I tossed around on my bed and realised I must've slept after I put everything away. I viewed over at my alarm clock only to see it was four forty-five in the afternoon. I slept for three hours. I must've needed the sleep. I quickly got out of bed, looked in the mirror, sorted out my hair and blazer and walked over to the door. I noticed Shannon and some other girl along with her. She had blonde, straight shoulder length hair, bright blue eyes. She was wearing light azure skinny jeans, grey jumper that said "Dream" in black lettering across the chest area. It had thick sleeves and a cream collar, obviously wearing a top underneath while wearing white vans along with the outfit and a black bowler hat. She looked like a model to along with Shannon.
"Hey Lucy, Ready to go out?"
"Yeah, I'll just quickly get my bag."
I quickly spun around grabbed my bank card, a ten pound note, keys and phone, placed the items within my bag. I locked the door and turned to see Shannon and the other girl.
"Lucy, this is my best friend Chloe. Chloe lives just opposite to you. If you need anything, just ask her and she'll help you. Chloe also has the same classes as us, so she'll be with us. She just got back here earlier today and I thought she could join us."
"Hi, nice to meet you Chloe," I smiled.
"It’s nice to meet you too. Shannon told me all about you. You look so much prettier than Shannon's description!"
I stood there wide eyed and blushed. I quickly looked at the floor, "Thanks, I think," I just say. I'm not good with compliments. Well, I never had received any throughout my life. I looked back up and just grinned.
"Anyway, where are we going for tea?" I asked, avoiding the awkwardness the conversation this heading.
We started to walk to the elevator and waited for the doors to open.
"Well, there's a restaurant outside college called The Hidden Palace, which is where we normally go. It's really tasty. So tasty, most people from college go there, and many are regulars. Fancy trying it out with us?" Chloe told me, extremely quickly.
"Yeah, sounds really nice. I haven't had a decent meal in a while and I really fancy either a pizza or burger."
The elevator door opened and we all climbed in. Pressing the button for ground floor, Chloe continued the conversation,
"Ha-ha! Well, you're coming to the right place. They have so many choices and there are too many decisions on deciding what to have to eat...”
Chloe drifts out of the conversation and just stands there with a dreamy face. I swear I just saw drool coming out her mouth. Shannon and I both looked at each other and just laughed at her expression. Chloe finally snaps out of her trance and saw that we were laughing at her.
"It's true though! Shannon I don't know why you're laughing, you always have this day dream about the brownie chocolate desert. I swear the face you pull; you think you were married to it."
Shannon finally stopped laughing and just responded, "It's so yummy; the chocolate sauce, the chocolate ice cream.”
The elevator door finally opens and we all walked out. I observed the girls dorm is finally getting packed with girls with suitcases, talking to each other about how there half term went, laughing and joking amongst them. It felt like a good vibe.
"Ah, it finally kicks in that we start second term tomorrow. I can't be bothered at all," Shannon complains.
"Shannon, Chloe!"
A girl started too marched up to them, leaving her suitcase behind. She had a dirty blonde hair colour. She was wearing a hoodie and joggers with white converse. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, with her side fringe coming down in her right side of her face and hair strands came down on either side her face. She was wearing plenty of make-up. She must have put on anything on since it’s the start of a new term tomorrow and just wanted a relaxing night.
"Jasmine!" Both girls shouted, cheerfully.
"Hey, how was my girls' half term?"
"Boring, it was all birthdays this week and homework. That's all I did," Chloe replied. I had a feeling she's not explaining to us everything than she's letting on. I don't say anything. I keep quiet. I keep a note of this for later.
"The same old stuff. Aunt and Uncle took to me to the seaside and stayed over there along with my two annoying cousins. Worked and earn pennies and now I'm back. How was yours Jasmine?"
"My parents took me over to Greece for five days. It was well lovely and worth the nice relaxation I needed. But oops, I forgot to do homework," Jasmine shrugged, while rolling her eyes.
Ah, so Jasmine is sarcastic. Like myself, I smiled.
"Same old Jasmine?" Chloe looks at Shannon with a smirk.
