Ramblings of Tamora-Jayne Whyle

Part One

I am writing this by candlelight.

No, this isn’t some story from the eighteenth century or anything – there’s been a freaking power cut and my torch bulb blew.

Which, let’s face it, is typical.

I am guessing you’re wondering who I am and if you weren’t, you are now.

I’m just good that way.

I am Tamora-Jayne Whyle, seventeen-years-old and...my candle is about to go out.

Fudge it.

I usually like the rain; I love to dance in it and I’m sure it’s every girls dream to be kissed whilst standing in the rain.

But this?

It’s treacherous…and I’ve just had to go out in it. Not. Fun. I mean, yeah, it’s great and all, but…I’ve just washed my freaking hair and I don’t know about you girls, but my hair has a tendency to go greasy when I stand out there for too long.

Thank Stephenie Meyer I had a hat.

Oh – I do that sometimes, sorry. Instead of using ‘God’ or ‘Hell’ I use Twilight characters, locations and, as you’ve just read, the author.

Really, you’d have to be nuts not to love Twilight. The vampires, the romance…the horror…

Don’t ever judge a book by its movie. It’s wrong and, let’s face it, it made Harry Potter look kinda rubbish.

So, if you’ve seen Twilight or are going to and haven’t read the saga (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn), then give them a chance. And don’t keep referring back to the film when you do.

Sorry, off topic.

Ah, the lights are ba-

…Spoke too soon.

I’ve already changed the candle twice.

Claudia – my younger sister and pronounced ‘Cloud-ia’ and not like Jean Claud Van Dam – is probably downstairs with mother and pater, getting all flustered like a mother hen with her dog Karma.

I named Karma and Dad was the only one who actually got the joke. She is a twelve-year-old English Pointer. She’s actually the family pet, but Dia is hell bent on making out like the poor thing is hers. Dia treats Karma like Paris Hilton treats her Chihuahua Tinkerbell. She dresses her up, attempts (and fails) to pick her up (Dude that dog is heavy) and I’ve had so many sweaters go missing from my wardrobe, only for them to show up on Karma days later.

The lights flickered again.

I can’t read because the flickering candle whilst I’m concentrating on the words would give me a migraine…I’ve read all the books in my room anyways. And work? Ugh. Done it all, I don’t exactly enjoy getting screamed at by my teachers for not doing something and if I don’t keep my work up then I’m going to get crap grades at A Levels, which means that I won’t be able to go to Cardiff University to do Creative Writing, which has been my dream since…forever.

So I was compelled to write. I don’t know where I’m going with this, so I guess we’ll just have to see. Maybe there’ll actually be a plot!

Let’s take a couple of minutes of silence just to pray to the Plot Gods.

Part Two

I’m at sixth now.

It’s storming outside; I really pity the kids who have to do gym…I just hope the teachers are nice enough to keep them inside.

I had to play tennis at my old school in heavy rain. My white polo was speckled with pink after…don’t ask how, I haven’t got a clue. Puzzled my mum, too.

I’m in free period, just before break. I’m writing in the freezing cold library, staring out of the window (I’m clever!) and all I can see is dark grey sky and an almost bare gold-leaved tree. It’s swaying viciously…all I can see in my mind’s eye is it toppling over into the library wall bringing the Local Countryside shelves down with it.

I can almost smell the harsh wind, burning my nose with its cold bite.

What can I hear?

…The wind, brave drivers in their cars driving through numerous puddles and floods, the rain thundering against the ceiling and windows, a small class of another group of sixth formers in their Music class, the incessant tapping of fingers on computer keyboards. I can also hear the buzzing of the tube lights above me.

Break in less than ten minutes.

I really wish I wore my wellies today. They may be lilac, but it sure woulda beat having soaked feet.

I’ve just realised that I’m writing in simple sentences for the most part. God, I’m sorry – that’s so primary school of me! I’ll try to stop.

Let’s have some dialogue soon, hey?

Part Three

“Pitiful, really.”

“Good afternoon to you too, Rowenna.”

Ah, Rowenna Parker. Best friend of four years.

She threw her legs over the picnic bench opposite me in a huff, and I looked up from my brand new laptop.

“What’s up, Ro?”

She huffed again, “I have just seen Cassy sucking face with Lewis Peters. Again!”

Cassandra Walters is another best friend of ours (just one more, I promise). She’s also been out with Lewis three times since January and she dumped him every time. It’s getting a little stale.

I shrugged, the best possible reaction as to not get caught up in another mini-war, and went back to my laptop.

Rowenna screeched in defiance, “How can she stand him, Mora?” Which has actually been the same question running though my head since Cassy went out with him the first time.

The slug has short dark brown hair – which he insists on spiking up with, no doubt, a whole tub of styling gel each morning – and brown eyes that don’t seem to show any emotion what-so-ever. He’s...around five foot six, give or take, sixteen-years-old, bless - he’s the youngest in our year, and is a total sleaze.

