Hallway by Amelie Soames

&Her By Diya Liyanwela

“Hey Adeline,” I spoke, my voice trembling. She looks over and her eyes widened ever so slightly, as if she was surprised to see me.

“Hey..um,” she answers, waiting for me to announce my name.

I tell her and smile. She didn’t smile back which sort of put me off. Nonetheless, I began to talk about science classes which we take together but I get cut off.

“You lost Chicken Little?” I turn around to see a tall bulky guy peering down at me with an intimidating look. Richard. I gulp and my palms began to sweat. My immediate thought was to get out. People around us started to chuckle whilst others tried to suppress their laughs with a hand cupped over their faces. I look back at Richard and he takes an exaggeratedly aggressive step forward in an attempt to shock me. It works. I stumble backwards, tripping over a bag on the floor, and hit the ground. Howls of laughter surround me. I have never felt so vulnerable; I immediately scramble off the floor, push open the doors and sprint out of there. Hers: I watch him scurry away, face red with unease. I roll my eyes at Richard and tell him to get lost. His friends high-fived him as they all continued to laugh at the pointless torment they inflicted. I stare down at my shoes, feeling so guilty that I didn’t help. He may be strange but he seems sweet. It had only just occurred to me that this was the first time I had heard his voice. It was so warm and friendly. I decided the first thing I ought to do when I got home was contact him. Who knows, maybe we could both gain a friend.

My breath was harsh as I hurtled out of the school towards home. My legs run faster as if the laughs were chasing me. I clutched my backpack as if it could save me from the embarrassment. Nothing can save me from the embarrassment. I felt the heat seeping through my insides and the sweat trickling down my neck. Tears pricked my eyes as I recalled the sight of Richard standing over me, cackling. Anger started to escalate. How could he be such a prick? I didn’t deserve that - he’s always been so troublesome. I mean, how could anyone possibly like that guy? If it were up to me, we would all shut him out…or better.

I burst through the front door and flung my backpack to the ground. I dashed to our garden shed, still with a heaving breath and monstrous rage. I swear I’ll make him pay. He murdered my chance to talk to her; possibly the only chance I’ll ever get. I had patiently waited one thousand and ninety five days; I had patiently stuck to a corner, watching her flit from one guy to the next. I had patiently put up with all the rumours and remarks her irksome friends made about me. I waited for her.

He. Ruined. It. The anger was blinding me as I continued to storm through the shed. I approached the back of it and slammed open the cupboard doors. I rummaged through it, forcefully grabbed the rifle and loaded it.