Chapter One

Story of a Girl

Sabrina

Ok, so I’m a normal girl, there is nothing remotely odd looking about me apart from the fact that I just don’t seem to grow over 5’4ft, but that’s not really the point. I’m not famous for anything (yet) but my story, in my eyes, deserves to be told. It’s a story of lies, love, heartache and friendship in its simplest forms at some times.

I was given the name Sabrina Mary-Alice Andrews, Sabrina meaning cactus fruit in Hebrew (I’m not quite sure what to make of that to be honest) and Mary-Alice being the name of my Great-Grandmother who once threw a potato at Prince Charles, it missed but she told us the story every Christmas until she died last year at the grand old age of 98. I’m sixteen which means I’m too young to do a lot of things yet I’m supposed to be old enough to know better. This is my story and I’m telling it because it needs to be told so I can move on with my life.

It started last December, I was fifteen and this story starts on a very cold and wet day just a week before our Christmas holiday. I’ve thought about it, if you took the average rain fall in England then doubled it you would get the weekly rainfall in Kingsview, the only town in England where it never stops raining only to snow. It’s in Kingsview that a young and super awesome girl aka me woke up at the un-Godly hour of five o’clock because of a sudden clap of thunder.

“Stupid weather.” I grumbled rolling over onto my back and starring out of my sky-light which I had campaigned to have installed for three years and finally got it this summer. Looking over at the Golden Snitch shaped alarm clock on my bed-side table I discovered the time and swore again. I genuinely found it impossible to go back to sleep once I had been woken up and I had been planning a lie in as it was Friday and only a week before we finished for Christmas (so I could afford to arrive in school a tiny bit late) and I was so excited! I love Christmas more than any other holiday, I get to spend all my time with my ditzy mother who cannot cook so it’s always amusing on Christmas Day plus there is always some amazing old film on like Casablanca.

Realising that I wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep I rolled out of bed and turned on my iPod speakers, the TV and switched it to News 24 (Don’t knock it, I love watching the news), turned my TV on mute and turned up my speakers to the total coolness that is Hello Goodbye. I thought for a moment about finishing my Maths coursework but I’m rubbish at Maths so there’s no point even trying. I’d need Saskia’s help to finish it.

I ended up reading for an hour and a half (Was reading Nineteen Minutesby Jodie Picoult, it’s a great book, I advise you to read it) then I went for a shower. So far you’re probably thinking that this story is the most boring story and why on earth are you wasting your time reading it but I promise that it gets more interesting.

After my shower I about looking for my uniform (Gross and horrible to look at, it’s maroon need I say more…) which I found under my bed (It’s amazing how many things you can find under your bed) along with my Mum’s “Who Shot J.R?” t-shirt, I don’t know what’s sadder, the fact she owns a “Who shot J.R?” shirt or the fact that I wear it a lot. An awful lot…

Anyway, after getting dressed and doing hair and make-up I went across our hall and into the kitchen planning to eat my last strawberry pop tart and get the hell out the house as I was gonna be late if I wasn’t careful. In the kitchen I was greeted by my “loving” sister Anna (Thirteen, moody, permanent PMS and a total chav…)

“Oi, you woke me up with your rubbish emo music.” Anna grumbled munching on a pop tart.

“Beats your chav rubbish, is that my last pop tart?” I asked getting a carton of juice out the fridge.

“So what if it is?” Anna asked, I glared at her and swigged some juice straight from the carton. “Eww that’s gross!” Anna said wrinkling her nose “I’m so yelling Mum”.

“Whatever I’m the only one that drinks it anyway” I said going to our apartment door and grabbing my bag. I yelled bye to Mum and legged it out the door and down the four flights of stairs till I was out the building. I was in a good mood now that the rain had stopped, that and we had English first thing and English meant one thing. Tyler Dawson. Yes, Tyler Dawson, we had met last year in English, you see like most good stories this includes a boy, well not a boy THE boy. As I said we had met in English last year, well we had seen each other around school but never really spoken to each other. From the moment I got talking to him I…hated him, yeap that’s right, I could stand him, quite different form your normal teenage romance story isn’t it... We bickered about every little thing during English, he would call me a book-worm (NOT a bad thing to be honest), to hit back I’d call him a whino, he’d hit back with some joke about my height (or lack of it) and I’d call him a moron. My friend Natasha called it flirting, it wasn’t. It was mickey taking but there was no convincing Natasha, she was sure that Tyler and I fancied each other like crazy, that was not the case at all…till March that is. Sadly he was dating the world’s biggest cow EVER also known as Nicole Cooper-Locke, they have been the happy couple for the past two years and I was so close to scratching her eyes out. To make it perfectly clear I’m not jealous of her in anyway, Nicole is just a massive cow. You know the saying “If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all” well if that was true then Nicole should be silent, the only thing that comes out her mouth is bile, venom and insults...and stupid blonde comment but I’m not discriminating against blondes as I’m one myself yet my hair colour is natural.