"Indeed Chloe," she smirks back, trying to hold the laughter.
"Oh shush you guys and anyway, who this?"
"Ah, this is Lucy. She came over here earlier today. She'll be starting tomorrow. She's in both mine and Chloe's class, so she'll be with us and helping her around the place, until she knows where to go."
Jasmine walked over to me and took her hand out and grabbed both my hands together, "Hello Lucy, I'm Jasmine. I'm sadly not in these two hooligans -"
"Hey were not hooligans!" Screamed Chloe but, somehow was ignored.
"- classes to save you, but I will be seeing you around the place hopefully."
I laughed and grabbed her hand and shook it, "It's nice to meet you too Jasmine," I smiled. I had a feeling I wish I was close friends with her.
"Pleasure is all mines. If you need anything or see me wondering about and you have no idea where you're going, to be scared and just ask me," She smiled, turning back to Shannon and Chloe, she asked, "Anyway, where are you slime balls off too?"
"The Hungry Palace,” said Shannon, with a smirk going across her face.
"Why tease me? Wish I came earlier then I could have come with you guys," Jasmine groaned, with a pained face. Just how tasty was this place?
"Hey, it was last minute decision. Shannon mentioned it as a nice welcome for Lucy, so we're just heading there now."
Jasmine turned to me, looking straight within my eyes, "Ah. Lucy, I will tell you this now, is warned of how much tastiness there is at the restaurant. It will haunt you forever, just like it has to most of us."
“I already had the dreamy signs from Chloe here, but thanks for the heads up Jasmine," I sniggered.
"Lucy!"
"No problem. I best get going; don't want the girl's not have a slumber party without me. See you later!"
Jasmine ran back to where some girls were standing and started to talk to them. I turned to both Shannon and Chloe, "She was nice. Shall we had over and get some food?"
"Yes let's get going."
It didn't take long for us to reach the college entrance, where I saw a black car pulled over at the side, with two people taking luggage out from the car boot.
"Jack!" Shannon screamed.
The boy turned around, with a confusing look on his face, which quickly changed to a brilliant grin.
Shannon and Chloe ran up to him, while I shyly strolled up to them. Shannon hugged him, when Chloe just smiled and wave. The boy was taller than any of us girls including the woman who helped the boy take out his belongings from the car. He had messy brown hair, wearing a navy shirt and black skinny jeans and white converse. After hugging Shannon, he walked to the side of the car and opened the door, grabbing something, which was a grey jumper. He closed the car door and put the jumper over himself. He looked back up to us and I noticed he had green grass eyes, which we full of happiness.
“Hello Mrs Baggs,” said both Chloe and Shannon, cheerfully.
“Hello Shannon, Chloe. It’s lovely to see you again,” she smiled at both girls, “Right, that’s it. I’ll get going now. Jack, please do not get into trouble this term and be a good boy. I’ll pick you up for your Christmas break,” said the woman, as she was pulling the car boot down. She was a middle aged woman, with slight grey hairs in hair short, curly brown hair. She was a small, slumped woman, with very rosy cheeks. I looked at her, then to Jack and back to the slumped woman again. She clearly didn't look like she was related to him, unless I was wrong?
“Ok. Thanks again for dropping me off Melissa.”
Ah, first term names. Then she was obviously not related to him.
Mrs Baggs kissed Jack on her cheek and smiled sweetly, “No problem Jack. I’ll see you soon,” replied Melissa and walked back to the car and drove off.
"Shannon! Chloe! Long-time no see!"
“Jack, it’s only been a week.”
“I know, but it felt longer Shannon! Meanwhile, I have finally got a job when I get back home. Yes ladies, Jack has finally found a job for when he gets home during term times and summer break!”
“Jack, congrats! You can finally earn pennies and BUY YOUR OWN FOOD YOU COOKIE MONSTER,” stated Chloe, in full sarcasm and anger.
Oh, I could guess that Jack lets someone, mostly Chloe to buy his food. Boys, I sigh.
“Hey! I DO buy my own food. It’s just that you guys treat me,” he said, crossing his arms and smirked.
