The classroom erupted with noise as my fellow students filled the empty classroom after a rather joyous hour of eating lunch and lovingly clogging our arteries with fat from the chippy, taking their seats and retrieving their books from the deep recesses of their school bags. Last period, oh god how we all adored it. Yes, the lesson itself was hardly anything to be exited over – Modern Studies! What joy! - but then it would mean we could go home, be free! I remember being in only my 2nd year at high school. I must have only been around 13 at the time. Even then I was a god damn smart ass! It was a Monday. I remember that part very well. I sat myself down in the plastic chair seated at my desk and glanced at the clock. Before turning to my 'desk buddy' Marie..- yes! Desk buddy. We all have one, admit it now!- ..telling her yet another random fact that I have no idea where I learned it from.

'Did you know you that you could theoretically stop time?..If you had a clock which counted EVERY tick including milliseconds and you watched it, your brain would make it look slower as time always goes by slower when you are watching the clock. If you had an accurate enough one you could stop time momentarily!" I waved my hands about a little too enthusiastically and as far as I am aware, I didn't even stop for breath. My voice was one of those things that droned on and on, loud and clear and ever so exuberant. People would wonder where the hell I got all that air from, considering that I was very short and underweight.

"Wow, cool!" Was all Marie said. And the understatement of the year award goes to!... She happened to be my quiet friend. For some strange reason, out of all people in the class , I chose to talk to the most shy one of them all. My other good, albeit slightly clinically insane friend, Jenni' was in a different class from me, having her history classes when I had my modern studies. Such a strange time table. Why we couldn't have the same subject at the same time was totally beyond me...but anyway! My eyes wondered yet again to the depressingly slow to tick clock. Such a day dreamer I was..I didn't give two, pardon my French, shits about bloody modern studies. All I knew, and needed to know about today's world is that society sucks and that Gordon Brown was a fail choice for a prime minister. Hey give him credit! His name sounds like "Golden Brown"..a rather awesome song! The amount of times I have heard someone sing that song using his name is astounding.

"Shirley! Are you with us today, or will I have to use this rather conveniently shaped ruler to beat some sense into you?" My teacher, Mr baker exclaimed, laughing slightly as he did so. He was joking, obviously. I mean if he did beat me you'd think he'd at least not state that he would do it beforehand. -insert eye roll here- He was one of those poor unfortunate souls that had a chin with a crack going down the front, as though an anus was protruding through..and he had that look in his eyes as he smirked. I'll have you know it was slightly creepy! ..Admit it, we all have that one teacher at school we are convince is a stalker. But anyway..before I get completely off topic by discussing what teachers like to do in their free time. I shall tell you what happened next. I answered back in my usually witty and smart ass voice.

"It's last period sir, do you honestly expect me to pay attention?" I was always one of those people to say before I think. I didn't care if it would get me into trouble. It was unlikely. Me and Mr Baker had this understanding you see.

"Ah, yes, clever child, and for your wit, you can have the incredibly fun task of handing out the text books!"

Before I could stand, there was a knock on the door. Then it opened. Miss Hanlen, the founder of the 'eco group' that I was a part of, walked into the room, clutching a wad of letters and beaming in that ever so enthusiastic way as per usual. "May I talk to Shirley for a moment?" I screamed a silent "YES!" in my mind. No text book duty for me today! Mr baker mumbled his approval and I left the room with her, grinning as one of my friends whispered to me:

"Lucky bitch!"

Miss Hanlen turned to me. "Now Shirley, tomorrow, as a group we will be going to the recycle plant! How exiting!" She beamed, handing me a letter. "I need your mother to sign this for tomorrow!"

"ok.."

"I've told Jenni, Samuel, Jake, Lucy and Hazel already, they will be going to!"

"Mhm"

"Just make sure you sign that and I will see you tomorrow!"

"Ok.."

Then she left. Can I just say that our conversations aren't this short any more. She was far too enthusiastic for my taste..how can someone be so..HAPPY! I detested happiness and laughing and anything generally above smiling. Who would have known my views would change drastically on that matter in the not so far away future?..God knows. But anyway, as re entered the classroom to see Marie handing out the text books..poor girl. I couldn't help but grin though when she looked at me with false annoyance as I got back to work. Well I call it work. You would call it 'play paper football with the guy next to me.' I cast my mind on the next day. My rather annoying boyfriend, Jake, would be there..god knows how I had put up with him so long..at least Jenni and Sam would be there to help me save my sanity..I didn't really speak to Lucy or hazel that often..we weren't really that close. I would have been surprised if those two knew who I even was. I felt like they preferred to be to themselves. At least that is what I thought anyway. I had no idea right then that this outing could possibly be the most important day of my life...or at least the beginning of what would be the happiest moments of it. I sighed and returned to doing some real work, waiting happily for the next day to come.