Anyway…where was I? Oh yeah there I was walking to school. I like school really. True I’m not the brightest bulb in the hardware store but I’m not a total moron so I do well in my classes and enjoy them. English is by far my favourite subject though that has nothing to do with Tyler (much) I just really love to read. I loved the classics such as Jane Austin, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Dickinson and George Orwell, according to my mother I owned too many books and they were soon going to overtake my bedroom. So I was walking to school on a normal dreary day, which is very common in Kingsview as all the days are dreary, just daydreaming to myself which I do an awful lot. I normally daydream about the day I finally leave Kingsview and go onto bigger and better things as there is nothing in Kingsview. I want to life and see the world. Maddie (My best friend in the whole wide world) and I want to travel all over Europe once we’ve left college and then go on to see the world. This is our big plan and we want to stick to it. So (going back to the current story) I was happily walking to school as I’ve said, as I crossed the road I waved to Harriett (Second best friend) who was walking towards me.

“Hey” She said skipping over to me.

“Hey, done the math coursework?” I asked. Harriett snorted.

“When have I ever done the math coursework? I’ll just copy Maddie’s later.” Harriett said grinning.

“Not Saskia’s?” I asked, Saskia was smarter than Maddie when it came to coursework.

“Saskia hasn’t done it.” Harriett said as she rummaged in her bag for some gum.

“Dammit, I was hoping to copy off her during English.” I said as Harriett handed me a stick of spearmint gum.

“Not planning to work in English?” Harriett sneered. I rolled my eyes at her and sneered back.

“All that we’ll be doing today is re-watching that stupid action film.” I said.

“True.” Harriett said. She suddenly starting waving madly, I glanced across the road to see whom she was waving at. Cassie (Fourth best friend) was skipping happily towards us grinning madly.

“Hey Harri! Hey Bri!” She called. She bounced up to us still grinning like crazy. I lowered my Ray-Ban Wayfarers that I had been wearing since I was thirteen, they were vintage and I had found them in second hand shop years ago and had to buy them. I wore them all the time even when it was raining.

“How can you be this cheery in the morning?” I asked as I shook a few stray hairs out my face, I’m not even going to start talking about my hair otherwise I’ll be talking about it all frigging day.

“I take vitamins.” Cassie said simply. Harriett coughed the word “Prozac”, I snorted with laughter while Cassie stared blankly back at us.

“She says you’re on ‘Happy Pills’” I said sniggering.

“Well how can you be wearing your sunglasses in weather like this?” Cassie said jutting her chin.

“Cassie, what four words describe Bri?” Harriett asked.

“Urmm….”

“Always wears her sunnies!” Harriett said giggling. I snorted and rolled my eyes. I put my glasses back on and linked arms with both Cassie and Harriett.

“Has anyone done the maths work?" That was the first thing that came out of Saskia’s mouth as soon as Harriett and I sat down in English. Natasha was sitting next to her already looking like she was about to fall asleep, this is nothing but the norm when it came to Natasha to be honest. I shook my head and sat down next to Natasha, she gave me a weak smile as her head started to droop against her chair. “Dammit.” Saskia muttered as Harriett also shook her head. “Has Cassie?” She asked.

“When does Cassie ever do her maths coursework?” I snorted leaning back on my chair and shaking my hair out my face once again.

“True.” Saskia said.

“Ok let’s do a deal, you take notes on this stupid film and I’ll do the coursework.” I said. Saskia groaned.

“But you’re better at note taking than I am.” She grumbled.

“Yeah but not when it comes to inane movies like this load of crap we’re forced to watch at the moment.” I explained.

