Chapter 1

Chapter 1

 

“There is a saying. Whatever you think is what you will get,”

Ten seconds left.

People- all over the country- started to close their papers and sit back in their chairs.

A few kept on going and Hayla was one of them.

Four seconds.

I’m almost done.

Three seconds.

Just have to finish this line.

Two seconds.

Just a few more words.

One seconds.

“Alright everyone, pens down. That is the end of the exam,” the lady examiner announced.

Done.

Hayla drew out a breath of relieve as she placed her pen down and leaned back into her chair. She had managed to finish her very last Physics GCSE exam without being given any extra time. As the lady came up to collect her exam, Hayla hurriedly gave it to her and the lady chuckled lightly to herself.

The students were dismissed a row at a time. But as they left the Gymnasium and the Main Hall, they jumped high into the air and gave out deafening laughs that were full of excitement. The juniors who were still in class, turned in their seats to look outside at now their ex-seniors and the teachers couldn’t stop the smiles which escaped out onto their lips.

The two long head achingly hard years that the year elevens had to endure, were now finally at their end. This meant that now, there was no more having to study late into the night and waking up long before the Sun had changed the sky from a coal black to navy blue, and no more dozing off in class, which the teachers had had a hard time dealing with.

 Now, there was only a long, three-month summer ahead; a summer which every student had dreamed and yearned for, ever since they had started their studies in year seven. For some, this summer meant going rock climbing with family they hadn’t met up with for a very long time or travelling abroad to the, soft, Sunny beaches of Brazil, where getting a Sun tan was a guaranteed, and for some, it meant staying at home and catching up on the shows they had missed.

But, for Hayla, the definition of summer was slightly mismatched from the rest.

It was a beautiful day for England. The Sun was up; warm, shining and stretching its golden rays and the birds were singing love songs, whiles hunting for worms or any other insects. The flowers were in full bloom and they illuminated the world around them with brilliant colors of ruby red, dandelion yellow, admiral blue and even shamrock green. It was as if a world of black and white had somehow magically gained color, changing not only the surroundings, but also the people.

As the warm wind blew softly, it made the lose strands on anyone’s head tickle them, automatically making them laugh and allowing them to ignore the usual drama in their lives. Many had left the close to suffocation atmosphere of their homes, and indulged themselves into soaking up the delicious Sunlight.

It wasn’t usual for England to look this bright and today was a very special day after all: Today marked the first day of summer.

But, as soon as Hayla took a step out of the gymnasium doors, she started to speed walk towards the entrance of the school, where the buses were parked. But instead of taking the bus, Hayla had to get to her part time job number one, by foot. There was no way she was going to take the bus, even if it meant losing her life. As she brisk walked, Hayla kept her eyes casted down on the grey concrete and luckily, the students around her were too busy rejoicing to notice her speed by.

Studying at Ascot International School, AIS for short, was a luxury that Hayla knew not everyone could afford. It was one of the most famously rich private schools in the Ascot, mainly because of its education and teaching techniques and, as some would claim, also for its ‘environment’. Only the children of the richest families of Ascot could get into the school and Hayla didn’t have the status, let alone the money, to be considered as a potential student. But, nevertheless, because of her guardian’s job- Mrs. Ellie- the amazingly ‘generous’ school had allowed Hayla to attend from year seven to year eleven.

But no matter how good or generous the school claimed itself to be, bullying was still an ongoing priority, for Hayla’s sake at least.

She had almost made it past the buses, when four figures stepped up and blocked her escape.

Just perfect, Hayla hissed as she looked up and made eye contact with the leader of the group, Evelyn Ronald.

Evelyn Ronald was nothing like her name suggested. She wasn’t soft; she wasn’t intelligent, wasn’t friendly and nowhere near was she kind or beautiful. Instead, she was the complete opposite. Her face was full of acne, making it naturally red and she had teeth that should’ve belonged to an old geezer who would do nothing else other than drink and smoke. And after taking one whiff of her polluted breath, which always smelled like cigarettes and rotten egg, think of her as an old geezer came naturally. Her black wide-set black eyes always had purple bags underneath them, making Hayla feel sorry for them having such hopeless owner.

Evelyn was five foot eight, making her only an inch smaller than Hayla, who was five foot nine, and she didn’t have much hair left, but the amount which was left was black and soon, if Evelyn didn’t start to take care of them, she’d have to wear a wig.

“Well, well Carter, where are we headed today, huh?” Evelyn asked Hayla in her usual rasped voice.

“It’s called a job Evelyn.” Hayla sighed. She was tired of having to start the conversation with the same topic over and over again! And besides, she needed to hurry out. Miss Rachel wouldn’t mind her getting late but Hayla didn’t plan on being so.

“Ever heard of it before?”

The three girls who were surrounding Hayla, started snickered lightly but they immediately stopped when Evelyn snapped her head in their direction and glared at them.

"Oh really?" A new voice spoke up then and Hayla could feel her heart sinking. Not today, she mentally begged. Please, any day but today.

Clarice came up and stood beside Evelyn, mocking Hayla with fake curiosity. "But I had thought that all you do is go home and stuff your face with trash. I mean, it’s no wonder you resemble a fully well grown buffalo.”

Clarice was the second leader of the group and she hated, no, despised Hayla even more than Evelyn did. She was pretty in a stingy type of a way, with a long face that had naturally high cheek bones but they were made even higher due to the make-up. Her eyebrows were thin and neat but somehow as the days went by, they would become even thinner as though instead of shedding hair on her head, Clarice shedded her eyebrows. Her lips were somehow naturally full but they weren’t complimented with that pointy nose of hers, and neither did they look attractive due to the amount of lips stick and lip gloss she had bombarded them with. However, the almond shape of her eyes, along with the color blue, was the only good characteristic about her. And yet, she managed to even make them look displeasing.

This time, all of the girls laughed and so did the students who had now started to gather. Hayla stayed quite because this wasn’t the first time she was in a situation like this. But it still bothered her when she felt the sting of those words.

Clam down Hayla, Hayla tried to sooth herself. You already knew that this was going happen; it’s nothing to be shocked about. Just take a deep breath and try to get out of here.

However, despite her effort, Hayla couldn’t stop herself from blushing and looking down. She tried not to take Clarice’s words seriously but, like always, she knew she was failing. Tears started to pool in her eyes and she shut them closed. Forcing a silent breath through her nose, Hayla adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and tried to think of a way to leave. 

"Thanks for the compliment,” came her sarcastic reply. “But I don’t have the time to appreciate your pathetic attempts." she moved to go around them but Clarice’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, making her stop again.

"Aw, are you hurt?" she mocked. "We didn't mean to hurt you. Right, Evelyn?"

Evelyn grinned. "Of course we didn't,"

But Hayla knew better than to trust the fake words coming out of their mouths.

When Hayla didn’t instantly try to free her wrist from Clarice, Evelyn took that as the perfect opportunity and moved to grab Hayla’s hair. But before she could make contact, a loud voice from behind stopped her.

“That’s enough Evelyn.”

Everyone turned around to look at the owner of the voice but Hayla became stiff, a cold shiver running through her.

The boy who had spoken stood behind the girls with an angry look in his walnut brown eyes. He was tall, about five foot twelve, with ruffled up light bronze hair and slightly tanned skin, the type which made all of his features stand out and naturally, had the girls gawking.

But, the moment Hayla would look at him, she would instantly run for cover.

It wasn’t because he would bully her or target her for violence. But, it would simply be because he was there. Just his presence was enough to bring Hayla the worst luck she could have ever imagined.

And today was no different.

The three out of five girls scattered instantly. There was no way they weren’t going to listen to the most popular boy in school. But Evelyn and Clarice held their ground.

“Get lost Diego,” Evelyn snarled.

“Then let the girl go,” he demanded with a voice full of authority.

Yet, it was no surprise when Evelyn straightened up and instead of listening, glared at Diego.

“No,” she replied with an evil smile.

Hayla suddenly felt Clarice's hold on her loosen slightly and realized that this was her only chance: she could escape while they were distracted. But as soon as the thought crossed Hayla’s mind, Clarice's griped was swapped with Evelyn’s tight one, which made it hard for Hayla's blood to reach her hand.

Hayla bit her lip from screaming out.

“And why,” Clarice slowly and carefully asked with narrowed eyes, as though she was unsure of the answer she was going to get, “do you care so much. Suddenly?”

Despite the pain, Hayla couldn’t help but perk up at the question. Clarice was right, why did he suddenly start to care? As far as she could remember, Hayla was never even called out to by her name, much less have students stand up for her. Even though she would occasionally hear the gossip that would go around, about how horribly she was being treated and how something should be done, in the end, when the situation would call for action, suddenly everyone would turn a blind eye.

Just like right now.

Students walked by to get onto the buses and head home, but some started to linger when they realized what was going on. Some were snickering silently, with excited grins on their faces, waiting for something good to happen. And the rest were engaged in calling out to Hayla.

Every insult that Hayla had met in her seven years of AIS was now making a final appearance to bid her farewell. Only, they intended to do so in scars.

They barged their way into her ears and started to tear at her veins, releasing the hate filled inside them into her blood. Her mind started to throb as they reached her heart and stab.

But Hayla already knew it was useless to try and stop them.

If she moved Evelyn would squeeze her wrist even more and make it a darker shade of blue and if she stood still the way she was now, those words would continue to pierce her, until she wouldn’t be able to feel anymore.

God help me! The words came as a scream inside her mind, her lips sealed.

Then Hayla’s heart started to burn and her blood started to boil. Without thinking, she turned around-as much as she could-and faced Diego. Her already dark jade green eyes became darker.

 And then, just like before, Diego got the same strange burning feeling inside of him. He didn't understand why, only that it made him want to turn around on is feet and run. And that was something that confused him even more. How could a girl, who was only good in sucking up to the teachers, make him feel like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders?

How could her eyes show so much anger for someone she didn't even know? But more importantly, why did they show so much anger for someone she didn't know? And why was it bothering him? He didn't need to care whether or not she like or disliked him. If anything, she was simply non-existent. Someone so unimportant that even the orphanage in which she lived, wouldn't worry if she was to suddenly disappear.

