“Lila!”
I turned back towards my mum. “What?” I asked disinterested.
“What? What!” she yelled at me. “Do you know how important this night is?”
“Clearly not,” I retorted.
“Well, it was, and you’ve just gone and humiliated us. He is potentially going to be one of our biggest clients. Tonight was about closing the deal, making him feel comfortable and you ruined it! What’s all this talk about not going to Hensley University?”
“I’m not going there.”
“Yes, you are. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you’re going, and you are going to go back in there,” she said pointing at the restaurant, “and apologise to Jack and Michael about your rudeness. You will not ruin this for us!”
“First of all,” I said through my teeth, “I am not going back in there. I couldn’t care less what those stuck up people think, and I couldn’t care less about your stupid business deal! You used me! You dressed me up and paraded me around for their entertainment!”
“Oh, please!” My mother said rolling her eyes.
“Secondly, Hensley University is half way across the country. Who’s going to look after Hayley if I move away?”
“What?”
“You’ll just get a nanny like before? Am I right?”
“Well, yes… I guess so.”
“Exactly,” I said shaking my head. “She’ll be all alone.”
I had realised at an early age that things were never going to change. They would always be gone, and we would always be left without them. I decided I wouldn’t let Hayley grow up without some kind of role model, or someone to look out for her. I decided to be there for her always, taking responsibility for her, helping and guiding her through life.
I probably hadn’t taken into consideration at the time, just how much my life was going to change. I was only a kid as well. A kid taking on so much responsibility, but I had to. If I didn’t, who would? Sure, the nannies would help, but in the end, I was, and always will be the one stable person in her life. I knew that, eventually, the nannies would leave for one reason or another. Then what? My sister would have no one to look after her. It was the right thing to do, and the only thing I could do.
On my eighteenth birthday, earlier this year, we said goodbye to our nannies, Viv and Renee, knowing they had been the best nannies anyone could ever wish to have. Our parents felt that my coming of age meant that I was old enough to look after myself. “Take responsibility, Lila,” they had said to me. Too bad I had already been helping raise Hayley since they had left…
Somehow, I had always known deep down that this was my parent’s plan all along. They would send me off to the prestigious Hensley University and hire nannies to look after Hayley.
I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let that happen.
“You know, I had this ridiculous idea in my mind today that this would be the start of something new,” I said, tears starting to steam down my face. “You always said when things settled down with the company that you’d be home more, but I was wrong. You might as well not even be parents.”
“Lila!”
“I’m serious! We rarely see you! I’ve basically had to raise Hayley myself. Yeah, sure, we had help, but Hayley needs more than just a nanny. She needs a parent. I need a parent!”
I heard a crack of lightning as a storm began to set in. Raindrops started falling around us. I wanted to run. I couldn’t be around them anymore. The pain of the last eight years was feeling all too real.
I’d never felt more alone… Why couldn’t they see that? Why couldn’t they see that I didn’t care about the money and the ridiculous sized house we lived in. In the end, they are just possessions. Materialistic ideals of love and happiness, and a Band-Aid to a broken family.
“I just wanted us to be a family… That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Lila,” my mum choked.
“Sarah? Everything okay?”
We both turned to see Jack standing a few feet away.
“This is your chance,” I said to her as she looked back at me. “You can make this right again.”
“Lila, you can’t give me ultimatums like that,” she pleaded.
“Sarah?” Jack spoke again.
My mum looked back and forth between us.
“I’m sorry, Lila. I have to get back.”
My jaw tightened to stop myself from bursting into tears.
“You’ve made your choice,” I sobbed, turning away from her, away from the life I never wanted.
“Lila,” I heard my mum call, but I didn’t look back, and she didn’t come after me. I just had my worst fears confirmed. My parents would never choose us…
I opened my eyes and brought myself back to the present, pushing those memories from my mind. I looked into Hayley’s eyes with regret, “They’re never going to change, Hayley. I thought… I thought I could make it better, but I can’t.”
Hayley hugged me tightly. “As long as we have each other,” she said quietly into my shoulder.
“Always and forever,” I replied, not wanting ever to let her go, but silently scared out of my mind that one day I might just have to.
***
“Hello?”
I peered out of my eyelids at the sound of Hayley’s voice.
“You need to get up and get ready for school, or we’re going to be late.”
“What time is it?” I croaked.
“Eight o’clock.”
I stretched out my body on the bed and yawned, not really wanting to move at all from my comfy bed.
Hayley started laughing. “Well, you don’t see this every day. Normally, you’re the one trying to get my lazy bum up and ready for school, not the other way around.”
I laughed. “Don’t get used to it.”
Hayley sat on the bed next to me and lowered her voice. “Mum messaged me this morning and let me know that they decided to go back to London early… They left before I woke up.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Typical.