“But you’re crap at maths.” Saskia pointed out. She had a point to be fair.

“Not when I have a calculator.” I said waving the magic device at her. Her mouth dropped.

“But we’re not supposed to use them.” She said.

“Do you want this work done?” I asked.

“Yeah…” Saskia said. I could see in her mind she was thinking over the possibilities. Cheat and almost pass Maths or not do the work and get stabbed in the head with a compass by our Math’s teacher. I think she was too scared of the latter to say much.

“Then shut up and take notes.” I said rolling my eyes.

“Ok, suppose you’re right. Ok deal.” Saskia said. I smiled happily at her.

“Jesus it’s cold in here.” Natasha mumbled. She had a point, damn classroom was freezing. I zipped my black American Apparel hoodie up to my chin shivered. Suddenly a voice behind me sent more shivers up my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

“God my head hurts!” The voice hissed walking past me. I sighed and looked up to see a very tired looking Tyler. His blonde/brown head was drooping slightly and he looked very tired. Someone had obviously been hitting the booze a wee bit too hard. See what I mean about sixteen year olds are supposed to know better but don’t?

“Shouldn’t have drunk that seventh can then…” Aaron (Tyler’s best friend) said sniggering.

“Or the eighth…” James (Another friend plus a total pervert) added.

“Or the ninth.” Aaron added laughing.

“Or the tenth.” James snorted.

“I get the point!” Tyler said sitting down in front of me. “Anyone got any headache tablets?” He added looking around groggily.

“What do I look like? A walking first aid kit?” Aaron asked snorting.

“No…a first aid kit is more helpful than you!” Tyler snapped resting this head on the table in front of me. I smiled to myself trying to decide whether to put him out his misery. If I did he’d adore me until the end of the day, if not then it would prove that he should stop going out on a Thursday night. I decided adoration was kind of more important than proving a point…for once. I leant forward and tapped Tyler on the shoulder; he whipped round surprisingly quickly for someone with a hangover.

“You’re in luck” I said smiling. I pulled my make-up/plasters and headache tablets bag out of my bad and handed him a box of Paracetamol. A bag like this is vital if you’re as accident prone as I am (I can’t even walk across a room without knocking over something or someone, I’m not uncoordinated or anything I just don’t pay any attention to things around me). Tyler’s face light up and I swear my stomach dropped. Harriett sniggered next to me but I ignored her.

“You’re a Goddess!” Tyler exclaimed grinning at me.

“Oh I know” I said smiling.

“I doubt goddess is that short.” James mumbled

“Excuse me! I’m 5’4 and that is not short!” I snapped. I’m rather touchy about my lack of height.

“It is if you haven’t grown since Year Nine.” Harriett said sticking her two pennies into the conversation. I turned to her and gave her an evil glare. “I was just saying.” She mumbled ducking her head.

“Whatever, I’m not short.” I said.

“Sure sure.” James said cracking his knuckles.

“You’ll get arthritis doing that y’know” I said leaning back.

“What?” Aaron said turning round.

“You’ll get arthritis if you crack your knuckles.” I said pushing my stupid little flicky fringe out my face.

“Not true.” Aaron said. “It was on the Discovery Channel last night.”

“Since when do you watch the Discovery Channel?” Tyler asked Aaron raising his eyebrows.

“I happen to watch intelligent shows instead of just watching Lost repeats on Sky.” Aaron snapped.

“There’s nothing wrong with Lost.” Tyler said sniggering. Then, just like magic, our totally awesome English teacher Suzanne appeared, she was literally awesome, she’d only just finished teacher training and acted like a teenager most of the time. The whole room fell silent as Suzanne turned on the DVD player and we were subjected to watching Let’s Blow Things Up Even Though It Has Nothing To Do With the Exceptionally Weak Non-Existent Plot. I sighed and started the Math’s coursework.

“Hey!” Maddie said bounding up to us at break “Has anyone-”

“Math's coursework.” I said handing it over to her before she could finish her sentence.

“You rock!” She exclaimed. I nodded laughing. “I was worried I’d actually have to do this one.” I rolled my eyes, sadly it’s true, we’re terribly lazy when it comes to our math’s coursework and we really should know better by now.

