“Good morning,” Auden and I both greeted her in unison.
Aunt Vera acknowledged us with a quiet ‘mhm’ without looking up from her paper.
“Good morning!” Mrs Brighton beamed as she carried a tray of food into the room, the smell of fried mushrooms reminding my stomach of its hunger.
“How are you liking your new school, Augustus?” Aunt Vera asked, eyeing me as Mrs Brighton placed a plate down in front of her.
It was only my third day, but I imagined that was more than enough time for most people to have formed an opinion. “It is very…clean,” I said.
“I should very well help so,” she said. “Anything else?”
I racked my brain for something, anything, to add, but nothing came. Shaking my head, I reached for my glass of water and took a long sip.
“Your father once told me you are quite studious, is that correct?” Aunt Vera asked.
“Oh. Um…yes. I like school. Learning.”
“Secondary school is very different.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I expect you to remain on top of your studies. Nothing below ninety percent in any subject. This school is expensive, and I will not have my money wasted.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And,” she added, more firmly, “I expect you to behave well in school. I will not tolerate any trouble. Is that understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.”
Walking through the school gates with my head down, I shoved my trembling hands into my pockets and darted straight toward my form room to wait for the bell. Chatter hummed through the corridors as students crowded around lockers and greeted their friends. No one spared me a glance except for a boy I recognised from a few of my classes. Light freckles painted his cheeks, dark green eyes blinking beneath long lashes as a smile curved his lips. Alexander was his name. He gave me a nod in greeting as he ran his fingers through his black strands, my own lips tilting upward before the Devil infiltrated my thoughts.
He's only smiling at you because he doesn’t know what you are.
Tension shot through my body, the smile snatched from my face and replaced with a grimace. Not now. Not here. I closed my eyes, hands curling into fists at my sides.
The Devil laughed at my attempt to subdue him.
I am always here, little monster, you will not get rid of me.
Students poured into the classroom as Miss De’Lour opened the door, greeting every student with a warm smile and an enthusiastic ‘good morning’. Some students returned thegreeting, others just walked past as if she were a ghost they could not see.
I dumped myself into the seat beside a dark-skinned girl chewing gum, her twin braids decorated with silver starred clips. Despite it being my third morning seated beside her, I was still yet to learn her name.
She looked me up and down, slowly, and I stared back, challenging her to look away first. She won the battle, my eyes dropping to my desk.
We didn’t say a word while Miss De’Lour did roll call and read out announcements. I sat stiff in my chair, one leg bouncing up and down while I glanced in between the clock and the door. As soon as the bell rang, I was the first to leave.
You’re lost,the Devil hummed while I stood in front of a classroom that was not my year seven history class. Scratching the back of my head, I looked around wildly, trying to retrace my steps.
“Are you okay?”
I locked eyes with Alexander, his head tilted and eyebrows raised as he glanced in between me and the empty classroom.
“I’m…looking for D3,” I said.
“That would be in D block.”