I rubbed my eyes with the tips of my fingers, pushed all thoughts about last night and my parents out of my head, and focused on what was important right now: Hayley and school. I may not have needed to get top grades to go to my University of choice, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try.
“Okay,” I said, crawling out of bed slowly, “let’s go to school.”
We managed to make it school without missing first period, thanks to the school assembly which had been moved to first thing in the morning. I probably wouldn’t have minded missing first period though, as it was a science prac dissecting frogs, or something that really made my stomach turn.
Mr Peters thought for sure I was going to vomit all over the table, as he kept insisting I sit down and drink water. My pale complexion and clammy skin must have given me away. Thankfully, though, I survived the lesson and never felt so much relief walking out of the classroom.
“I seriously thought you were going to be sick!” Jackie said, laughing as we walked to our lockers.
“I think I was pretty close,” I replied smiling, already feeling the colour in my cheeks coming back.
“I didn’t find it too bad actually,” Jackie said as she opened the door to her locker, placing the books inside. “It’s pretty interesting when you think about it.”
I laughed, “Maybe for you.”
Jackie had short, auburn hair, styled into a cute bob with young, timeless, fair skin. She looked smart, and had the brains to match. She was planning on going to University to become a doctor after we graduated, so I wasn’t surprised that she would find dissecting a frog interesting.
I crammed my books into my locker and retrieved my lunch. “So where did you want to sit today?” I asked as I closed my locker door.
“Oh sorry, Lila. I must have forgotten to tell you,” she said apologetically. “I’ve got music practice today. We’re doing extra lessons before the formal.”
“
Of course,” I replied.
Jackie had been playing the violin since she was a little girl, and as part of the Grade Twelve Formal, she and other seniors in the music department were preparing for a special presentation.
I’d forgotten all about the formal. Most of the girls in my year had already organised their partners for the night and had been dress shopping. I, on the other hand, didn’t even have a date yet, and would most likely be going solo.
“Sorry, Lila. You know how important this kind of stuff is to my mum.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said sincerely.
I only wished my own mother cared that much about me. I very much doubted that if I was ever part of the school band, that she would even come and watch me play for something as important as my grade twelve formal.
“Catch up later?”
“Definitely,” I replied.
I said goodbye to Jackie and made my way to the oval to eat lunch by myself. Not that I minded being alone, I enjoyed the peace and quiet.
I rounded the corner of J Block and was instantly disappointed when I saw the boys’ rugby team in practice.
“Well, there goes that idea,” I said quietly to myself.
I continued to walk past the oval though, watching with much amusement as all the senior girls flaunted their bodies towards the boys.
No matter how strict the school uniform was, there would always be those girls who found a way to make it sexy somehow. Unfortunately, my sister happened to be one of those girls.
I scanned the sides of the oval and found Hayley amongst some of the girls trying desperately to get the attention of some of the older rugby players. I watched as she undid her hair tie, letting her blonde hair hang loosely on her shoulders, and laughing with her friends as they did the same.
We went to a top private school, Eden College. Every wealthy family in the region sent their kids to Eden College. Those that couldn’t afford the thousands of dollars per term to send their children, relied on the hope their child was smart enough to get a scholarship, like my friend, Jackie. Her family wasn’t wealthy. Her mum was a nurse, and her dad was a plumber, but Jackie had brains, and she desperately wanted to become a doctor. The best bet for her to get into the most sought after University, was to go to Eden College. All the well-known lawyers, CEO’s, surgeons, and politicians, had gone to Eden College. It had a reputation that other schools dreamed of having, but that didn’t mean that everyone who schooled at Eden had great reputations. Eden was very hush, hush about what went on with some of the students. Hayley said once that the families are always making generous donations when their sons or daughters were misbehaving. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Money has a way of fixing just about anything...
I made my way towards Hayley, who had managed to gather a group of guys around her and her friend.
Eden College has a strict dress code, but rarely does anyone follow it. The girls are to wear knee length grey socks with black shoes. A grey skirt with a plain buttoned white shirt, navy tie, and dark navy blazer. The blazer, however, only had to be worn to and from school, on special occasions, and was marked with a red logo; an E and C entwined. The boys had a similar outfit, only they wore long grey trousers instead.
If your hair was long enough to touch your shoulders, it had to be pulled back into a hair tie. Minimal jewellery and only natural make-up and hair colour, a rule that continues to get me in trouble. I have olive skin, emerald coloured eyes, and copper hair that looks as though it has been dyed with light highlights. I had a terrible time when I first started at Eden College trying to convince the teachers my hair was natural, and even now, I can still get questioned if it becomes sun bleached.
“Hayley,” I said as I approached the group.
Hayley turned to me and smiled. “Hey, Lila. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just making sure if you still need me to take you home this afternoon?”
“Actually… I was going to hit the shops later with Poppy?” Hayley replied a little unsure.
“Just make sure you’re home by dinner,” I said, trying not to sound too much like I was mothering her.