“Ewww.” Harriett said wrinkling her nose.

“What?” I asked turning to her.

“PDA at ten o’clock” Harriett said in a disgusted tone.

“But it’s 11:15” Cassie said totally confused.

“No moron!” Harriett said pointing next to us. I looked over and my stomach dropped and not good a good reason. Nicole Bloody ‘I’m such a bitch’ Cooper-Locke (Her full name according to Maddie and moi) had her hands all over Tyler and by the looks of it her tongue was half way down his throat.

“Wow…way to put someone off their food.” I said in an offhand manner that probably didn’t convince Maddie or Harriett.

“True.” Saskia said. Harriett nodded. Then she cupped her hands over her mouth.

“Don’t you dare!” I said hitting her on the arm “Harriett I mean it!” Harriett simply snorted and ignored me, and then with her loudest voice possible she yelled:

“GET A ROOM!” I buried my head in my hands and wished the ground would swallow me up. Nicole released Tyler and glared at Harriett. This was not before she gave me a ‘lovely’ evil “Die bitch” glare. God she really did hate me. Then again I really hated her…

“What did you say?” She snapped. Half the cafeteria was looking between Harriett and Nicole; they were itching for a fight. I know, it is sad.

“I said get a room.” Harriett sneered.

“Why don’t you get a nose job?” Nicole snapped smirking. Harriett’s hand flew up to her, slightly larger than the average, nose. Nicole cackled her evil witch laugh and walked off dragging an apologetic looking Tyler off with her. Ok, I don’t hate her…I DESPISE her. I’ve had wonderful dreams about running the bitch over with a bus; then again I’m sure she has. She’s evil enough to carry it out as well.

“Ignore her.” Maddie said to Harriett.

“Yeah, bitch’ll get what’s coming to her some enough.” Saskia said. I so hoped that was true.

There was on big MASSIVE problem with today…Physic, final lesson and all. Way to end the day...

Whoever invented Physics is a real moronic bastard. I don’t get it at all. Never have and never will. I mean what is the point? If you ever find out the point tell me because I haven’t a clue. Me and Physics have never been friends. I preferred creative lessons like English, Art, Music (I’m tone deaf though) and Drama (I was going to win an Oscar one day) lessons like Physics….well they just don’t exist in my mind.

So there I sat, in a stifling hot classroom (Only classroom in the entire school which had a working heater yet it was stuck on the highest heat possible) wishing for the day to end so I could leg out of school and go to the bus stop.

I tapped my pen against my desk glaring at the clock on the wall. Time seemed to go so much slower when you wanted to it to go faster. Physics has that effect. I blew a stray strand of hair out of my face for what seemed to be the millionth time today. I’ve been talking about my hair all this time and I’ll finally explain it to you. My hair is the most annoying thing about me. It is big. Big and curly/wavy. Maddie calls it sex hair as it’s the kind of hair you get after having sex for hours then rushing out the house because you’ve realised that your late for meeting mates/school/work. Everyone loved it. I hated it. Truly hated it.

I fished my iPod out my bag and turned it on. At least I could listen to music while I pretended to take notes on the Big Bang Theory (not the awesome show).

Natasha next to me snored slightly and shuffled. I have no idea how she can fall asleep all the time and not get caught. I glanced at the clock and could have cheered, time seemed to have sped up and lessons finished in only a few minutes. I nudged Natasha awake.

“Why’d you wake me?” She grumbled opening one eye.

“Lesson ends in a minute.” I said yawning.

“S’all good then” Natasha said straightening up all of a sudden awake. “You going to be at the bus stop?” She asked ruffling up her hair in an attempt to look all emo.

“Yeah like always.” I said. Suddenly the heavenly sound of the bell filled the room; I grabbed my bag and legged it out the room. Harriett was just walking out of her biology class as I raced up the corridor.

“Hey!” She called; I stopped and gave her a hug.

“Hey, good lesson?” I asked as we walked outside.

“Was ok, yours?” Harriett asked.

“Boring, Natasha was asleep after five minutes.” I said.

“That boring…wow.” Harriett snorted. Someone behind us called her name. We both turned to see Tyler walked up to us. I could feel myself blush, damn teenage girl hormones.

“Hey, I just wanted to apoligise for Nicole’s comment earlier on.” Tyler said grinning sheepishly.

