Erin The Fire Goddess: The Beginning

by Lavinia Urban

The weekend went by pretty quickly. On Saturday, I went for a walk with my parents and on Sunday, I spent most of my time in my room, finishing off my book for English.

  On Monday morning we got to school fifteen minutes earlier than normal, so Kasey-Ray and I sat on the wall next to the car park waiting for Claire. I could have just gone to my form room when we got to school, but I decided I would rather be with my sister and get to my form room at the last minute, just in case Jessica knew I'd bumped into Sean. If I got there just as Ms Forrester did, then I would buy myself more time. But she didn't bother me at all.

  In form room it was decided that I would sell programmes with Ms Forrester on sport's day, which suited me just fine. Jessica was going to take part in every event she wanted, which seemed to make her happy.

  Sport's day was only a month away; it was the day before school finished for the summer holidays. Everyone knew that it would soon fly by. I was looking forward to not having to come to school, as I always felt like I was walking on eggshells. It wouldn't be so bad if I ran into Sean, as I wouldn't have to face Jessica in school the next day. Not that I would run into him, I was just secretly hoping I would. It was harder to catch glimpses of him when I saw him on the school grounds. I was sure someone would report back to Jessica, just because they loved the thrill of seeing someone being hurt by another.

  After that day in the girl's changing room, it was like I didn't exist. No one spoke to me, and most people stopped looking at me.

  Even after school, when I saw Sean and his friends in the car park, waiting for Jessica, it was rare any of them would look in my direction.

  By now I'd learnt all of their names. Justin Michaels was the tall, spiky, red haired boy. He was Jessica's 18 year old boyfriend.

  Apparently, none of them attended Galladale High School; they went to the community college next to the school. This would probably explain why I'd seen them come through the bushes.

  The other two boys were Paul and James Hunter. Identical twins who had just turned 18. I couldn't tell them apart, and apparently no one else could either, apart from Kelly Jackson. She was the girl who was always with them. She was a plain looking girl, but pretty at the same time. She had long brown hair with a stripe of purple on one side, and a stripe of blue on the other. I'd overheard someone saying she was going out with one of the twins, but no-one knew which. The most interesting thing I found out about her was that she is the older sister of Sean.

  Sean was the youngest in the group, apart from Jessica.

  The rumours were that when he was at high school, he was very popular. Captain of most sport's teams and always had a different girl each week. Then in his last year of high school, he had returned to school, after the Easter holiday and had changed.

  He wasn't really interested in sport's any more, and he wouldn't look at any of the girls, let alone talk to them. He would just sit still with the same group of friends he had grown up with. Instead of being the main one involved in the conversations, he would just sit there in silence.

  It was his friends outside of school that intrigued everyone, Justin, Paul and James. They'd been in the year above Sean, with his sister, and he'd never once spoken to any of them.

  You see, Justin, Paul and James weren't exactly popular, like Sean and Kelly. So no-one could figure out why they had become friends.

  It was only after a few weeks, when people started noticing Kelly with Paul and James, waiting for Sean.

  No one was entirely sure how Jessica fitted into their little group. I had overheard people referring to her as their guard dog. Not that they would ever say that to her face.

  The week seemed to fly by. There was a buzz in the air, about the upcoming sport's day, with the general banter of who would beat who.

  The form room in every year, which had the most points, would win a trophy and their form name would be put up in reception. Every year, my form room had won it for our year, so I was glad I wasn't taking part. I didn't want to be the one responsible for letting the whole class down.

  By Friday I was feeling happy. The buzz from the other students must have rubbed off on me. Plus, I hadn't had any problems with Jessica.

  As Kasey-Ray and I walked home from school, I listened intently as Kasey-Ray told me that her form room had never won the trophy.

  Best they'd ever done is second. But I reckon we can win it this year, because I've run against Sophie in P.E and I beat her every time”

  Sophie Roberts was in a different form room from Kasey-Ray, and even though they sat at the same table for lunch and break, there seemed to be a bit of a rivalry forming.

  “I don't think she is used to being beaten.” Kasey-Ray laughed, “I wonder how she'll feel about losing in front of the whole school.”

  “She'll probably throw her teddies out of the cot, by the sound of it!” I laughed.

  We were two streets from our house when I spotted an orange car slowly drive past, going in the opposite direction, making my heart start to speed up. I would recognise that car anywhere.

  Every time I saw his car, or caught a glimpse of him, it would set my pulse racing, and now it was going like the clappers, as it turned around and drove past again. I had no idea where he lived, so I didn't know if he was heading home or not. Why did he go one way, then turn and go in the direction we were headed?

  Just before we turned into our street, I noticed he'd pulled to the side of the road, the engine still running. If I had more courage, I would have walked over to see if he needed help or something.

  As soon as we turned into our street, I heard the sound of his tyres squealing as he sped away.

  Kasey-Ray had been oblivious to it all. She was still going on about sport's day. I smiled to myself. I should have felt frightened when I saw Sean's car, but it was only his car I'd seen. Jessica hadn't said anything about me not looking at his car.

  She may, however, have mentioned that I couldn't think about him, but I never stopped thinking about him and she'd never pulled me up on it. It wasn't like she was a mind reader. If she was, she wasn't very good at it.

  I was still daydreaming about him when we got home. I sighed as my Dad broke into my thoughts.

  “Do you have home-work girls?” He asked as soon as we stepped through the door.

  “I do.” I told him as I went to put my coat away.

  “Not me.” Kasey-Ray cheerily added. She probably did, but would only remember last minute, on Sunday night.

  “We'll go grab some DVD's as soon as you're finished." He informed me as he carried a pile of washing upstairs.

  I only had maths to do and I was finished in an hour.

  “Done!” I called as I ran down the stairs, almost tripping over Kasey-Ray's shoes that she had abandoned at the bottom.

  On the way there, I was lost in my own thoughts, wondering if I'd see him there again. As we pulled into an empty parking space, I quickly scanned the area, hoping to see his car. Unfortunately, I didn't. Sighing I followed my family inside and went straight to the new releases with Kasey-Ray. It didn't take long for Kasey-Ray to find something she wanted to watch, as she picked up a film called ‘Four Lions’.

  “This is supposed to be hilarious.” She exclaimed, as she flipped it over to look at the back. “You decided yet?”

  “No, still looking.” I said, shaking my head.

  “Okay, I'll go see what the olds are getting.” I nodded as I continued to look through the hundreds of new releases, then one jumped out at me. Maybe it was because I found the actor, Jake Gyllenhaal, to be quite good looking, but I liked the sound of the title. 'Love and other drugs.' Picking it up, I flipped it over and started reading the back.

  “Supposed to be good.” The sound of his voice made me freeze. “My sister watched it the other day.” I didn't know what to say. I managed to look up at him with a shy smile as I blushed. “Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude.” He looked away, looking slightly embarrassed.

  “Did you sister like it then?” I managed a dry
squeak. He looked pleased that I'd responded, as he turned back towards me.

  “Yeah!” He smiled. “Something about having some gorgeous actor in it." I blushed again, knowing this was one of the reasons I was getting it. I was now in two minds, whether or not to get it. “Are you getting it then?” He seemed to sense my indecisiveness.

  “I don't know.” I was until he spoke.

  “You should, and then you can tell me if it's any good.” His smile was genuine. I liked the sound of that, but I had to think about Jessica.

  Just then his phone went; he pulled it out of his back pocket to read his message.

  “I've got to go.” He put his phone away. “I expect a full report next Friday!” Then he left. I was still standing there, staring after him, as Kasey-Ray came back over.

  “Are you getting that then?” I turned to smile at her as I nodded.

  “I think I am.”