Chapter 1.
Destiny. ~ Perri Kiely.
I feel around in my covers for my phone, grabbing it and turning off my alarm. I rub my tired eyes and push back the covers, getting out of bed. I push my feet into my slippers and shuffle into the bathroom. I wash my face and brush my teeth before trudging back into my room. I shiver from the cold and pull open my wardrobe doors.
"What to wear?" I mutter to myself as I tap my nails on the door.
I pull out my high-waisted black jeans and white ribbed jumper. I change into it and push my feet into my Timberlands. I slump in front of my mirror and apply my normal makeup- natural but full coverage. I tie my hair up in a high ponytail before clicking on my watch and bracelets. I stand up and adjust my jeans; I grab my phone and fling my bag over my shoulder. I push open my curtains before jogging downstairs.
"Morning Jason!" I smile.
Jason is my mums boyfriend. They've been together 3 years and have a daughter together; my one year old sister Leela. I also have a younger brother called Archie, he's 9. My dad left my mum on her own with me and Archie when I was 10 and he was 2. I will never be able to forgive my dad for what he did.
"Morning Soph! You okay?" Jason says cheerily.
"Yeah, I'm good."
I dump my bag on the kitchen counter and head over to the fridge. I pull open the door and scan over the continence inside.
"How many times do I have to tell you!" My mum says dropping my bag onto the floor. "Not on the counters."
I roll my eyes and grab a bottle of water and a yogurt. I head into the living room and slump onto the sofa. I tuck into my yogurt and watch the news with Jason. Archie comes bounding in and jumps onto the sofa, nearing knocking my food out of my hands.
"Careful Arch!" I chuckle.
I finish my yogurt and put the pot into the bin. I fill my bag up with food and push it onto my shoulder. I grab my Burberry scarf and wrap it around my neck. There's a knock at door- that will be Clara.
"Heyy!" She beams from the doorway.
"Hey!" I say mimicking her. "I'm off, see you later!" I call behind.
I step outside and close the door behind me. Me and Clara walk down the drive and along the path towards school. She turns on her music, Beautiful Me by Dappy playing. I start to sing along (I love this song)
So don't be waiting on a different me,
You say it will get better but you never see,
Cause I see, the beautiful me!
"Go on Soph!" Clara chuckles.
I love to sing... all I do is sing. Everyone knows that.
We carry on walking until Clara stops and grabs my arm, staring down at her phone. Her mouth drops open.
"What?!" I say confused.
"No way!?" She half shouts.
"Clara, what is it?" I chuckle.
"Diversity are apparently coming to school today!!" She beams.
"No they aren't!" I say shaking my head. "Why would they come to our school?"
"That's true..." Clara says, dejected.
We reach school and make our way to the sixth form block. I slump down on the sofa and pull out my timetable. I sigh and see that I've got english.
"Sophia, Clara?" Miss Harvey calls from the doorway.
"Yeah?" Me and Clara say at the same time.
"Your off timetable today, Mr Thomas wants your help."
"Result!" Clara cheers.
Mr Thomas is our headteacher. I pack my timetable back into my bag and push my phone into my back pocket. Clara links my arm as we head over to the Sebright hall (the main hall of the school).
"Ah girls! Thankyou for your help." Mr Thomas says clasping his hands together.
"What do we need to do?" I say dropping my bag onto the side.
"Well, I need you two to put all these chairs out for me." He says gesturing to stacks of chairs. "In rows of five on both sides, leaving a gap down the middle."
"Okay." Me and Clara say together.
"I will be back soon, I just have to collect someone from reception."
Mr Thomas leaves the hall and it becomes quiet. I sigh and drag a pile of chairs across the floor. I thought we were going to be doing something better than this!
"Pop some music on." I say getting another pile of chairs.
"What do you want on?"
"Maybe Flashlight?"
"Cool." Clara says turning up the volume.
This is another song I love. We get to work putting the chairs out, me singing along with Jessie J.
I got all my dreams when I got you and I,
I look around me and see a sweet life,
I'm stuck in the dark but your my flashlight,
Your getting me, getting me through the night.
Clara rushes over and quickly turns off the music. I frown and face her.
"What you do that for? I was singing along!" I exclaim.
"I can see you were, Sophia!" Mr Thomas calls from behind me.
Crap. Mr Thomas doesn't like our phone out, let alone playing music whilst he's gone somewhere. I turn around to face him slowly.
"Sorry sir." I say.
Omg...
I feel my cheeks beginning to burn up. I can't help it, my mouth drops open. That's embarrassing! Mr Thomas is stood in the doorway to the hall with non other than Diversity stood behind him. I realize that my mouth was hanging open and quickly close it.
"Sorry..." I say again.
Mr Thomas ignores me and turns to face Diversity. I quickly turn away and head over to Clara who was admiring the boys; She's a huge fan to say the least.
"Right, so that's your stage for today." Mr Thomas says pointing to the temporary stage at the end of the hall. "Feel free to practice... these girls won't bother you, they have a job to be doing." He says before cutting me a look.