And yet, despite believing all of that, Diego couldn't stop himself from wanting to change it all.

 “Because we won’t tolerate bullying Clarice,” another voice came then. Hayla shifted her eyes, landing them on another boy who came to stand beside Diego and answered her.

His name was Jake and he was the head of the football, basketball, hockey, tennis, and netball and cricket team. He had short black hair and brown eyes. His dad was from England and his mom was from India and that was why his older brother Josiah was light skinned and he was dark skinned.

“We may not care about that girl, but bullying is unacceptable. It will ruin our school’s reputation and we cannot have that,”

Where have you been for the past seven years jerk? Hayla thought bitterly.

Diego, who had turned to look at Jake, turned back around to notice Hayla's increasing darkening mood. Her lips were pressed in a straight line, her jaws clenched and from time to time her nostrils would flared. Without any explanation, Diego's legs started to walk towards the three girls and he came to stand a foot length away from Evelyn’s half-filled acne face.

Hayla looked at him in shook, her anger slipping away a little.

Diego's mouth opened and the words that came out signaled the end of Hayla's peaceful life in England.

“To answer the previous question myself, I don’t really care what you do with her. As far as I'm concerned, you can do whatever come to your mind with her but just do it out of school boundaries or when no one is looking.",”

It wasn't fear or shock which made Hayla freeze, it was Disgust. Pure disgust for the beast under a boys clothing standing in front of her.

Handsome? Please! He was more ugly and vile than a dead deformed rat.

Evelyn smiled upon hear those words, showing her brown teeth.

“Alright,” she said a little too brightly.

Pulling Hayla roughly behind her, Evelyn led her on the other side of the buses, where the yellow side lines marked the beginning of the road.

 Then she turned around to face Hayla, letting go of Hayla’s wrist.

"This is going to be so good!" Clarice exclaimed excitedly as she and everyone else, including Diego and Jake, came to stand on the side walk.

The moment Hayla's wrist was free she pulled it to her chest, nursing it. But she only had a second to look up and meet eyes with a horrified Diego before pain, like fire being set on skin, exploded in her left leg and she covered her mouth to stop a scream, her eyes wasting no time in becoming a pool of tears.

“Later Carter,” Evelyn called cheerfully over her shoulder. Walking away with a satisfied grin.

“It’s funny how nobody likes Hayla in our school, don’t you think,” Clarice stated, as she walked away with Evelyn. She purposely made her voice loud so that everyone could hear and Evelyn followed.

"I don’t blame them. How can you find even a spot of compassion for that fat cow?”

The laughter that followed was similar to having shot multiple arrows at the same time with neither of them missed their target.

“What a freak!”

“Go and eat you cake!”

 “Or how about burning it, if you get what I mean."

That comment added poison on the already sharp arrows, and somehow their accuracy increased. Hayla closed her eyes, biting her tongue and dug her nail on the side of the leg she was holding.

If she was going to cry, it was going to be where no one could see her. But giving these people the satisfaction of hurting her was worse than being dropped in hell. Hayla would never allow it, even if it meant having her leg broken, which she was dreading was.

Diego hadn’t moved from his spot, his eyes fixed on the bended over girl in front of him. The buses started to drive past her, but she didn't get up to move aside.

Of course she won't you dumb-bag! A voice in Diego hissed at him. Considering the blow she just got, you honestly think she's going to get back up on her feet like nothing happened?! Don't be such an idiot!

Jake started at Hayla as well, but unlike Diego, his eyes were empty. Not even an atom of shock or sympathy was present in his eyes. Turning around, he spoke over his shoulder to Diego:

"Let’s go mate. This isn't anything new."

Diego bowed his head. Jake's right, he told himself. She must be used to this by now.

But little did he know that, despite everything Hayla had gone through, what had happened today was like throwing a bomb in the form of a grenade and letting it explode on a building that was already crumbled to dust.

What satisfaction was received by doing this? And what benefit did the bomber get? Hayla had no idea but she knew that, if she could, she'd slap the bomber so hard across the face that his head would do a full three sixty.

"Come on Diego," Jake beckoned the boy again.

Diego lifted his head up and gave the bended over girl one more look of guilt. He was standing far away yet; somehow he was still close enough to see her body shaking.

Instantly, his chest tightened and once again, his body moved on his own. 

She heard his whisper. It was soft and quite, but it caused her body to automatically stiffen. Then, her body started to become hot. Her blood started to boil, her chest started to burn and if she had snapped her head up to glare at him, Diego would have seen the red fire which had illuminated her eyes. 

“GO AWAY!" she screamed, still bended over. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The students who were still standing started to howl with laughter. Obviously Hayla was failing at holding her anger back and obviously they were enjoying it.

But, before Diego could even think of a response, Mr. Mike showed up.

Mr. Mike was the school generator. He was skinny and old, about sixty two with white hair and a dyed black moustache. He wore circled glasses which sometimes slipped to the base of his nose but he had the kindest smile to offer to the people around him. He never interfered in people’s private lives but he had gotten to know Hayla  well, mainly because she would visit the nurse- his wife Mrs. Mike- almost on a daily bases.

“Alright, nothin’ to see here, everybody be headin’ away now,” he said out loud.

Diego and Jake were the first ones to walk away and then followed by the rest. People still called Hayla names as they past, but soon the area was empty.

“You alright darlin’?” Mr. Mike asked as he went down on his knees, in order to come to her eye level.

But Hayla took a deep breath, looked up and gave him one of her sweet smiles.

“Sure. Thank you Mr. Mike,” she lied and tried to get up. “I’ve…never been… bet- ouch!”

Pain shot through her leg and she lost her balance, falling into Mr. Mike’s open arms. He helped her up and looked at her with concern. Straight away, he knew what had happened. It wasn’t the first time she had been injured by that good for nothing brown teeth girl and her skinny friend.

“Come on darlin’,” he said as he helped her walk. “Let’s get you to the nurse,”

Hayla opened her mouth to protest but Mr. Mike shook his head.

“Sweetie, I may be old but I ain’t any fool. I know that you’re hurt real bad this time, so you might as well come along,”

Slowly and softly, Mr. Mike led her to the nurse’s office where he explained to her about what had happened.

“Honestly darlin’ you should take care of yourself more,” Mrs. Mike scolded her when Mr. Mike left. “You’re already becomin’ whiter than the moon itself because of the blood loss. Any more injuries and I might have to reserve a special place for you in here,”

Hayla gave a weak smile. She was starting to have a headache form in the back of her head and she just wanted to close her eyes and sleep. But, unfortunately, she couldn’t. She still had two jobs to go to and she couldn’t cancel any of them.

“Alright,” Mrs. Mike said as she finished tending to Hayla’s purple and blue bruise. “I’ve applied some cream on it but it’ll take about five hours or so to properly fully act so take it easy until then, alright hon?” she asked Hayla .

“Yes Ma'am,” Hayla replied as she slid off the hospital bed and headed towards the door. “Thank you Mrs. Mike,”

But Hayla hadn't walked far when she heard Mrs. Mike’s soft words.

“Poor girl, she already has a lot to deal with. Those idiots are just addin' fuel to the fire,”

 

The gentle wind blew in Hayla’s pale face, pushing her loosened strands of hair backwards and allowing her to take a deep calming breath in. For the first time, the usual scent of rain was replaced with the scent of the earth: thick and warm and safe. The sound of the dancing trees also made it easier for Hayla to partially forget about the events of this evening. But the more she forgot, the more the bruise on her left leg throbbed.

As Hayla crossed an open gated driveway, she suddenly heard a smooth motorbikes’ engine behind her.

She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The cold shiver that ran through her was answerable enough.

Diego parked his bike- the newest model of Honda- next to the footpath on which Hayla was standing on. He hadn't been wearing a helmet, which caused his already wind-blown hair to become even more ruffled up and made his already outstanding features sharper.

If it had been any other girl, she would have stared at Diego with her eyes filled with awe and excitement. But Hayla’s' eyes only held red fire, the one which made her dark green eyes darker.

 She stood there as she saw Diego meet her eyes and become baffled by the intensity they held. But after a few seconds, he gained the courage to speak.

 “Hayla I-”

The moment the words came out of his mouth, Hayla turned on her heels and started to walk away and that caused her bruise to scream in protest, making her stumble.

Diego stared after her in surprise at first, and then rushed to her side when he thought she was going to fall. But Hayla was quick to regain her balance and moved away from Diego’s too close body. 

“What is it with you?" she hissed. "Can't you leave me alone?"

"I came to apologies," Diego tried to explain and, instantly part of Hayla's anger blew away, her eyes growing slightly lighter.

"What I said back there, it didn't help the situation at all. But, please believe me, I really was trying to make the situation better."

"And yet, you ended up promoting my life from a living nightmare, to a living hell," Hayla replied with venom. "I don't see how that's of any help Diego."

"But I wasn't trying to make your life a living hell!" Diego urged. "If anything, I was-"

Hayla held up her hand to silence him, rolling her eyes.

"I honestly don't want to care about what you were trying or not trying to do," she told him with a flat voice. "But the fact the now Evelyn and Clarice just gained a new purpose in life, to ruin mine! I can't ignore that."

Diego stayed quite with a hopeless expression dawning on his face. And of course that made Hayla's heart squeeze with pity, but she forced herself to look away.

"So thank you for trying," she ended with a slightly softer tone and then started to limp away again.

Diego noticed.

"Wait! Hayla!" he called out to her and once again went to her side. Hayla didn't turn to acknowledge him and they continued to slowly walk side by side for a while.

An old man dressed in a dark grey suit and tie, with a brown hat, passed the two by. Hayla looked up and gave him a greeting smile, to which he nodded, and then she quickly looked back down again.

Two dogs- both Labradors- darted past them, with their lady owner running after them and shouting for them to stop. But the dogs were too absorbed in their freedom to notice her.

On the other side of the road, two women with pram’s walked side by side with their backs straight, wearing gym attire and trainers, absorbed in their conversation about childcare.

A squire peeked from behind the leafy branch of a tree, before slowly making its way back down towards the grass and then hopping into the bushes.