“It’s ok…” Harriett said flippantly.

“She’s under a lot of stress at the moment so I shouldn’t let it get to you.” Tyler said walking next to us.

“Yeah, being supreme ruler of the underworld would take its toll on even the evilest of people.” I muttered under my breath, Harriett sniggered.

“What?” Tyler asked.

“Oh I didn’t say anything.” I said flashing him a dazzling smile.

“Ok…are you going to Darcie’s party tomorrow night?” Tyler asked. Darcie is a friend of mine who lives quite near to Tyler hence why they know each other.

“Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it I haven’t been out for ages.” I said shifting my insanely heavy bag onto my other shoulder as it was dangerously close to hitting Tyler’s legs; I blame all the books I cart around with me.

“Me neither.” He said smiling.

“You went out last night!” Harriett laughed.

“Yeah but I can’t remember it too much so it doesn’t count” Tyler grinned.

“You’re a total wino you know that.” I snorted.

“Beats being a midget.” Tyler said. I punched him in the arm. I could see he was trying so hard to not rub his arm. He caved in. “Ow, that kind of hurt.” He said.

“Told you I was stronger than I looked.” I said smiling. I may look like a “delicate flower” but I’m quite tough. We walked over towards the bus stop where Harriett and Saskia got the bus everyday after school along with Tyler, Aaron and sadly Queen Bitch Nicole. Maddie, Cassie and Saskia were already there chatting absentmindedly.

“So what you up to this weekend apart from Darcie's party?” Tyler asked as we walked towards Maddie and the others.

“I’m going to my ice skating lesson with Darcie and her sister then we’re going shopping.” I said. Maddie had noticed us and quickly fluffed up her hair and put on a “winning” smile. I’ll explain more about that in a minute.

“More shopping? Are you addicted or something?” Tyler asked.

“Only with shoes.” I giggled.

“And nail varnish.” Harriett said butting in. “Oh and jewellery.”

“Ok and-” I started to say.

“Books.” Tyler said raising his eyebrow.

“Yes, and books.” I laughed.

“I didn’t know you skated though. Sure it’s safe for someone like you to be out on the ice?” Tyler asked snorting.

“I can assure you I’m very graceful on the ice.” I snapped.

“Sabrina the word graceful hardly describes you.” Tyler said, he had a point.

“You know I can ice-skate brilliantly! I’m like Torvel and Dean but one and not a guy!” Maddie suddenly said appearing right by my side and grinning madly. Harriett rolled her eyes and walked over towards Saskia and Cassie. I noticed Nicole walking over towards us along with Blair who is one of Maddie’s friends I hardly have anything to do with due to the fact she’s just about as evil as Nicole so it makes very little sense why she’s friends with Maddie. Nicole spotted Tyler and I talking and went a deep red. She flounced up to Tyler with very narrowed eyes.

“Tyler…” She said he wasn’t taking any notice of her though. “Tyler…TYLER!” Nicole screamed.

“What? Oh hey!” Tyler said kissing her quickly on the cheek.

“Hi, nice of you to notice your girlfriend…finally.” She muttered, I noticed Tyler’s eyes narrow slightly. Trouble in paradise…

“We were talking about Darcie’s party.”Tyler said trying to give Nicole a reason for why he was happily talking to the girl she hated for no apparent reason AKA moi. Nicole wrinkled her nose.

“You’re going?” She asked me. Jesus above us in heaven I hated her.

“Yeah, she is one of my friends so of course I’m going.” I snapped slightly, I rarely after lost my temper with Nicole in front of Tyler but I truly hated her.

“Oh joy” Nicole said sarcastically.

“Yeah my cousin’s going to be there as well.” I said vaguely more to Tyler than to Nicole.

“Alex is going?” Harriett said suddenly appearing at my side. I saw Blair smile slightly at the mention of my cousin Alex. He’s seventeen years old, yet he acts about twenty one. Maddie (and Harriett...and Saskia...and Cassie...and the rest of the females at Kingsview Comp) is in love with...They were so upset when he left last year and moved the shocking 200 yards across the road to Kingsview College to study P.E. This way he can still get the attention of every female in the school when he jogs around the playing field looking “handsome” in his shorts.

“Yeah, he get’s on really well with Darcie.” I told Harriett.