No, I really don’t like him.

“Hi guys, sorry I’m late.” Cassy dumped her bag on the table and tried to tame her messed up, stick straight hair (you’ll never see her without her hair straightened, she hates it).

I raised an eyebrow at her dishevelled appearance and she blushed hotly.

“Lewis.” She mumbled, to which I rolled my eyes and started looking through the programs on my laptop.

Cassy sat down next to Rowenna and pulled out a tuna and mayonnaise (with sweetcorn) sandwich.

Ooh, Purble Place...

“Please don’t tell me you and that jerk are going back out, Cassandra.” Rowenna shook her shoulder-length light brown hair out of her pony tail and pointedly ignored my frown.

“Yes I am, Rowenna. He can be very sweet...when he wants to be.” She mumbled the last part under her breath and neither Ro nor I could resist our eye rolling.

“Yeah, but for the rest of the time all he can do is pick fights with Mora and I and drag you off to his mates.”

Cassy frowned, “That’s not true, I’m with you guys right now.”

Ro repressed a growl (she’s very easy to read) and turned to me, “Mora, you going to help me out here?”

I glanced up and gave her my best ‘don’t-you-dare-drag-me-into-this’ face.

She clenched her jaw.

“We’re just worried about you, is all. Cassy, it’s true, whenever you date Lewis, you do tend to stick with his friends. We aren’t telling you to stop hanging out with him, we’re just saying-“

“Spread yourself equally. Hey girls.”

Tawni! My favourite girl in the entire world comes to save the day!

I nod, not looking at Tawni, “Exactly.”

Tawni hugged me from behind, “Hey chicka, writing to yourself again?”

I shook my head, “English work.”

“Ugh, poor girl.” She sat next to me and grabbed a crisp from my packet.

“Hey Tawni.” Ro and Cassy smiled at her.

“What’s the sitch?” Tawni has obviously been watching Kim Possible again...

“Cassandra is dating loser again.”

Man, if looks could kill, Ro would totally be dead by now.

Tawni glanced at the two, “Yo, let’s calm down shall we? No controversy at the Awesome Table of Luuurve.”

“It’s not the sixties, Tee.” I mutter.

She shrugged, “Has that ever stopped me before?”

“...Point taken.” I nod, “But really guys, play nice. We’re meant to be best friends, remember.”

“Come on. Now that we’re all here we can finally walk to town.”

Tawni ignored the jibe and threw her fist in the air, “To town, fellow random folk!” And promptly strode out of the front gates and turned right.

“Wrong way, turnip head!” I shouted.

She turned around and walked in the opposite direction like nothing had happened and the three of us shook our heads fondly.

Part Four

We’re sitting in Starbucks now, drying off and warming ourselves up with numerous caffeine-based heated drinks. The heavens decided to open halfway into town; luckily, I had all my school stuff and laptop in a waterproof bag, so it’s all good.

“Seven.” Tawni muttered, nodding discretely towards a blonde haired waiter.

“Mm, I’d give him an eight.” Ro grinned and winked at him, he blushed and tripped over in response, which sent all of us in to a fit of giggles.

“Bless, look at the poor guy,” I giggled. “He spilt frappachino down his apron.”

Tawni smirked, “She has that affect on guys.”

Cassy’s phone jingled, she pulled it out of her pocket, flipped it open, smiled and put it to her ear, “Hey babe.”

We all groaned, almost silently.

“In town...” She glanced at us, “...Starbucks...”

We all stared at her wide eyed and shook our heads in unison, “...I’m sure they won’t mind at all...” Our jaws dropped. “...See you in a few.” She put her phone back in her pocket and met our gazes with a nervous smile, “He’ll be here in ten minutes.”

Rowenna looked at her incredulously, “You know this is our girl time.”

She shrugged, “He doesn’t mind.”

I bit my lip, “...But we do, Cass.”

Rowenna huffed, “I’m going. You two coming?”

Tawni stood up, keeping eye contact with Cassy, “I’m sorry Cassandra. See you tomorrow.”

“What? But I thought he had the BBA?” Cassy leaned forward, half standing, half sitting.

Rowenna smiled sadly, “That was the first time, honey. After that...”

She looked at me, pleading silently.

I looked down and shouldered my bag, “I can’t, sweets. You know that.”

“I guess I’ll see you all tomorrow, then.” She mumbled as we walked down the stairs.

We slowly trudged down the High Street together.

“I just can’t believe she would do something like that.” Tawni shook her head in disbelief.

I continued to walk in silence.

Rowenna looked at the two of us and sighed, “Okay, we need some retail therapy.”

…And promptly dragged us in to the mall.