"Hayla?"

Diego's gentle voice startled her but she continued to limp and stayed silent.

"Why don't you let me drop you off? Your leg-"

"I'm fine."

"But, you're limping."

"I'll manage."

He started at her. Her lips were set in a straight line, her eyes looking down at the grey cement on which they walked her left leg barley leaving the ground as she took each step. He could tell she was in pain, even if her expression or body language didn't say so.

Why is this guy still walking beside me? Hayla half growled in her mind, but she refused to look at up at Diego. What's gotten in to him?!

"Hayla-"

Finally, Hayla turned around to face him.

“Tell me something," she begun. "I don’t know what’s more surprising, you following me here from all the way over there," she pointed back towards the bike, which was a good distance away from them, "or actually bothering to notice me for once?"

"I have noticed you," Diego replied defensively.

"Exactly!" Hayla exclaimed a little too loudly. "But, why are you noticing me?" she questioned again.

"What do you mean?" Diego's eyebrows creased with his eyes wide, lips pressed as though trying to solve a hard question.

Of course, Hayla gave an annoyed sigh before explaining

“Ever since I joined AIS, you didn't even look at me. I used to be in all of your classes and yet, you and your so called friends never talked to me. The only time that I can remember of you actually realizing that I exist, was when I was either being insulted or when I was being treated like a dog."

Diego eyes returned back to their normal size but they moved away from the heat of Hayla’s. His lips formed an 'O' shape, before he pressed them again and looked down to the left through the corner of his eyes.

But Hayla gave a sarcastic laugh.

"And even to that, you were able to turn a blind eye."

 The control that Hayla had had on her tongue was now starting to slip, like water leaking out of the cracks of an about to break dam. Tears started to pool in her eyes, her lips started to quiver and her hands rolled themselves into fists.

Instantly, Hayla's head started to throb. A warning signal. But she was too lost in her anger to notice.

When she spoke again, her voice was rougher than before.

"And now, not only are you talking to me but you're asking me to forgive you. ME? The fat, pathetic, undeserving girl, who everyone hates. You're asking her to forgive you?"

"You aren't pathetic," Diego mumbled with his head still bowed.

"Whoever I am and whatever I am," Hayla continued her voice starting to rise as the tears started to become harder to hold, "Please! Let me be me! You don't need me to forgive you! And you don’t need to come running after me like this. Because I am still the same me, even if I won't be in AIS anymore.

I am still going to be that same social outcast that people could only end up hating. Nothing is going to change Diego!"

And as the first tear rolled down Hayla's flushed cheek, her hold on the present faltered.

Pain shot through her, as if someone had stabbed her. It started from her head and made its way through her body. It caused her legs to start shaking, her fists to start trembling and her eyes to become glassed; stopping them from seeing what was actually in front of them. Instead, they were focusing on a sight Hayla had seen eleven years ago.

When Hayla didn't continue after a few seconds, Diego peeked at her through his eyelashes, only to find her frozen. Color absent from her tearful face.

"Hayla?" he asked as he instinctively took a step towards her.

But Hayla couldn't hear him. The sound of burned wood falling to the ground had filled her ears. Even if someone was to scream in her ear, she wouldn't have noticed their presence.

"Hayla, you alright?"

The house she was looking at was black, despite once having been a soft creamy color. The bright red roof, which she had climbed millions of times and which had supported her weight with comforting strength, was now the reflection of the darkness of the sky and the forest behind it. That darkness only promised her a never ending fall and it had shown no mercy in consuming the rest of the house as well, both out and in.

"Hey, Hayla!" Diego shouted but still got no reply.

People. People started to crowd around her. Touching her. Murmuring gentle lies in her ears. Pushing her behind them so that her eyes wouldn't spot the three white blankets on the ground.

"HAYLA!"

Diego had finally had enough. Reaching out, he tried to get a firm hold on both her shoulders so that he could give her a shake. But, the contact only triggered the explosion inside of her.

The moment Hayla's body felt Diego's touch, it withdrew. From him and from the people who were still trying to push her to the side.

Whirling around, she fled, running away from the burning coolness of the charcoal house; trying to escape the shadows of the people who were shouting after her. Praying to find a hiding place where she could hide until this nightmare was over. Until she could wake up again.

Her bruise cried out for her to stop, but the beating of her heart made it impossible for Hayla to hear and instead, she ran faster. Faster than she normally thought she could.

"HAYLA!" Diego screamed after her as he watched her fly away, shock written all over his face. But when the image of Hayla's statue like body came to his mind, Diego quickly moved to get back to his bike and chase after her.

"Ugh! Damn it!" he cursed as his bike purred awake and he sped in her direction.

By the time Hayla neared the North Ascot High Street, she was gasping for air but her body wasn't paying attention to her growing need. All it knew, all it wanted, was to escape. And it wasn't until she had almost crashed into a red Mini, when she automatically tried to cross the road and the cars' harsh honk pierced through the darkness, that she finally stopped.

Hayla stumbled back a few steps, before falling on the ground, her heart ready to burst. As the seconds ticked by, Hayla's panting grew louder and longer, the green color which was lost from her eyes started to come back and her body started to regain its normal temperature, allowing her to feel the wet ickyness that the tears had covered her face with.

Slowly, the shouting of the people, the rotting smell of the burned house and the white clothed figures started to disappear. The pain started to pull back, returning to its original place, a place deep inside Hayla's mind that even she wasn't aware of.

When Hayla blinked awake and finally came back into the present, she saw a grey distraught Diego staring down at her, mouth open as though he was the one who needed the air.

 

 

Miss Rachel Florence.

She was a thirty year old mother, who lived with her three maids, butler, chief, gardener and guard in a beautiful mansion on PeaceHill Street and was also Hayla’s first boss.

 It was common knowledge between the staff that worked for her and Hayla that Miss Rachel was in fact married and had a son. She was the wife of a French business man, who loved to travel but for some odd reason, preferred to stay with his mother rather than his wife. The son was a year older than Hayla and had been born in Canada, the home country of Miss Rachel. Yet, he too stayed and studied abroad, with his Father’s family.

So why was Miss Rachel living alone? And how could she be so happy knowing she was abandoned by her own son and husband? Everyone who knew her always wondered, but they didn't dare ask. And Miss Rachel never spoke much about it either.

"James?" Miss Rachel called her butler from the wooden garden table, where she sat sipping her cocktail. "Has Hayla come yet?"

"Not yet Madam," the butler replied as he set down a freshly backed honey cake with almonds finely dressed on top.

Miss Rachel tilted her head as she took another sip.

"Hmm, that's odd. She's never been this late before."

"Perhaps it has something to do with her exams, Madam?" James offered. "She did say it was her last one today."

Miss Rachel's eyes brightened and an excited smile formed on her lips, as she remembered how relieved Hayla had looked when she had told them that. Her body relaxing as she had let out a long thankful sigh.

"You're right," she settled a small laugh. "She must be exhausted from all the stress. Well, let her take her time then. In the meanwhile, can you please bring me my phone? I wish to call someone."

"Certainly Madam," James bowed and disappeared inside.

I just hope she arrives safely, the woman thought as she looked up at the clear blue sky.

That girl.

 

The black leather seat under Hayla felt surprisingly warm and the engine of the bike was much quieter than Hayla had thought it would be. Occasionally, it would raise its' voice from a purr to a roar, when Diego would purposely zoom past the already speeding cars in order to get to Miss Rachel's street quicker. But then the roar would quite down again and the purr would continue to try to soothe Hayla.

But despite its' efforts, Hayla was nowhere near soothed.

Thoughts were striking the front of Hayla's skull, causing her to regain her old headache. The bruise on her leg kept hammering against her skin, making her constantly let out silent irritated sighs. Her eyes burned because of the sudden disappearance of her tears, which also caused her cheeks to stink as the warm air tried to dry them.

But, despite the discomfort Hayla felt within her body, she also felt slightly calm.

The scent of the newly launched designer perfume that Diego was wearing made the grip she had on him slightly looser but she unconsciously leaned closer. That allowed her to almost rest her head on his shoulder, only that she wasn't sure if she could or not.

Guilt for the way she had treated him previously made her want to fully let go of his black blazer, but the fear of falling off made her keep holding it. The words that she had shouted at him echoed in her ears and she didn't do anything to deafen them. Instead, she allowed them to add fuel to the already flaring fire. The type which would take its time in dying down.

Diego, however, was becoming even stiffer because of Hayla's sudden closeness. He was already feeling uneasy with having her hold his blazer the way she had, despite knowing that she had no other choice. But, knowing that her head was so close to his shoulder, made him somehow feel agitated.

Hayla felt Diego’s back straighten, kind of making him move away from her. But his shoulder ended leaning back a little and came even closer to Hayla's forehead, until it was almost touching it.

Diego's hands froze on his bike handles, causing him to almost crash into a car- if it wasn't for the car turning right into another street. A heat wave arose. It traveled from head to toe, and then back, until it came to a stop at his cheeks and made them resemble the color of freshly plucked cherries. His thoughts started to wobble, moving away from concentrating on how to get to Miss Rachel’s house quicker, to how warm and tingly she made his shoulder feel.

He could feel the heat coming off from her, being absorbed by his black school blazer and the thin white undershirt, and making them warmer than they already were.

Yet, why didn't Hayla move away from him? She had made it clearer than daylight that she didn't want to be even a meter close to him and there was no doubt that even she felt the closeness that the two were sharing. So...why?

Why wasn't she pulling away as though she was burned?

Why wasn't she snapping at him and telling him to keep his distance, despite knowing that she should keep hers'.

Why wasn't she yelling at him? Telling him to park the bike on the side so that she could get off.

Why wasn't she doing anything?

Diego exhaled a sigh of bemusement, as he stared ahead of him without really looking.

After Hayla had returned to her surroundings, she hadn't answered with more than a word for every question Diego asked her. Her voice was shakier and rougher than before, her body was trembling as though it was negative ten degrees instead of twenty seven around her and her head was bowed with her eyes fixed on her clasped hands, unmoving from their position.