“No worries,” she said smiling warmly at me.
I looked around at the guys listening to our conversation.
“You’re looking well, Lila.”
I turned my head to see Dale grinning at me.
I half-smiled a reply, “Thanks.”
I tried to ignore the giggling behind me from Hayley and her friends.
Dale was history. He was the first guy I dated, and the last. We started going out over a year ago and lasted a whole three months before I called it quits.
He was tall with a lean build, short brown hair, and a killer, killer, smile. He was gorgeous, but he was a total player. He was completely faithful the whole time we were together, but he loved the attention, and he still does. That wasn’t the only reason why we broke up. I just didn’t feel anything with him. Sure, he was cute, and a pretty good kisser, but that’s it. No fireworks. No catch-your-breath moments, and I thought it would be better for us to go our separate ways. He wasn’t very pleased at my decision to begin with, after-all “nobody breaks it off with Dale Knight.” It didn’t take him too long to move on though- four days to be exact.
He was single again now, after breaking it off with his most recent girlfriend, and had taken it upon himself to try to rekindle our “romance”, much to my dismay.
“What are you up to later?” Dale asked.
“Um… I’m not sure. Probably just working on assignments,” I replied, hoping he wouldn’t ask me to do something with him. I’d been ignoring his text messages for a few days now, hoping he would get the hint.
“Did you wanna hang out? We could catch a movie or something?”
Damn.
I glanced briefly at the faces around me, hoping they had gone off into their own conversations and weren’t listening to Dale or me. Their eager eyes met mine as they all stood staring at me, waiting for my reply.
I shook my head. “I’ve gotta go,” I said quickly doing a one-eighty, and walking away without waiting for anyone’s reply.
I was successfully able to make it away from the oval without anyone chasing after me. The last thing I wanted was to be the topic of gossip.
I made my way towards the back of the school and towards the surrounding forest. I often came to this part of the school. The school backed onto a beautiful rainforest that had trails of boardwalk throughout it that was open to the public to explore. Students, however, were only able to go into the forest if they had permission, or if it was part of their class. In the past three years since I first went in there, nobody had ever caught me, and I doubted they ever would.
I walked into the forest along the timber boardwalk until I found the bench seat. It was a simple aged timber bench seat, but it was the perfect escape. Jackie and I would come here every now and then to escape the high school drama that can sometimes feel like it consumed you.
I finished off my lunch in a matter of minutes and looked at the time on my clock. I still had fifteen minutes before lunch ended.
I grabbed my phone from the pocket of my shirt. Three messages from Hayley. I quickly read through them, already knowing what they would be about.
Hayley- OMG! DALE WANTS YOU!!!
Hayley- LILA? Did u get my msg? What r u gonna do? Do u like him?
Hayley- Lila! C’mon! I’m dying here! Pls tell me ur not gonna turn down a hot piece of ass like that?
I chuckled to myself and replied, surprised at Hayley’s quick response.
Lila- Yes, I got your msg. And yes- that’s exactly what I plan on doing. Dale’s not my type.
Hayley- Bullshit! Dale is everyone’s type!!!
Hayley- Poppy is totes jello!
I frowned at her last message.
Lila- Totes jello?
Hayley- Oh really Lila! I swear sometimes ur not really a teenager! Totes jello means totally je
alous!
Ridiculous, I thought to myself.
I rattled off every bit of text message I could then.
Lila- Whatever. G2G, B4N, GF, AML xo
Lila- How’s that sound? Am I now a teenager?
Hayley- No, just a nerd ;)
Lila- Thanks! Love you too x
Hayley- x
I smiled and placed the phone back into my pocket.
With a bit of time to spare, I laid down on the bench seat. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but I was too tired to care.
I looked up at the tall trees above, watching the glimmering beams of light come down onto my face. Breathing in the fresh scent of tree life, I felt my body relax...
I continued to stare at the trees above, watching as the wind swept the branches back and forth. However, the more I watched the treetops, the slower they moved. My eyes narrowed in on them. Something wasn’t right. The once glistening sunlight suddenly started to disappear, as a dark shadow crept across it.
I sat up and looked around. The forest had become eerily quiet. The trees that were once moving freely slowed down until they moved no more. I stood on my feet quickly and watched as one final leaf fell gracefully to the ground in front of me.
My heart began to race as fear crept up inside of me. The forest was no longer a place of light and peace, but one of darkness.
I looked down at the pathway to the school and saw no one, but when I turned around to look down the pathway further into the forest, that's when I saw… him...
He walked towards me with confidence. He was perfectly built, his leather jacket fitting his muscular lean frame perfectly. He was tall and wore dark black jeans. He had olive coloured skin and short untamed chestnut hair. My eyes quickly widened as I watched two huge black wings span out from his back.
“An angel,” I said softly, not believing my own words as they escaped my mouth.
Angels of Moirai (Book One) Page 2
