window. “However, if something like this happens again, I won’t be so lenient. Two weeks of community clean-up to be done around the school. The hours will be six to seven am and seven to eight pm. Mr Taylor will instruct you, and I expect you to follow his direction to the letter.” She turns to face me again. “Am I understood?”
I nod, “Yes, Mrs Donovan.”
“You may go,” she dismisses me.
As I walk toward supernatural history class, I mull over the conversation. Mrs Donovan was my mum’s best friend. She was reminiscing, and it was clear she loved her and misses her. It was also clear she blames my dad, and so, by proxy, me.
This is going to make for a great school year.
I’ve never had a problem with waking early. In fact, I find early morning to be the most peaceful time of the day. Most people are still sleeping, but the animals are early risers and if you listen closely, you can hear them calling to each other, saying ‘good morning’. When I walk into school at five fifty am, I’m ready for my first community clean-up session, and I’ve already been awake for over an hour.
“Hey, Mr Taylor,” I call, walking around the eerily empty building and finding him digging into a huge garage which I’ve never noticed before.
“Ah, Juniper, nice to see you so bright and early. We’re just waiting for one other, and then we can get started.”
I nod, watching him pull out litter picking sticks. I guess I know what this morning will entail. Turning round, he looks over my shoulder.
“Here he is.”
I dread looking, my heart is vibrating in my chest, and I’m pretty sure anyone near me can feel it. I heave out a sigh of relief at seeing Lucas, but my body quickly locks when I realise he’s one of Jacobi’s best friends. Wherever I go, I can’t get away from Jacobi Ashdown.
“Right, both of you, grab one of these and one of these,” Mr Taylor says, holding up a litter picking stick and a bright yellow vest. “Bin bags are over there.” He points towards the garage. “Go, find rubbish.” His arms wave outward as though this is the most interesting and exciting assignment we could have been given. Suddenly, his hands move to his hips. “And no magic.” I huff out a sigh of resignation and collect the prescribed items.
It doesn’t take long to get lost in my own world, picking up litter is boring but not having to think about my actions does bring a sense of peace.
“So, you didn’t get expelled then?” Lucas mutters, walking up to me.
I roll my eyes, not that he can see me as my back’s to him. I was hoping we could avoid each other.
“I guess,” I reply limply.
We work side by side for a few minutes, and the longer he stays next to me the more anxious and annoyed I become.
“Did you want something, Lucas?” I snap, turning to face him.
He rubs the back of his neck, glances down at his shoes before his eyes meet mine again. Then, shrugging he replies, “We’re both here and will be for some time, I assume. I just thought we could you know…” His words trail off.
“What?” I ask, raising my hands in question. “Are you suggesting we could be friends?” I roll my eyes. “I’m sure your lord and master, Jacobi, would be thrilled about that.”
He frowns. “I’m friends with Jacobi-“
“Best friends,” I cut him off.
“Good friends. We don’t really use the term best friends,” he smirks and it annoys me so I turn away and continue collecting litter.
How does this school become so messy when most of the students and all of the teachers can use magic? You’d think at the very least they would put their rubbish in the bin.