If anything, Diego was somewhat relieved that Hayla wasn't speaking; it was making driving a little easier. But, it was also obvious that she needed time to recover. Speaking could make her forget what had happened for a little while, but Diego doubted she would respond in any way.

Keeping quiet and letting her get through it herself, that is probably the best thing to do, Diego thought, trying to convince himself. After all, I'm the one who decided to help her in the first place. She didn't say anything

But how much time did Hayla need? Diego wasn't sure.

Nevertheless, Hayla didn't start a conversation and Diego didn't try.

As they neared the large round-a-bout next to Heatherwood Hospital- the most popular hospital and the only source of light for the people of Ascot- the traffic lights suddenly turned red and forced them to stop. This unexpected break pushed Hayla forward and caused her forehead to be firmly pressed against Diego's shoulder.

It also caused the cherry red color to fill up any empty space left on his face.

When Hayla didn't raise her head immediately, Diego could hear the drumming of his heart becoming louder as it started to climb towards his throat.

Don't think about it, don’t think about it! He repeated in his head, trying to focus on the waiting red and blue cars. But the more Hayla delayed picking her head up, the harder it became for him to concentrate on his chanting.

And then it occurred to him.

Wait a second, why am I getting so flustered? Shouldn't this be the other way around?

But then Hayla let out a sigh, which caused her head to become heavier.

BUT SHE ISN'T EVEN BOTHERED!!!

Hayla slowly started to lift her head then, inch by inch. But to Diego, those inches felt like they were light years apart. And when Hayla had fully lifted her head off his shoulder and had brought some distance between the two, the traffic lights turned green.

Diego didn't waste a second in speeding towards PeaceHill Street faster than a cat could chase a mouse.

By the time they arrived at the street, Hayla was already an hour late. The street was empty but the air it held was filled with the welcoming songs of the birds. They hopped from tree to tree and, if Hayla had looked up in time, she would've also seen a grey coated rabbit jumping back into the bushes due to their sudden arrival.

"Hayla?" Diego slowly spoke up when she didn't immediately move to get off the bike. "We're here...right?"

Hayla slowly lifted her eyes from her clasped hands, where they had been ever since the two had left the traffic lights, and looked out onto the empty gravel. It was a smooth straight line and the jonquil shimmer of the Sun made the usual dark rock seem warmer, gentler and more peaceful.

More grey.

When her brain finally registered the road and the dark spring green tiles of one of the mansions on the left, Hayla started to get off.

Diego took that as a yes.

Once she had fully gotten off, she stood there for a while. This confused Diego, was there something she wanted to say? She hadn't spoken the entire ride, so maybe she wanted to speak now. But when neither of them said anything, Hayla lifted her eyes and rested them on her multi-colored bag that sat in front of Diego, leaning on his stomach.

"Oh! Right," embarrassment made him grab the bag a little too quickly and push it out towards Hayla. But while doing so, he ended up punching her on the stomach with it.

And that is how an idiot works folks! The sarcastic voice taunted him as he stood there frozen, his hand stiff as if made off wood.

But Hayla didn't react. Instead, she lifted her hands and took the bag from him and then with one final glance up at his frozen face, turned around and started to walk away.

But Diego quickly broke out of his trance and called her:

"Waite, Hayla!"

This time, she stopped.

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked her. The way she was still acting, it was doubtful she would even get to the right house.

"Should I take you till the gate?"

"No," Hayla replied firmly but in a light voice. "I can get there by myself now. Thank you."

Diego decided not to argue. "R-right,"

They stood there for a moment then. Hayla's back to Diego and Diego looking at her with his walnut eyes full of concern. The cars behind them passed without stopping and the people who had to cross the road, only looked at them to notice the color of their hairs, before they carried on with their lives.

"Thank you for the lift," Hayla then broke the silence and before Diego could answer, she walked away.

Diego didn't reply.

Rather, he watched as her large figure started to become smaller and smaller as she got further and further away from him. Giving a sigh, he kicked his bike awake, turned around and drove away.

When the security guard at the gate saw Hayla, he hurriedly folded his newspaper and rushed to open the gate door for her. His face breaking into an eager grin.

"Good evening miss," he greeted as Hayla entered. "Took your time today, yes?"

Hayla looked up and returned the guards' grin.

"Yep," she replied cheerfully, placing an emphasis on the 'p'.

The guard looked at her for a second, before giving her another happy smile.

"I reckon Madam Rachel's getting impatient for ya," he told her, nodding towards the front door, where James stood with his hands behind his back. He was looking at the man and the girl with a calm straight face, which made Hayla chuckle under her breath. She quickly said her goodbye to the guard and then hurried towards the front door.

“Good evening Miss Hayla,” he welcomed the girl in his usual deep voice. "Did we get caught up today?"

James stepped aside for Hayla to enter. A maid dressed in a black frock and a white apron, was standing behind James. As Hayla entered, she brought out her hands towards her, a sign to take her bag and blazer from her. Hayla smiled her hello as she took them off and gave them to her.

“Something like that,” she finally replied as she turned around to face the man again.

James was dressed in his usual butler cloths: a white full-sleeved undershirt on top of which was a black tailed coat, white cloves, a black tie tucked inside his coat and black trousers to match the black dress shoes. The middle part of his head, the one that was bald, was somehow shining- like always- and the dark hair which bordered it was combed and settled down.

Hayla eased a little as she took in the familiar appearance of Miss Rachel's butler, who at times felt like her own.

"Did I make Miss Rachel wait too long? I never intended to be late, I'm sorry."

"Madam understands your situation Miss Hayla," James explained as he started to walk across the large reception hall, towards two white opened doors- which lead the way into the garden. "I'm sure she will be most pleased to see you have returned safely."

Hayla's lips turned slightly upwards from the right at the use of his words. But since it was James the Butler- as Hayla liked to call him at times- it wasn't that big of a surprise.

Suddenly, Hayla's left leg gave a sharp throb and her steps faltered.

Stupid leg, Hayla clenched her jaws. Her leg throbbed again but this time, Hayla forcibly placed all of her weight on it and continued on.

Ridicule laughter started to echo in her ears and Hayla harshly shook her head to silence it. She silently let out an angry sigh. You have to keep yourself together Hayla! she warned herself again. You can't have Miss Rachel know.

After Diego had left- and when Hayla was sure he had gone- she had stopped and stared up at the crackles blue sky. She had taken multiple breaths in and out, trying to calm her thoughts and her suddenly racing heart.

"Forget it ever happened," she had spoken to herself softly. "Forget about Evelyn. Forget about Clarice. Forget about Diego's words..."

But she had trailed off as she had started to recall him helping her.

He had looked sincere both times: when apologizing to her and when worrying about her. His hair had gained a gentle brown glow when the Sun's rays had landed on it. The heat that his bazaar gave off had warmed her somehow chilly one and the immediate cushioning of his shoulder had taken her off guard but also had allowed her head some rest. 

"Forget about it," she had ordered herself in a louder firmer voice, still looking up. A black raven flew across her eyes and her eyes automatically trailed after it. "Forget that anything ever happened. It never happened."

Then, before another thought could escape into her mind, Hayla had looked back down at the road and had tried her best to brisk walk towards the green mansion with her turning blue leg.

"She worries too much," Hayla-now-laughed before the silence could become too long. "Of course I'll come here safely, I always do."

They had now entered the garden and were instantly enveloped in the delicious warmth of the Sun and the sweet coolness of the wind. The garden was bigger than a normal one and was extremely well kept. The big bushes were trimmed to form perfect squares and triangles with wide bases and the smaller ones were used to create a boundary, separating the well cut grass from the different thick green trees.

There were also flowers growing on the trees and some on the bushes and they attracted big, fluffy honey bees and smaller insects, which in turn, attract birds of different shapes and colors.

 James and Hayla walked straight into the middle of the garden, where a soft creamy colored garden table stood. Miss Rachel was parked on the opposite side of the table- allowing her to face Hayla as she came- reading her favorite book: Pride and Prejudice while sipping her cocktail

"Not always my darling," Miss Rachel answered without looking away from her book. "Have you forgotten that one time when you had twisted your foot whiles coming here?"

She heard that? A sheepish grin spread on Hayla's lips

"That was just that once," she insisted as she pulled out a chair next to Miss Rachel and sat down. James bowed to the two ladies and headed back inside the mansion.

"One time can amount to many dear," Miss Rachel calmly replied. She clapped her book closed then and placed it next to her cocktail glass. "Mrs. Ellie hasn't left me in the dark concerning your frequent adventures'."

Hayla's cheeks flushed and her lips started to quiver as she fought another grin. Miss Rachel, however, didn't hold back. Her light elated laughter filled the air when she had seen Hayla's abashed expression. This made Hayla blush even more.

"They're not adventures," Hayla mumbled. "It's not my fault that I end up attracting injuries.”

And more, the voice spoke in her mind without warning.

Hayla’s words made Miss Rachel laugh a little more. When she stopped, she silently gazed at Hayla with an adoring smile on her pink lips; Her blue eyes sparkling.

"Honey, your beauty is worth far more than mere injuries. I'm surprised you haven't gotten your hands on a boy yet."

This time Hayla's face crashed inside her hands, hiding itself from those breathtakingly illuminated blue eyes.

"Please don't say that," came her muffled voice, followed by the old lady's giggle.

But the hidden smile on Hayla's lips faded as the reality of her 'adventures' appeared in her mind. Behind her closed eye lids, Evelyn's cruel face came into view and her revolting grin that was always present every time Hayla had screamed, yelled or cried out in pain.

Hayla lifted her head immediately, making the morning light scare the thought away. 

Miss Rachel was once again staring at the young girl sitting next to her. She noticed the tired was the girl sat; her usually straight poster was now slightly bend, causing her shoulders to be partially slumped. Her naturally big eyes were half closed and- as Miss Rachel looked- the girl took a deep breath in and out from her nose.

She was staring at the white stand of the garden table's umbrella, but she wasn't looking at it, Miss Rachel was sure of that. Nine years of working here had allowed Miss Rachel to know when Hayla was in the present and when she was lost in her own far away world.

 Then Hayla suddenly shivered and returned back to her surroundings.