“Mora, lighten up. Yes, she inadvertently chose him over us, but what do you expect? He’s just like that.”

I sighed and put back a pair of earrings, “I know, but I just thought she’d remember that conversation we had about him…she said that she’d never go-“

“Out with him again because he used her and she didn’t like the way he treated us.” Rowenna finished. “But obviously she has forgotten, honey.”

“I knew we should’ve got her to write it down and sign it as a contract. I wasn’t joking…” Tawni screwed up her nose at a huge grey flower pin.

Tawni may be the peace maker, but she wasn’t a complete softy.

“I’ve never liked him – I just gave him the Best Bud Approval because well…I thought it would make Cass happy.”

“We all did Tee, we all did.” I pulled her into a hug.

Part Six

I take four subjects at Sixth. Film Studies; English Language; Theatre and Drama Studies and Law.

And you want to know the one I dislike intensely? Law.

I mean, good Lord! They really put on the work load here, and expect you to do everything by the next lesson...and considering I had two teachers for each subject, we were more often than not given two nights to do it in. I’m talking about whole essays, here. With the other homework we’re given on top of that? Yeah, it’s strenuous alright.

And today I had double Law and we were given an essay for each! How do others cope? I know I can’t...

“Every day, every day, every day, we’re going all the way...” My phone blared ‘Go All the Way (Into the Twilight)’ by Perry Farrell.

“Mora rabbiting.”

“TJ!” A panicky voice shouted over the blasting music.

“Lynx?” What on Earth...?

“We’re at Loz’s party and Rowenna’s practically wankered...none of us can drive ‘cause we’ve all been drinking...”

“And you want me to come pick ya’ll up?” Ack, stupid Americanisms.

“Please. You need to hurry, though – I think she’s about to smash Peters face in.”

I groaned, “I’ll be there in ten.” I heard a crash and someone who sounded suspiciously like Tawni screeching, “Make that five.”

I closed my Law text book and snatched my keys from the bowl on my dresser, grabbed my navy pea coat and rushed down the stairs. My parents were at a work party together and Claudia was at her best friend, Rebecca’s house for the weekend so I didn’t have to give any excuses as to why I was going out at one in the morning.

I stuck my Riverdance CD into the player, knowing that they’re only get a thumping headache if I played my Twilight Soundtrack like I wanted to (imported early from America thanks to Tawni) and sped down the roads to Laurence Beirnsteins ‘humble abode’, luckily knowing where all the patrols were and how to avoid them I made it to Loz’s in short timing. I looked around for somewhere to park, and ended up having to block a pretty burnt orange Citroen C3.

I dialled Lynx’s number as I picked my way over the drunkards on the front lawn.

“Dude, where are you?” I asked as soon as he picked up.

“In the basement...first door-“

“I know, see you in a few.” I pushed the top of my phone down and shoved it into my coat pocket.

I opened the door to my left after I passed the threshold.

Man, and I thought the music was loud from outside...

I practically stumbled down the stairs due to all the couples sucking faces, and heard a resounding man-scream from the middle of the room. Looking up from the stairs, I saw Lewis with his arms covering his face, cowering on the floor, and Ro being held back by Lynx and Rob Butcher. Even though the guys were rugby players, they were struggling to keep their hold on the hockey player.

I chuckled sardonically and peered at Lewis with a bemused smile, “Having fun there, Peters?”

He flinched, “Get that crazy bitch away from me, Whyle.”

I smirked, “Or what? You’re going to crap yourself? Because if you are...”

Lewis glared at me, “Listen you catty bitch-“

I tilted my head like an enquiring puppy, “How can I be both catty and a bitch? One cannot be both canine and feline. It...goes against principle, right?” I looked at Tawni who shrugged. Ack, I didn’t know either.

I crouched down next to Lewis, tucking my skirt between my calves and thighs, “I’ll tell you what, Peters. I’ll get Ro to back off...” He started to relax, “...If you promise to stop being so fucking possessive with Cassandra.”

Oh dear, I’m swearing – must...stop.

“You can’t make me; we’re going out. I can do whatever the hell I like.”

I moved my head closer to his, glaring at him, “You hurt her, and I swear to fucking God your face is going to be so fucki-“

“Okay, honey, I think he gets the point.” Rob pulled me back gently by my coat collar.

I clicked my jaw, attempting to shoot lasers from my eyes at Lewis.

“Scram.” Lynx jerked his head to the stairs.

And scram the little twerp did.

I leant back against Rob and sighed heavily, “He’s a serious drain on emotions.”

Rob chuckled, “You think you’re drained?”

We looked over to Ro, who had collapsed in Lynx’s arms completely dead to the world.

I sighed, “C’mon. Let’s get her back to mine. Parentals aren’t back till Monday night.”

A/N: Tell Me If You Want Me To Continue!

L
-x-