Chloe and Jack had a mini fight while Shannon was laughing and I just smiled, sadly. It reminded me of my long life and childhood best friend. We used to sit on a hill, near my old foster home and we laughed and mimed people from school to college, from people we already knew. I wonder how he was. Was he happy or sad? Looking towards the sky, I noticed it was sunset orange; beautiful. I missed him too much. I wonder if he got a boyfriend yet. I mentally giggled to myself. Miranda changed and gave me a new phone so I could not contact him. If only I was good at remembering numbers, I could have phoned him.
“Lucy?”
I snapped my head back to them. I noticed all three of them, were staring at me, all providing me with a worried look.
“Are you ok? We've been trying to grab your attention for the last two minutes,” Chloe asked, worriedly.
I smiled, sheepishly, “Sorry, just admiring the sunset, that’s all,” turning my head back to the sky.
“Oh, yeah, it’s beautiful isn't it? You know, there’s a field where people just sit and watch the sun goes down until night comes, but ‘cause of the curfew not many go, unless it’s spring or summer, of course. I could take you there sometime?” Shannon asked.
I felt my face lit up in delight, “Please!”
“Ok, that’s settled then. Meanwhile, we've got food to go too.”
Jack was staring at me intensely, narrowing his eyes, like he was trying to figure something out. He shook his head and stepped back. He sighed and looked up to me with a sad gleam over his eyes, which got took over quickly with curiosity, “And who’s this?”
“This is Lucy. She’s new and just came earlier today.”
Every time I look at Jack, I just have this feeling I knew him, but I knew I have never met him before. Strange, I thought.
“Hi,” I smiled, shyly. I don’t do well meeting people. I'm awkward like that, so I just stare at my feet, since they seemed more interesting all of a sudden. Shannon looked at Jack and said, “Anyway Jack, we’re leaving to go out for tea.”
Jack put both of his hands onto his hips and just shook his head while trying not to let out a laugh.
“Let me guess, The Hungry Palace?” Jack chuckled.
“Of course we are! We’re going out for tea and showing Lucy about while we’re at it.”
“You’re just using her as an excuse,” Jack looked at Shannon in disbelief.
“No I am not! She wanted to come! Didn't you Lucy?”
Shannon looked at me, with a hopeful look. I guess this is my queue to speak now before a cat fight starts. I nodded to say, I’ll cover it up.
“Yeah, I heard from a girl called Jasmine about it."
“Oh you've met Jasmine. You just reminded me; I need to see Damon and Max about the project we had to finish over half term.”
“Let me guess you didn't finish it?”
“I finished my part and I think Max did too, but Damon had a hard time with his family. His dad came round over half term,” Jack confirmed, with a firm voice. He sighed loudly and ran his hands over his temples. He knew more; his body language shifted and something was up, “Is Max here anyway?”
Chloe was one that answered. She shifted in her spot, looking very uncomfortable at the situation. She had a faraway look in her eyes and they seemed distant and cold.
“Yeah I saw him before I left to see Shannon. He’s with Mrs Wilkinson along with Lee, because she caught him arguing with Lee about Damon’s family and obviously, Max being Damon’s cousin, he backed Damon up and things just got out of hand. If Damon heard or was there, he would gladly kill Lee.”
The way she sounded, it seemed she was afraid of the outcome of what she either saw or heard. Jack nodded and sighed. Shannon just stayed quiet but she had a hard look in her face, as if she was thinking of something. Meanwhile I felt awkward and out of place I just took a deep breath and sighed very loudly. And to make it more awkward, my stomach growled loudly. Why was it always me?
Everyone looked up at me and Chloe started laughing. I sheepishly looked at the floor.
“Guess someone is hungry. C’mon, were going for food.
Shannon and Chloe waved goodbye to Jack, while I just smiled. Jack grabbed his suitcase and belongings and started to walk towards the building, while us three girls, walked to The Hungry Palace and Chloe and Shannon continued to talk to me about class and coursework while I hungrily demolished my BBQ chicken pizza and Oreo milkshake.
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