1
Eden
If I have to stare at one more limp burger, be it meat or the veggie equivalent, I’m gonna scream. Holcroft Academy is a private school, and this is the best they can do? I’ve seen boob patties with more umpf than what the cafeteria is serving. Like, I don’t even understand how they can get the burger and bun flatter than flat. And why is it grey?
Thank fuck I only have one more academic year left. I curse not having the option of dropping out of school like I could’ve in the UK. By sixteen, I could have gotten my GCSEs and become a starving artist straight out of highschool. Let’s be honest, even after college it’s where I’ll end up.
Sighing, I pick up the McDisapointment, add it to my tray and continue to shuffle down the line. The fruit looks edible, but then I remember I would rather chew on tree bark than eat squishy bananas or bruised apples. The half packet of Haribo will have to serve as pudding, I suppose.
After swiping my meal card, I turn to review my seating options. Holcroft is like any other school as far as groups and hierarchy are concerned. You have the jocks and their gaggle of sycophants in the left corner near the fire exit. The alarm doesn’t work, so they like to keep it propped open for us all to freeze.
Guess it never occurs to them that the rest of the school doesn’t run up a sweat right before lunch. Oh well, if I get hypothermia I have a valid excuse to skip a few classes.
To the right of the jocks are the cheerleaders and band members. Maybe that’s one difference between Holcroft and other schools. The band is cool. No geeks there, just hella talented musicians, which I’m down for.
We still have the math nerds, or as I like to call them, people with above-average intelligence. The computer whizzes and science nuts. On the opposite side of theroom is where my people reside. The artists, or fuck-ups, depending on which parent you ask.
Making my way through the crowd I drop next to my best friend, Pia. She’s an immigrant like me, although she came all the way from exotic Dubai, whereas I landed from Leicester in the UK. The most fascinating thing about the place was when they found the remains of a king under a carpark.
Pia is the heir to billions of dollars. I’m heir to a rusted VW Golf that’s still sitting on my grandparents’ drive back in Blighty. Despite our vast monetary differences, we are like two peas in a pod. We met on the first day of high school and that was that.
Across the table is Todd. He’s Pia’s boyfriend of ten months and a nice guy. If anyone deserves Pia, it’s him. He’s like the most genuine person I’ve ever met. Next to Todd is Bella. She’s four foot one with a seven foot attitude. Neon pink hair and tatts. Funny as hell to hang out with and queer like yours truly.
Then there’s me, I guess. I make up the last of our troop. Five foot nine, with long jet-black hair. The undercut is a relatively new addition. I felt I really needed to amp up the gay this year. I have grey eyes and a septum piercing. My clothes are a steady stream of black skinny jeansand large band hoodies. Not forgetting my battered Doc Martens. My mum gave up trying to dress me in anything remotely form fitting from the waist up when I was six.
As far as school goes, Holcroft isn’t the worst. Sure, there are divisions in social groups, but we seemed to have missed out on the obligatory bullying that every other school stands by. The jocks don’t stuff people into lockers, and the gay kids are left alone. That might be because a few of said jocks are gay as well as the captain of the cheer squad.
It’s a harmonious atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean I can’t wait to get the hell out of here. All I want to do is find a nice place by the ocean and create art. Pia thinks I’m already becoming a reclusive old lady because I have zero desire to hang out at parties getting piss drunk and vomiting everywhere. Personally, I don’t see the problem in wanting a quiet life. Why does being seventeen mean I have to conform to every stereotype ever written about kids my age?
At least I have my parents on my side where that’s concerned. They’re more than happy that one of their kids doesn’t intend to get arrested or pregnant by eighteen. Unlike my younger sister, who is only fourteen and already the devil child.
Like, she woke up on her thirteenth birthday and suddenly became Lucifer. Mum and Dad are going to have a hell of a time with her, and I, for one, am super thankful I’ll be away at college. I’ll happily do the older sister bit when Jenna is no longer a hormonal arsehole.
So, I intend to get through this year, slink off to college, and then try my best to make a living off my artwork. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be living alone by the beach in less than fifteen years. Perfect.
“Earth to Eden. Oi!”
“Ow, fuck, P.”
She’s rolling her eyes at me. “I was talking to you, and you were zoned out.”
“So bodily harm was the solution?”
Todd chuckles. “You’re such a wuss.”
I am, it’s true. “Next time could you just wave a hand in front of my face. I bruise easily.”
Snorting, Pia leans her head on my shoulder. “I always forget you’re like a fragile peach.”
“Fuzzy all over?” Bella comments with a grin.
“My fuzzy bits are none of your concern,” I shoot back just in time for Sloane Bishop to hear as she passes by. My face heats up as she smirks at me. Sloane is the cheer captain.The gay and gorgeous cheer captain. I think I’ve spoken to her once the entire time I’ve attended Holcroft.
Pia holds in a snort long enough for Sloane to pass by before she slaps me on the back and belly laughs. “That was brilliant.”
Shoving the now cold slab of grey veggie burger and stale bun in my mouth, I choose to take the high road and ignore her. It’s not the first time I’ve embarrassed myself in front of a pretty girl, and it won’t be the last. I managed to inherit my dad’s severe lack of game, and I’m okay with it. Maybe I’ll get better in college, or I’ll die a virgin with only my paintbrushes and cats. Time will tell.
The bell rings and the entire cafeteria moves at the same time, creating a crushing mob as we try to make our way to afternoon class. I have art so I’m chill. Ms Billings is the best teacher here and is always late, so I’m in no rush.