"Um, I'm sorry for coming late Miss Rachel," Hayla looked at the lady. When she met her gaze, she offered a hoping smile which Miss Rachel returned with an affectionate one.

   “It’s alright, dear,” she reassured her. “You had your very last exam today, I understand. But do tell me, how did it and all the exams go?”

A fat grey pigeon silently landed on the soft grass behind Hayla and started to pluck insects which were hidden deep inside the shadows of the plant.

 “Quite well." Hayla answered, straightening her back. "English was the easiest out of all and Geography didn’t give me much trouble either. But Physics and Maths were the once I think I could get less than a B in.”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” she reassured her and Hayla gave a polite thanking smile.

The wind blew then, and it made Hayla look away from Miss Rachel and at a small willow tree. It was on the far end of the garden, close to the wooden fence. It's long feather like leaves were gently flowing in the direction of the wind, as if they were fingers that were stretching out to grab at the air, but were left empty. The Sun made the leaves even lighter than they originally were, light enough to make them yellow from the top. The dark branches which held the leaves too were made lighter. 

The leaves started to settle down as the wind calmed. Then, another puff of wind came and the leaves once again longed to go after it, to be blown away with it.

Suddenly, Hayla started to feel left out. Why was she sitting at a garden table, when she could be out sitting on the soft emerald grass? She could have the Sun make her golden and have the melodies of the birds fill her ears.

She could allow those green gentle fingers of the willow tree to gently brush her face, the way she had seen mothers do to their children, when they would come running to them after having played in the park or would be coming back from school. The way Miss Rachel would at times do when some of Hayla's hair would escape her braid and rest on her face.

Longing bursted inside of her like a bomb exploding and, as every second passed, its' fire became stronger.

Hayla looked back at Miss Rachel.

"Miss Rachel, why don't we go and sit by the willow tree?" she asked in a slightly pleading voice. "The Sun's out for the very first time in England! And it's warm too. So, if we spend some time in it, I'm sure we'll get that doze of vitamin D that we devastatingly need!"

By the end, Hayla's calm voice had risen to a pleading one, along with the look in her eyes. Miss Rachel stared at Hayla with a motherly knowing smile and the more she looked at the pleading girl, the more she smiled. Hayla's smile turned into a laughing one, as she knew that Miss Rachel was convinced.

"Why not," Miss Rachel finally agreed and grabbed her book, placing it in her lap.

Hayla almost jumped out of her chair- causing the pigeon to flutter away in shock- as she went to grab the handles of Miss Rachel's wheelchair and rolled her out.

They stopped close to the cool shade of the tree. Hayla sat beside Miss Rachel's wheelchair, on the ground. As she did, she was careful to make sure that her bruise didn’t get disturbed in anyway as she sat.

Looking up, she smiled at Miss Rachel before shifting her eyes to the blue sea above her.

The garden was, both Hayla’s and Miss Rachel’s favorite place to be. Here, they could be closer to the one thing in this world which wouldn’t harm them: Peace. They would let their thoughts lose, allowing their brain to filter the wanted and the unwanted.

Mrs. Rachel, Hayla felt, was one of the fewest people with whom she was comfortable with. Because of her past experiences, Hayla had started to distrust the people around her, despite her current situation. But because of Evelyn and Clarice, she was glad she had it.

A few minutes passed with none of them saying anything. They were busy listening to the birds and the passing of the cars, but when Miss Rachel looked down at Hayla, she saw her shoulder slump, as if dozing off.

“What are you going to do for you vacations?” She spoke up and asked Hayla. “You have three months off school now,”

“Work,” Hayla sighed, coming out of her much too comfortable position and leaned back on her hands. “As far as I know, I’m not going anywhere yet and I don’t want to sit in my room the whole day reading the same book over and over again. So I’m going to be working.”

Miss Rachel frowned.

"Hayla. You know Mrs. Ellie will need you around the house," she said in her scolding voice which sounded more like insisting.

"I know," Hayla replied and stretched her hands out, like a cat stretching it's paws. When she was done, instead of looking at Miss Rachel, she looked down at the grass her hands were ripping out of the ground.

Miss Ellie’s Orphanage was the only orphan home in Ascot and it had a total of forty two orphans. Some of them had been picked up from the streets and some had lost their parents and families due to death-or arguments which had resulted in them being kicked out. But, every summer, the orphanage would have a buzzing atmosphere because families, old and new, would come to meet them.

Many would get adopted naturally. However, Hayla was somehow a special exclusion. When she was young, Hayla would be in her room almost the entire day on those days, ignoring Mrs. Ellie’s knocking calls and the families which had come to see her. But, once- when she did come down- the women and the man had instantly walked out of the do0r, saying only a "Thank you" and "It was nice to meet you".

After that, she stopped coming down altogether. 

A yawn attacked Hayla then. It was a big one and it caused tears to fill her eyes.

“Tired?” Miss Rachel asked, letting go of her light anger when she saw the tears. The wind started to play with their hair.

“Yes,” Hayla replied, still playing with the grass; not looking at her. “I reached home a twelve last night,”

“And what time did you wake up?”

“Four. I had to revise for physics,"

Miss Rachel’s brows knitted together again, however, this time she caught sight of a small grey and red bird. It had returned to its nest on one of the garden trees and was feeding its starving hatchlings.

“You work too hard Hayla,” she sighed and made Hayla look at her. “You need to give yourself a break, your body needs it, and I’ve told you that,”

Many times, when Hayla would finish her work at Miss Rachel's, she would be dozing off in the car as Mr. John, the driver, would drive her to her to the stables. Miss Rachel had easily noticed her tiredness by the end of her shift as well and had advised and scolded her to go to bed early if she was to wake up early, but Hayla wouldn’t listen. Not because she was stubborn, but because she simply couldn't.

So, as a getaway, she would end up lying about having too much homework to do. But in truth, she was scared of closing her eyes.

Finally, Hayla spoke up:

“My body is used to this by now,” she gave her false explanation to Miss Rachel. Miss Rachel opened her mouth to respond but Hayla quickly carried on.

“But now, since I don’t have school anymore, I might sleep for a few more minutes than usual,”

“Not minutes Hayla! Hours!” Miss Rachel insisted. “If your body doesn’t get the rest it needs, then it won’t be able to function properly,”

Miss Rachel’s voice was changing from advising to nagging. She wanted Hayla to understand how important the matter really was, but she had known the girl for eight years, and was aware that her words only went in one ear and out the next.

“You don’t need to worry Miss Rachel,” Hayla assured her coolly and looked straight in the lady's eyes. “I will take care of myself. I promise,”

When she didn't avert her eyes, Miss Rachel decided not to argue. She wanted Hayla to know that she was trusting her and she also didn’t want Hayla to feel as though she was bossing her life around. After all, she had done all the insisting that she need to do.

Sighing, she placed a smile on her lips and then nodded.

“Very well,” she allowed.

“Now, shall I read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ for you? Or would you like for me to get you another one?” Hayla asked shifting from sitting cross legged to having her knees under her.

"Pride and Prejudice," Miss Rachel answered instantly, making Hayla chuckle.

But as she read Pride and Prejudice, Hayla couldn’t help but feel that sometimes, Miss Rachel would start mothering her around. She never said anything about it, because even though she didn’t like it, she had a theory. The reason why Miss Rachel would start acting like a mother was because she never got to be a proper one in the past. And because of that theory, Hayla would always keep quiet and let Miss Rachel carry on.

 

The Sun was starting to slowly set. People had started to leave their offices and were headed home, creating the ever so dreaded rush hour and having most stuck in traffic. Hayla’s job at Miss Rachel’s had finished at three and now she was at Strivelane Stables, cleaning and tiding up one of the horses stable. People were still coming in for their lessons, but they were fewer than before.

Strivelane Stable was a small ridding school located in Dorney, a village in the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire. It had two arenas, one indoor and one out, a total of eighteen horses and ten staff members, if you counted the two cats, two dogs and one big African parrot. It had one open field which was big enough for almost every horse to fit in and one store room for hay and other important equipment needed.

Mrs. Lennie, who was the owner of the stables, was proud of the business she ran. Though it was not a seven star service, it was still among the top five. When the stables in the area would have their switching day- a day when riding instructors would swap schools with each other, so that they could understand that stable's way of teaching and to also promote their own business- her staff members always came back with shining stars and high praises.

The lady had grown into her sixties, yet compared to a women her age, she was healthier and fitter. People would see her running on the sidewalk more than once in a day and think that she was in her late forties because even though she would have occasional pain in her leg or back, her skin still hadn’t formed any wrinkles and she barely fell ill.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Lennie was never easily pleased. She wanted perfection. This meant that messing up was not an option. All of her female staff members had to have their hair in a braided. The men and boys had their own break hours and the girls and women their own. If she had told someone to give a customer an extra lesson or to take over the shift of another member, no one was to utter even a word in reply. And lastly, if someone failed to meet her standards, she would instantly let them go. 

And maybe that was why everyone in the Stable loved her: clients, staff and animals.

Hayla let out a loud breath through her nose as she leaned a little on the pitch fork. She was cleaning up the last stable on her list and was partly done. But she could feel her body slowly starting to stiffen.

Many people had thought that she was a little crazy for doing two jobs at the same time, including Miss Rachel and Mrs. Ellie. They had kept insisting that she didn’t need to work so hard.

And Hayla knew that even if she had tried to explain, no one would’ve understood why. And she also knew she didn't need them to.

 She enjoyed working at Strivelane Stable; because that was the one place where she could be close to an animal she would love till death. Horses

“Looks good,” The sudden firm voice from behind made Hala jump. Mrs. Lennie was leaning onto the side of the open stable door, her hands folded across her chest and her eyes scanning the small box of the spotted saddle mare.

 “Thank you,” Hayla breathed when she recovered and started to collect the dirty hay again. But she tried to keep a conversation. “How was May today?”

Mrs. Lennie came in and started to unbind the hay stacks in the corner.

“The same as always,” she told her. “She won the hearts of two new riders today, one was a six year old girl and the other was a fifty year old man. Emily did her very first canter with her and she also got selected for the upcoming show jumping event.”