I give a small smile and pick up a stack of chairs, placing them on the floor and beginning to drag them to make a new row.
"Sophia! Carry them, don't drag them!" Mr Thomas calls across the hall.
"Sir, you don't understand how heavy they are for someone with less muscle that a jellyfish!" I exclaim.
Clara bursts out laughing, and I notice some of Diversity chuckle. I look over to Sir who doesn't look impressed.
"Well, I can send you back to science, and get someone else to help out."
"No, it's okay!" I say quickly. "I carry them."
"Good choice!" Sir says before turning to Diversity. "It's all yours, I have to go for a quick meeting. If the girls bother you, send them out."
I turn to Clara and pull a face, making her giggle. She quickly stops though as Sir cuts us another look. He's never been this harsh to us before. Mr Thomas leaves and the hall drops awkwardly quiet. I glance at Clara then prepare myself to lift the stack of chairs. I squat down and grab hold of the bottom chair, lifting it up off the floor. I shuffle across the floor, guessing where I'm walking as I can't see.
"Clara! Stop laughing, it's not funny!"
"I'll carry them for you." A soft voice says behind me.
"No, no it's fine. You need you rehearse on the stage." I say placing the chairs down.
"I will just get this stack." Perri says picking the stack up.
"Thankyou!" I smile.
"No worries." He smiles back before joining the rest of them on the stage.
I give up with the last lot of chairs and end up dragging them across the floor. Clara taps me on the shoulder and mouths 'I'm going to the toilet' at me. I nod and put the last chair out. I wipe my hands on my trousers and grab my phone, checking the time. I glance up at the stage and see the boys huddled around the sound machine.
"Do you need some help?" I call from the back.
"Um, yeah. Please!" Ashley says looking up.
I jog up the stairs and make my way over to the sound machine. I fiddle around with most of the switches and listen until the wurring kicks in, telling us that its ready for use.
"How do you know how to do that!?" Jordan chuckles.
"I use it all the time- for singing." I smile. "Right, I'd better go down there, I don't want to get caught 'bothering' you."
I shuffle my way around them and jog back down the stairs. I take a seat at the back and watch them rehearsing. Even when they are just marking through the routine they are amazing. Clara comes back in and joins me, until we are interrupted.
"Sophia, Clara. Can you come and get some boxes with me." Mr Thomas calls.
"Are they the merch boxes?" Ashley asks over the music.
"Yes, that's them." Sir nods.
"Our coach driver will get them, they are very heavy." Ash says turning off the music.
"No it's fine- these girls are off timetable, they can get them." Sir says before turning on his heels.
I glance over to the boys and see them looking at each other. Me and Clara follow Sir out the hall. We go over to the coach and get passed some boxes each. I pick one up and nearly drop it straight away. Once me and Clara have got a grip on one each we shuffle back towards the hall.
"Jesus Christ! These are heavy." I say stumbling into the hall.
Jordan and Sam hurry over and grab the boxes off us. They place them on the floor in the corner.
"Thanks." Me and Clara say.
"Like Ash said, our driver would've got them." Jordan says.
"Mr Thomas would rather have us do it!" I chuckle.
They head back over to the stage and carry on chatting. I sit down next to Clara at the back and sigh.
"I'm sweating!" I exclaim, shuffling my jumper around to get some cold air.
I look up and notices Diversity chuckling at me.
"Sorry, that's really gross. I didn't think you would hear me."
Now I'm embarrassed.
"Don't worry, you've been working hard!" Ash chuckles.
I open my mouth to speak, but get cut off by Sir. I roll my eyes and listen for my next instruction. He's being really moody with us today.
"Right, Sophia, Clara can you come and move off the seats. They are for years 7,8 and 9's."
"But Sir! Where are we meant to sit?" Clara exclaims.
"You can stand at the back." He says bluntly.
"But! We aren't going to be able to see!" I moan.
"Tough, your the older ones." He says getting angry.
"Sir, you don't understand how much I love these guys." Clara pleas.
"Um, if I could just say something?" Ashley says breaking up our little disagreement. "I think these two should sit at the front... they did set everything up."
"You two should be in lessons anyway, be grateful you are getting to see them!" Sir says before walking away to get the classes.
"I actually hate him!" Clara says.
"Yeah same here!" I agree. "Lets just sit at the front anyway!" I say pulling her forward.
"No!" She hisses. "He will kill us."
Clara is not a girl who will disobey the teachers orders... me on the other hand, well... I drop her hand and cross my arms.
"Fine! You stand at the back and not see a thing. I'm sitting at the front."
I walk down the gap in the chairs and slump into one at the very front. I look up onto the stage and see Perri smiling down at me. I smile back and usher Clara to sit with me. Reluctantly she does, and we wait for the other classes to file in.
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Hope you enjoyed the first part of this new book!
I have some big ideas for this storyline and where it will go.
Please leave comments as I love reading the feedback :)