“Is he still single?” She asked, Nicole even listened in on this conversation now. Typical, you add my cousin into any conversation and you have every female at Kingsview Comp listening in.

“Yeah, I think so.” I said offhandedly. Harriett smiled. I could see a scheme running through her head.

“Harri! Bus!” Saskia suddenly called.

“Shizzums” Harriett muttered. She hugged me and went off to hug Maddie and Cassie.

“See you tomorrow Bri.” Tyler said touching my arm. Nicole had already marched off or she would have killed Tyler for what he was doing. He leaned in and gently whispered into my ear “Save me a dance.” He with that he smiled and walked off towards to bus. I stood dazed and giggled slightly.

“Come on.” Someone said grabbing my arm. I looked to see Maddie walking next to me.

We walked down the road, I chatted about the party tomorrow but I could tell Maddie wasn’t really listening to me. “So Saskia said we can all go to hers before the party and then all walk up to Darcie's and have a great time! I’ll probably get back form shopping at around six so I’ll be at Sask’s at half past…are you even listening?” I snapped poking Maddie in the arm.

“Hmmm.” She muttered clearly lying.

“What’s up?” I asked confused.

“You tell me.” She snapped turning to face me. I was completely lost. Well more lost than I normally am.

“Is this about me telling Harri that you said she did need a nose job?” I asked.

“No!” Maddie snapped.

I scratched my head confused and asked “Is it about me telling Alex that you fancy him?”

Maddie rolled her eyes and snapped. “No it's not about that but I wish you hadn’t told him that!”

“Then what the frig is it about then?” I snapped

“You!” Maddie screamed.

“Me?...you're not in love with me now are you?...Cos I'm flattered but...” I said.

“No you moron! Jesus!” Maddie shouted even louder causing a few random Year Seven’s who were walking past us to look up and stare.

“Then what is it about?”

“You and Tyler!” Maddie screamed. Oh Jesus. You know I told about how I’d tell you about Maddie’s “winning” smile towards Tyler later? Well now I’ll tell you. I’ve liked Tyler for months (and months and months and months…well you get the idea) well so has Maddie. It’s bloody typical and I could kill her it. She flirts with him nearly every time we see him and it drives me round the flipping bend.

“Not this again.” I snapped.

“Why do you always have to flirt with him?” Maddie snapped.

“Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.” I snapped back at Maddie.

“You always have to flirt with him. Why do you always have to flirt? You can easily get any guy; you’re the girl all eyes go to.” Maddie said looking at me darkly.

“Maddie I can’t help “flirting” with him. I’ve liked him for months!” I cried. I reason why I said “flirting” instead of flirting is that my flirting…well it’s not really flirting. It’s sarcasm.

“What about me? What about how I feel about him?” Maddie asked sounding hurt. What the hell did she have to be hurt about?

“So my feelings for him don’t matter?” I snapped suddenly becoming very angry.

“It’s always your feelings that get taken into consideration isn’t it?” Maddie snapped. “What about other people’s feelings?”

“I’m always thinking of other peoples feelings!” I said becoming incredibly angry.

“No! You never take people’s feelings into consideration!” Maddie snapped stamping her foot so she looked very childish.

“Like yours? What feelings? You like him because I do.” I snapped. I had a point you know, I wasn’t just being a complete cow.

“You only like him because he has a girlfriend.” Maddie hissed. She on the other hand did not have a point.

“Oh this is god-damn ridiculous. Maddie if you want to be a bitch and flirt with him then go ahead and do it. I no longer care.” I said glaring at her. I needed to cross the road so I looked left then turned back to Maddie “But just remember I’ve liked him too long to not do something when you do.” I snapped. And with that I looked left again and started to cross.

“Sabrina!” I heard Maddie scream.

I heard myself yell.

I heard the bus.

A scream.

My scream.

Then darkness...pitch black darkness that over whelmed my body…

Author's Note: HI!

It is so great to be back writing this story!

Anyway people who read the first one will notice changes:

Reece - Tyler

Keria - Nicole, and her character will be featured a lot more often now.

Nadine - Natasha

Georgette- Anna, her character will also feature more.

This is the first chapter and is one of the longest for a while, this is mainly to establish the characters and the setting. Hope you like it and please review!