A warm feeling entered her body and caused her heart to give its next beat slightly gently; a smile started to play on her lips.

When she had first started to work in the stables, the very first horse she had been assigned to was May. The mare had stared at her with curious light brown eyes but she hadn’t flinched away when Hayla had placed a gentle hand on her mane. As Hayla had led her outside of her stable, May had obediently followed and when Hayla had washed her, the horse had stood patiently.

May was adored by most of her riders because of her refined head and muscular chest and body. She had a good canter and trot; however, her walk could become extremely slow at times. But, the biggest disadvantage about her was her mood.

If May didn’t want to, she would walk horribly with her head too low and her hooves barely leaving the ground. Her trot would be uneven and bumpy, almost throwing the rider out of the saddle and it would be hard to differentiate whither the she was cantering or galloping.

And yet when a new rider came on her, she would become a well-trained puppy. Gaining everyone’s trust and love.

Mrs. Lennie stared at Hayla as the girl cleaned the stable, the memory of when the young nine year old girl had come to her in search for a job playing in her mind.

At first glance Mrs. Lennie had declined. She hadn’t wanted a girl without any experience working in the stable. But Hayla had remained persistent. Every day she would be outside the stables, waiting for Mrs. Lennie to arrive. Then she would follow her everywhere, asking the same question, until she had been kicked out of the premises. But then Hayla had waited for the day to end and for Mrs. Lennie to come out, whiles sitting on the grass near the sign board.

“What are you doing here?!” The woman had shouted at the child. It had been raining that day and the wind had been tearing at Hayla’s cloths, making her wet despite her having an umbrella.

“I want to join the stables!” Hayla had repeated the over used line. “Please let me join!”

Eventually, Mrs. Lennie was left with no choice. She had taken the girl inside the stable hut and had forced her to sit in front of the fire place while she had made warm chocolate for her.

“If I hear one word of complain come out of your mouth, you’re gone. Understand,” Mrs. Lennie had warned and the girl had nodded furiously, her wet sticky hair flying up and down as she did

Mrs. Lennie had watched the girl grow since then and hadn’t heard a single complain come out of Hayla’s mouth, no matter what the situation was. Even during exams, Hayla had worked, three hours instead of five. And that was because all of the ladies- Mrs. Ellie, Miss Rachel and Mrs. Lennie- had bombarded and threatened her to pay more attention to her studies.

“You should apply for the show jumping event,” Mrs. Lennie finally spoke up. “Your weight isn’t that big of a problem and honestly, I think you’ll be able to win second place, if not first.”

“That’s very kind of you Mrs. Lennie,” Hayla straightened up from her work and pushed her lose fringe behind her ear. “But you know I don’t compete. I’m happy with cleaning the stables and ridding the horses at the end of the day.”

Mrs. Lennie opened her mouth to protest but Hayla shook her head. “I’m not an eventer,” she insisted. “I know that my weight might not be a problem, but that still is a might right?”

She started to work again. “And besides, I don’t think the horse will appreciate having a rider whose head isn’t on the track.”

I’ve got other things to worry about.

“Then I suggest you do something about it,” The old lady replied sternly. “I’m not going have a member of staff- my staff- turn down an opportunity like this. The next time I offer you a chance like this, take it. Otherwise you’ll be gathering your things and leaving this place for good. So figure something out.”

After saying that, she left the stable, leaving Hayla staring after her with an open mouth.

 

Hayla’s job ended at nine. She had led the horses to the open field for the night and after closing the lights, locking the reception door and handing the keys to Mrs. Lennie- who was still upset with her- headed home. But as Mr. John drove her to the orphanage, her thoughts went back to what Mrs. Lennie had said.

Figure something out, Hayla thought and sank a little in the car seat. If only you knew how easy it is to say that, Mrs. Lennie.

“Is everything alright?” Mr. John asked her.

He had been Miss Rachel’s driver for fifteen years, ever since she had come to England. When Hayla had told Miss Rachel about her second job, Mrs. Rachel had assigned Mr. John to drive her there and then back to the orphanage. But when Hayla had tried to stop her, Miss Rachel silenced her by reminding her that she wasn’t asking.

Coming out of her thoughts she looked in the review mirror and smiled at the old man.

"I'm fine. Thank you," she replied.

Mr. John nodded. "It was really quiet back there, I thought you were asleep,”

"I am tired," Hayla replied and gave a deep sigh, looking away from the driver’s blue eyes and down at red strip on her school bag. It sat sulking on her lap. "It's been a long day,"

"I don't blame you child," the man chuckled as he stopped to give way to a reversing car. "You’re doing more than I ever had when I was your age. I didn’t even have a job until I was eighteen,”

Hayla looked up and flashed a polite smile before turning to look out of the window. Isn’t that because you’re not an orphan like me?

 Clouds had covered the black sky and made it grey instead. The wind was a little colder now but it was still mixed with the summer air, so Hayla rolled her window down. A few people were out partying and clubbing, so the drivers had to be careful while driving in case a drunken person decided to cross the road.

But when Hayla saw the dancing people, she was amazed by how oblivious they seemed to be to the world around them. Hayla was never in favor of alcohol and she knew that she never would be, but when she had saw people taking it and having another side of them coming out- one which made them laugh and dance- she wondered if the poison really was bad.

But a sensible part of Hayla knew why those people took it. It reminded her that they were just looking for an excuse to run away from the reality of their lives. Even if it made them laugh carelessly, deep down, they could still feel the burden of their responsibilities.

Hayla lowered her eyes to the grey pavement that was slowly moving.

Silence had once again fallen in the car. The faraway purr of the BMW’s purr started to make Hayla’s eyelids heavy. Soon, it became too much to resist and Hayla closed her eyes. But then Mr. John’s roaring voice broke the silence and frightened her sleep away.

“How did your interview go?”

Hayla looked at him in the review mirror with an empty expression.

“The interview with Northdale High.” he reminded her.

Oh that, she thought as the name brought the memory of her interview. The man in thin square glasses, wearing a black suite and judging Hayla from the moment he had laid his brown eyes on her. Hayla shuddered.

“It lasted ten minutes,” she informed him. “But the man was too professional looking and I wasn’t able to meet the ‘criteria’.” Her eyes narrowed and a small smile came to her lips as she stared at the old man. “I’m surprised that you remembered.”

Mr. John laughed. “My memory isn’t that bad yet, my dear,” he told her. “And I’m surprised that you hadn’t told Madam Rachel about it or Madam Lennie.”

Hayla shrugged. “There wasn’t any reason to. I didn’t want them getting excited over noting.”

The moment Hayla had finished the admission test and sent it back to Northdale High, her gut had started to feel sick, the same way it had felt with the other nine colleges.

“I’m sorry Hayla but, because of your Father’s criminal record, we cannot accept you,” he his voice wasn’t even apologetic. “We run a very prestigious school and college, with highly prestigious students. They would question our decision if we were to accept you and might even distrust us. You see, we can’t have that,”

 “But sir,” Hayla had tried to reason. “My Father never committed the crime or any other crime in his entire life! He was accused of it,”

“I’m afraid that our answer will remain.” The man didn’t budge. “The criminal record of you Father clearly states that he had committed the crime. If it however is changed somehow and the crime is removed, then we may consider taking you in. Until then, it just isn’t possible,”

“But sir,” Hayla had tried again, trying to keep the tears from entering her eyes. It was the tenth time she was being rejected. “If you could just-”

 “I’m sorry.” The man had interrupted her and the screen had gone black.

“It was all just a waste of time,” Hayla concluded. “It was obvious that the man didn’t like me the moment he had looked at me.”

Mr. John looked at her a little sadly. Then another thought came to his mind.

“What about Eppingswood Academy?” he asked. “Did they reply yet?”

 Sarcastic laughter bursted out of Hayla’s lips before she could stop it and the sound also brought an amusing smile on Mr. John’s face.

“No.” she finally replied. “And I’m not surprised. If Northdale High didn’t accept me, the chances of me being accepted there are zero to none! I only did the entrance exam because Miss Rachel wouldn’t stop insisting.”

The car turned left and entered the orphanage just as the clock struck ten. Mr. John stopped the car in front of the white staircase of the porch but Hayla didn’t get out straight away. The porch light was on and from her spot; Hayla could see the lights in most rooms were open as well. Then she remembered that Mrs. Ellie had allowed the year elevens to go past lights out, as a celebration for finishing their exams. But it seemed that even the little ones wanted a reward.

“Giving up before you even start isn’t going to help you much, Hayla.” Mr. John stated as he placed the car on standby. “There is a saying: ‘What you think is what you get’”

“What a saying,” she murmured to herself. She then got out and walked up to the driver’s rolled down window. “Well, good night Mr. John. Thank you.”

“Good night dear,” he said, touching the top of his driver’s hat and smiling at Hayla.

After taking a few steps forward, Hayla’s eyes suddenly spotted a small green plant being illuminated by the porch light and was smiling up at her. A four leaved clover.

As she stared at it, her brain started to play a memory about the time when her Father had told her about the three leafed clovers. She remembered herself insisting him on going to the park near her house, where she had spent two and a half hours looking for one. But whenever she had thought that she had found one, it turned out to be a three leafed instead.

Hayla smiled when she remembered that her father had also bought her the latest edition of Barbie that day, when she hadn’t stopped mopping.

She was still staring when Mr. John started the car and drove over it, crush it as he went. The movement brought Hayla back to her senses and when she tried to look for the green between the dark brown and black but there was nothing left.

Poor luck, she thought as she started towards the stairs again. What irony.

As she climbed the front stairs, Hayla started to look forward to having her late night bath, dinner and then crashing down into her bed with her thick furry red quilt covering her entirely. However, the closer she got the lightly colored wooden front door, the more her stomach felt uneasy.

There were sounds of movement coming from inside along with someone’s rushed yet excited voice. It was giving quick orders but the wooden door absorbed most of the words, making it hard for Hayla to understand. Hayla raised her hand to knock but the door flew open by instead and there stood Mrs. Ellie, a large grin on her full lips and her caramel eyes alight.

She was a thin, brown, tall woman who wore fat glasses on the bridge of her nose, magnifying her brown eyes. She had shoulder length black curly hair which suited her usual dress code: a scarf rolled behind her back and on her arms, a flowing leg length white skirt, white sandals and a red thin sweater. But Hayla noticed that her usual calm aura, to be excited for some reason.

“Oh good you’re here,” Mrs. Ellie exclaimed and pulled Hayla inside. “The administrators called today, but sadly that called after you left. They wanted to have an interview with you, but when I told them you won’t be back until ten they arranged the interview for ten forty five our time.

She said all of this while waiting impatiently for Hayla to take off her shoes and the moment Hayla had placed them along with the other different sized shoes; she grabbed her hand and dragged her up the stairs. Her speed made the stairs creak in protest but neither Mrs. Ellie nor Hayla could respond because aside from Mrs. Ellie’s high spirits, Hayla was becoming blanker by the second.

“I asked them if they could have it tomorrow,” Mrs. Ellie continued as she walked down the second floor’s hallway, “because I know you’re tired when you usually come back and want to rest but they said that it had to be today. I didn’t want you to miss this chance so I agreed.”

The two came to a stop in front of a door that was similar in color to the front door. It had a small white metal rectangle hanging in the middle and on was written Hayla’s room in black.

Mrs. Ellie turned around to face the puzzled girl and clapped her hands together in front of her.

“Now, I need you to quickly take your bath- don’t worry- the water is nice and warm and since it is an interview via Skype, I want you to look your best, so I’ve laid out the sky blue dress I bought for you last summer break. Now hurry! I’ll send Helena up in a little while to do your hair and a little make up.”

She gently pushed Hayla into the room but Hayla didn’t close her door straight away. She was still trying to process what had happened after she had entered the house.

“B-but M-Mrs. Ellie,” she finally stuttered. “W-what are you…talking about?”

For the first time, ever since she had first started talking, Mrs. Ellie now seemed taken back.

“Your interview dear!” she exclaimed as if it should have been obvious, which it should have been if it wasn’t for Hayla losing her train of thoughts.

“What interview?!” Hayla cried. “What administrators? And I am not wearing that blue dress. You know I don’t like dresses!”

Mrs. Ellie’s creamy eyes turned soft, making the black skin around her eyes to crinkle slightly. She now understood how lost Hayla was and the thought of her realizing what was going to happen brought a laughing smile on the woman’s lips.

“The administrators from Eppingswood Academy,” she explained slowly this time. “They want to have an interview with you.”

Hayla stared at Mrs. Ellie, her eyebrows disappearing inside her hairline.

“Eppingswood Academy…replied?!”

As she said those words, a shiver went through her entire body, causing her blood to rush to her head and she grabbed the door handle to stop herself from stumbling. She stared at her guardian with eyes unable to blink and a mouth that was starting to become partially dry for being open too long.

 A small girl and a boy ran by Mrs. Ellie then, screaming and laughing as the boy chased the girl.

“Emily! Tom! No running children!” The care taker called out to them but it was no use. The two children ran inside a room, where another grown-up voice starting shouting at them.

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Ellie started to walk in their direction but above her shoulder she said to Hayla: “Get going now Hayla, you don’t have much time.”

At a snail’s pace, Hayla closed her bedroom door and walked over to her bed, where the dress lay shapelessly. But instead, Hayla collapsed on her bed and her head fitting perfectly in the shape of her hands.

Eppingswood…Academy...Me?

Hayla blinked multiple times- as if trying to clear away the fog in her eyes and then covered them with the darkness of her palms. She pressed her palms tightly against her eyes and her fingers against her forehead. But nothing happened. No explanation appeared in her mind for how this miracle could’ve taken place.

Whatever you think is what you get, Mr. John’s words came in her ears and behind her closed eyelids, the picture of her moving the small white mouse towards the dark blue submit button came.

Her heart sped up, the same way it had done then, and the thought of wanting to be accepted crossed her mind again. But at that time, when five universities had already rejected her, she knew it was useless to ask for something she could never get.

Or at least, she thought she knew.

Mrs. Ellie’s motherly scolding voice came through her wooden door, along with the child complaining about how it was Tom who had scared her first. Hayla opened her eyes into the slight darkness of her hands, seeing nothing but the faintly shining outline of her bedroom door. A realization smacked her.

She took a deep breath in and out through her mouth before roughly pulling her hands away and getting up; all in one motion.

Get yourself together Hayla! She scolded. I’m making a big deal about a stupid interview that isn’t going to be any different from the rest. Other colleges did the same too, remember?! Why the hell was I so shocked when I should’ve known better?

As Hayla got over her surprise, she became aware of the burning in her leg. Just bare through it. Follow the routine because it’s the same thing all over again.

It took her twenty minutes to take a shower, where she spent ten minutes applying lukewarm water to her purple and blue bruise. What is Evelyn made up of? Rock?  She distressfully though as she glared at the water for having no physical effect.

 When she came out, she walked straight over to her closet and brought out a simple pair of dark blue oversized jeans and a dark red T-shirt that was big enough to cover her hanging stomach. Hayla the hung the sky blue dress on one of the hangers and fixed it back inside the closet that contained other undesired fabrics.

There was a soft tapping on the door then and in came Helena. As soon as she came in, she grabbed Hayla gently by the arm and guided her to the dressing table’s stool.

Helena was a year older than Hayla and one of the oldest orphans who had lived in the orphanage along with Hayla. But unlike Hayla, she was soft spoken and a lot more sociable and it made since. The children in the orphanage, young and old, never gave a second thought to Hayla’s dull brown hair and her jade green eyes always made them want to be out of their field of vision.

But it was the opposite with Helena.

The young boys especially, would be enchanted with her golden locks that’s fell naturally on her shoulders in curls and her baby blue eyes calmed them the moment they looked. Her naturally pink lips made her smile more prominent along with the dimple that always appeared in her right cheek because of her high cheek bones.

Yet, Hayla could never find out why Helena wasn’t the first one to get adopted. How could anyone pass the offer of having such a pretty daughter? But she wasn’t surprised to know that Helena didn’t mind.

Just like Hayla, Helena didn’t want to get adopted. But that was because she loved staying at the orphanage, surrounded by all of the little kids and her friends. They were all like her siblings with whom she had no desire to part with, even though her situation called for it.

Hayla, on the other hand, just didn’t want to burden herself with more fake smiles and comfortless comforting words than she already had to deal with.

 “Mrs. E’s really excited,” Helena sang in her swan-like voice and brought Hayla out of her thoughts. She tied a hairband at the end of Hayla’s fish braid and then moved on to her make-up, by applying soft eye shadow.

“I know,” Hayla sighed. “And I don’t blame her, it’s hard to believe that Eppingswood Academy actually replied,” Hayla told her. “I thought they had trashed the application the moment they had received it.”

Helena made an attempt to pull off a frown and softly smacked Hayla on her forehead and made her smirk laughingly.

“When Mrs. E told us, the little kids were overjoyed. They wouldn’t stop jumping and Jack and the others couldn’t believe their ears. They looked as though they needed to sit down for a while.”

Hayla scoffed and rolled her eyes, before she closed them for Helena to apply slight shimmer to her skin color eye shade. Of course they didn’t.

A new feeling arrived in Hayla’s body then and it caused the sarcastic smile on her lips to fade. Helena moved away from her eyes and replaced the eye shadow stick with a light pink shade of lip gloss but when she turned around towards Hayla again she found the girl’s head bowed and her locked on her clasped hands.

But since she was Helena and had twelve years of experience behind her, she understood straight away.

“Hayla,” Her voice changed, becoming tender. “You don’t need to worry, it’ll be fine.”

But Hayla didn’t answer straight away. In her mind, she was again trying to understand how all of this could have happened. Could it be possible, for impossible things to happen?

When she didn’t say anything, Helena sighed. She placed her slender fingers under Hayla’s chin and made her jade green eyes look up at her baby blue ones.

“Come on Hayla,” Helena tried to cheer her up. “You’re such a strong and determined girl. Don’t let this bring you down,”

The more Hayla looked into Helena’s eyes, the more she wished that she could absorb the positivity that Helena possessed but she couldn’t bring herself to. The devil in her mind was constantly reminding her of the ten rejections she had already gotten and it laughed when her heart kept sinking the more she believed that it was right

 Why should this one be any different? Why do you even deserve to get in? You don’t belong there.

No matter how hard she tried to be strong and brave, all of the strength that she had was leaking out of her. Hayla’s face started to became small and she pressed her lips. She looked into Helena’s eyes, her eyes going wide with panic.

“Hayla,” Helena pulled the girl to her and she buried her face in Helena’s white summer dress, which was making her look like a Greek princess. Helena gently traveled her hand down Hayla’s plated her and tried to sooth her. But she didn’t say anything.

 “I don’t know Helena,” Hayla’s voice was shaky when she finally spoke. “To be accepted in an elite school after being…rejected so many times. It…sounded so absurd to me now. How can they look past the…blame?”

Helena pulled Hayla back and looked at her calmly. “Hayla? Do you want this to work out?” she asked.

Hayla didn’t answer straight away because her mind was being torn apart by two feelings: desire and despair.

 She knew that she had wanted to get into Eppingswood Academy ever since Miss Rachel had told her that she would support her financially and that had made her put in all the effort and knowledge she needed while doing the exam. But the questions which were arising in her mind now and the fear of them being true was gripping on to her and not letting go.

“I…don’t know,” Helena finally answered in a small voice bt didn’t meet Helena’s eyes.

“Then it wouldn’t hurt to try,” the blond answered straight away and made Hayla look at her in surprise. Helena brought the lip gloss up to Hayla’s lips then and started to add the shiny pink liquid on them.

 “But just think that it’ll happen and it might.”

 

 

 

 

The interview was intense. It carried a strong sense of professionalism and business, naturally becoming even more nerve wrecking.

The man on the other side of the camera was wearing a black suit and tie, but he was nowhere near like the man from Northdale Academy. This man had a double chin, was bald and had thin lips with no smile. His eyes were a very dark shade of brown, like very dark chocolate, but at least they didn’t seem to be judgmental. But Hayla had learned not to judge these interviewers from appearance.

Yet, despite the appearance, the name was amusing: Mr. Rampsbottom.

“Correct me if I’m not mistaken Miss Carter,” the man said in a very deep British accent. “You appear to have taken our entrance exam on the eighth of May?”

 “Yes sir,” Hayla replied instantly, her voice less shakier than she had thought it would be.

 Mr. Rampsbottom nodded and carried on. “I do apologies on the behalf of the Academy for the late response. You see, your exam reached us a day later and by then, our students had already started their final exams. So we were unable to mark it until after”

Hayla nodded, unsure of what to say. She rolled her hands into fists and dug her nails into her palms to stop them from shaking. She sat with her back straight and focused on keeping her facial expressions calm. The man stared at her for what felt like hours, making Hayla feel that his eyes were physically holding her in place because otherwise, her legs were ready to bolt.

 “Did you finish your GCSE’s today?” Mr. Rampsbottom asked, looking away from the screen. Hayla let out breath she didn’t know she had been holding. It seemed as though he was reading something and Hayla heard the moving of paper.

“Yes. I finished them this evening,”

“Do you believe that you will get you target grades?”

The question caught her off guard and she hesitated in answering. She knew that she shouldn’t take very long to answer because something about the way the man was looking at her again was giving Hayla the impression that delaying an answering would be a mistake. But, the word he had used made her think of the right words to answer with.

Please Mr. John, Helena, She thought quickly, let those advices of yours work.

“I do not know what the future holds sir,” She replied. “But I do want to believe that my revision, my efforts and my knowledge will not fail me.

“You want to?” he shot another question as if automatically. “Does that mean that you don’t believe at the moment?”

Panic grabbed Hayla’s heart, making it hard for her to breath and she could feel a droplet of sweat trickle down her spine.

Just reject me! Her thoughts screamed but she swallowed and tried to calm them.

“I…cannot say that I…do,” she slowly explained. “But, I cannot also say that…I don’t. Because I am hoping and hope means that there is some degree of believe.”

What am I saying?!

Mr. Rampsbottom stared with narrow eyes for a minute and an upset look crossed his face. Hayla fought the shiver that tried to erupt inside her.

Just reject me! The thought crossed her mind again and she blinked twice this time to ignore it.

“Do your results come out on the twentieth of August?” changing the subject, he asked her as he looked down again and this time, appeared to be writing.

“Yes sir, at twelve in the afternoon.”

“We will have them delivered to us after three days then. Sunday, I believe?”

What? You can do that? Hayla thought with her eyes wide with bewilderment. But then she remembered the status of the academy.  Of course you can do that. She took a silent breath through her nose. Calm Hayla, relax

Then, Mr. Rampsbottom looked back at Hayla again and something had changed in his eyes. Their emptiness had been replaced by curiosity and the question which came out of his mouth next had Hayla moving in her chair as though it had suddenly become very hot.

“Please tell me, Miss Carter, how long has it been since your parents died?”

The instant he said those words, memories filled Hayla’s head and they threatened to take over her. They wanted to make her hear the roaring fire, see the red smoke and feel the agony of being numb. They want to erase her sanity and swallow her into a world of ashes.

But Hayla fought those thought and concentrated on answering the double chinned man on the screen.

“…Twelve years…sir,” Hayla answered carefully, her voice controlled.

“How old were you?”

“F-five.”

“Where did this happen?”

“In Canada, Parksville…British Columbia,”

“And what was the reason for their death?” he asked, not letting the subject drop and this irritated Hayla. Why is he so interested? She couldn’t help thinking.

“A fire,” Hayla answered and exhaled.

“But they were firefighters, were they not?” Mr. Rampsbottom pressed on, almost like a policeman questioning her. “They had been working for ten years, correct?”

If he knows, why is he bothering me about it!? She tried to suppress her annoyance and answered him.

“Yes. But the roof of the house had collapsed and had blocked their exit. Or so…I am told.”

“And how were you able to survive?”

I don’t know. I shouldn’t be here though right? Hayla thought to herself.

“…I was able to survive because I…hadn’t been in the house…at the time,”

Silence fell then between the two. Hayla’s grip was starting to become lose on the devils she called thoughts but she was still expecting him to ask her where she had been. And she wasn’t sure if she could hold back her anger anymore. She understood that the school had the right to know about her personal life and get a picture of who she was but wasn’t the label of an orphan enough to satisfy them?

Mr. Rampsbottom was watching Hayla the way a hawk watched a mouse, but Hayla returned his gaze, her anger fueling her strength.

 “Well Miss Carter,” the man spoke up. “As you know, we are an elite and an astute Academy. We make sure that the people who attend our school are valuable enough to set a foot on our grounds and model enough to carry the name of our Academy forward. We do not take on board anyone who seems to be even the slightest bit abstracted or irrational, no matter what their grades or family backgrounds are.”

Hayla swallowed. This is it.

The urge to close her eyes, to cover her ears, to press her lips hard so that the blood could stop reaching them and to have the pain of her teeth digging into her flesh distract her mind was stronger than any other feeling Hayla had ever felt.

“Your father was blamed for a criminal act a year ago before he died, costing him his job and his respect,” Mr. Rampsbottom continued. “However, he claimed that he hadn’t committed any offence and was proven guilty and sentenced for seven years in prison.”

Wait that isn’t true, Hayla wanted to say. She wasn’t surprised that this man knew so much but she was confused as to how he could’ve gotten seven years out of one. It seemed that he was off from a piece of paper which Hayla couldn’t see and since he wasn’t asking, she couldn’t interrupt him either.

 So, she waited for the words she was more than convinced would be said at any moment.

They never came though.

 “The Chairman of the Academy has decided to overlook this.”

A bomb exploded. Or so Hayla had thought that it did because all of a sudden, she could hair properly.

“I’m sorry?” she asked.

“The Chairman, Mr. Rodgers, has decided to overlook your father criminal record.

 Decided to overlook? Are they letting…the blame…go?

“Normally, after an interview, the interviewer goes away and has a discussion with the other administrators. Then, after three days, if the student gets our call, it means that they have been accepted. But, I do not believe that I need to carry out such a procedure for you.”

Then for the first time, the man gave a warm smile.

“The Academy’s administrators will send one of our representatives who is in your area at the moment to visit you. She will come over to your place by one in the afternoon tomorrow and explain the travelling requirements and dates along with what it means to be a student in the Academy’s you the rules of our school,” he told Hayla.

“Because you will be financially supported, you do not have to worry about your expenses caused by travelling. However, because you are not yet an adult and we do not offer any dorms, the lady will bring someone along with her, assumingly a young girl three or four years older than you, and she will be your guardian for the next two years,”

The information was too much for Hayla to take in all at once so she just sat there and listened. Until tears started to fill her eyes and make her vision watery.

“I…” she tried but couldn’t say anything. “I…I don’t know…Thank you…Thank you so much!”

Mr. Rampsbottom smiled again. “It’s yourself whom you have to thank,” he told her. His voice had changed; it had become kind “But I should congratulate.”

The screen turned black.

The office door flew open and smashed into the wall behind it but the tearful Mrs. Ellie didn’t give it a single thought. She ran up to Hayla and enveloped her in her arms, followed by Helena and the rest of entire orphanage.

“Congratulations, my sweetheart! You did it!” She exclaimed and squeezed the girl.

The little kids around them jumped, screamed and clapped their hands together and the older members gave Hayla a thumps up with amazed astonished smiles. But, the sounds started to fade and darkness slowly started to decent over Hayla’s sight.

“Hayla?” Mrs. Ellie asked and brushed her fringe away from her forehead. She felt Hayla going limp in her arms- causing the lady to stagger- while shaking as if she had a temperature.

 “It’s been…such a long day,” Hayla yawning.

Then she was out, like a candle being blown.

 

Author's Note

Sorry for the repeated chapter. Hope you all enjoy it. P.S please pardon me for the spelling mistakes and any grammatical errors

Reviews

[Ruly]

I read your first chapter. And I will divide my view in four sections.

Number 1, I will start on the positive side of your work.
I will give you an “A” “ plus” Your narrative is great, and the topics of the story are also great as well.

Number 2, since you made a comment at the end of your work, in which you apologized for grammar and errors, I discovered about 5 places. Because they are too insignificant, I will talk about them later to avoid a long discussion

Number 3, this is just an opinion this has nothing to do with the quality of your work.

I
The chapter is too long. It is a good idea to give your reader a break to stretch out, to go and get a beverage and then come back and resume their reading with eagerness.

II
There are three schemes in the same chapter:

III
A.
The Bullying scenario is original. Within this year, I have read on the web of two teen suicide due to this reprovable activity. You do have a tale on this issue alone.
B.
The love section that is a great part.

C.
The second part of your chapter talks about the life of an orphan girl who is just starting in the world and is willing and ready to succeed. That is very good and it stands on its own

Number 4, The following is just for your consideration, you don’t need to make a change and you can ignore it.

I found the love scene, extremely good, however, it is just too fast.

There is no background base on what you wrote to see something so effusive.

Maybe putting a couple of acts in which the two main actors perform, which in turn, it will set the path to such a fervent situation.
Allow your female actor to untied the fears and inhibitions. Let the reader know her, then they will welcome those emotions sympathetically.

Moreover, the same situation, there is no backdrop for your male main actor. (Which I can tell Diego will be your male character of this story) What I mean is, describe the male main actor, so it will permit the reader to sympathize with your character to say the least. This is one of the reasons you should divide your first chapter, so you will give your characters a chance to undertake a more consistent romantic mood. Such passages will earn the readers likeness, and not only will make the actors want the relation, but will also make the readers want it as well too.

Ok, in summary, I will issue you a 10 from a well written chapter, and would like to read the second chapter if I may.

[Ruly]

Hi, I am reading your work, but I paused for a minute. I didn’t expect to find a chapter this long, and since it is Sunday I need to do some errands. I will finish it tomorrow and I will give you an overview. In any event, I don’t know how you grade in the U.K.
So far so good, don’t discard I will give you “Five Stars”, “A Plus” or “A Ten”