Black Velvet

The tension in the lunch hall was almost unbearable. I stood staring at Alex, her eyes were looking from right to left before she quickly glanced around her. A good handful of students on the surrounding tables were beginning to clock on to the drama and were listening intently. Alex looked down, tucking her hair behind her ears before rubbing her lips together. She then stood up from the lunch table and grabbed her bag from the floor.

"This is your last chance Marnie," she said defiantly. I glanced at Marnie and she simply looked down at her feet, fiddling with the hem of her blazer, "Fine," Alex finished, pushing past her and strutting through the hall.

I let my breath out slowly, closing my eyes for a second to try and re-establish myself.

Marnie, Taylor and Georgina were all staring at me expectantly, like I had something next in my plan. I didn't even have a plan. In less than thirty short minutes I was in a completely different situation, with completely different feelings. It was overwhelming and although I wanted to stay strong and continue my power streak, my throat was still in the bottom of my stomach.

"Excuse me," I muttered, following Alex's route and also stalking through the hall. Eyes followed me the whole way until I got back out into the courtyard. Before I knew it my feet were taking me to the front gates of the school and I was on my way back home. I knew dad would be less than happy if he knew I was skipping school and I ground the key into my front door as quietly as possible to make sure I didn't alert Deb if she was in. As per usual she had the radio blaring from her studio and I was easily able to get to my room. The rest of the day was spent creeping around silently in my room. Stupidly I thought I was safe but a few hours later I heard heavy footsteps and my bedroom door opened abruptly, exposing me.

"Since when did I have a daughter that skipped school?" dad asked from my doorway, his arms folded.

I was scrunched up on my bed, watching a film with my headphones in but I quickly snapped up, my headphones ripping out of my ears.

"I had a bad day," I said too quickly.

"Well the school rang and said you vanished at lunch?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. My dad rarely got angry with me but that was mostly because I had never really misbehaved.

"I had a fight with Alex," I then replied pathetically, scrunching the duvet in my fists.

"Yeah I heard about that too Amelia. Since when do you go around upsetting your friends?" he questioned, stepping further into my room, "I was in the middle of such a big job. I don't want to be getting calls from the school saying how you've made someone cry!" he then said, his thin lips working quickly.

"I didn't upset her, she upset me first!" I exclaimed, standing up, tears pricking in the corner of my eyes. I couldn't believe that my dad was taking this stance about the situation. The radio in Deb's studio stopped and she hurried out quickly, still holding her clay tools in one of her hands.

"What's going on here?" she questioned, standing next to my dad.

"Yes, Amelia what is going on here?" dad asked again.

"Me and Alex had a fight and it got nasty, I didn't mean to make her cry, she was being a bitch-"

"I don't care what she was being Amelia, this is not how you act! The school have told me they want to see you first thing tomorrow morning so that you can apologise to Alex and you will apologise!" dad barked, cutting me off. I simply nodded glumly, blinking rapidly to stop myself from bursting into tears. He left quickly, bumping Deb on his way out who was still stood in the doorway with her mouth slightly open. As soon as dad's footsteps faded from my ears I burst into tears abruptly, plopping down on the edge of my bed uselessly.
"Oh, Amelia, don't cry. He's not really mad he just doesn't like being interrupted at work," Deb cooed, hurrying to my side and wrapping her arm around me.

"He doesn't get it, Alex isn't actually sad she's just putting it on to get me in trouble!" I sobbed, sounding like a five year old child.

That night I chose to skip dinner as dad was still angry and avoiding me. My stomach growled noisily all night but I made up for it in the morning by cramming five pieces of toast in my mouth before getting myself to school half an hour early to have a meeting with Alex and the principle. I had only met the principle once briefly when I was starting at the school.

She was an average looking woman, with brown hair that was slowly turning grey. She always wore a grey loose skirt with a V neck jumper and some kind of collared shirt. When we first met she seemed nice enough, I didn't know if she had a mean side like most teachers did.

I got to school and stalked through the empty parking lot, my blazer wrapped closely around me to keep the cold out. The principle's office was in the glass area of the school on the top level. I walked up the stairs quickly, still managing to be five minutes late even though I had walked so quickly. I let out a shaky breath when I got to her office and knocked quickly before opening my door. I tried to not look shocked when I saw Mr. Way also sat in the office. Principle Thompson was sat behind her desk, Alex was sat on a chair in front of her and Mr. Way was sat in the corner of the room, slumped in his chair. He had one leg propped on the other, one elbow resting on the arm of his chair, his chin rested in his hand.

"Sorry I'm late," I said quietly, taking the chair that was next to Alex. Mrs. Thompson simply nodded and sat back in her chair.

"Amelia Roseden, I'm surprised, our first meeting gave me the impression you were a very nice young girl," she stated, looking at me dead in the eye. I didn't know what to say and I wriggled my shoulders uncomfortably, "So why am I hearing that you've been causing trouble? Alex says you've been causing rifts between her and the other girls, is this true?" she then said, still staring at me.

"I didn't mean to cause any trouble, it's just girls being stupid," I told her, fiddling with the hem of my skirt. I glanced at Mr. Way and he was staring at me unblinking and distant.

"This isn't girls being stupid Mia, you stole my boyfriend and now I have no friends either," Alex sniffed. I looked at her and saw a woeful tear run down her cheek.

"I didn't steal Kyle, I told you that yesterday," I murmured, trying to defend myself but not wanting to get told off anymore. Alex said nothing and wiped her single tear away, snivelling again. I didn't know whether she was actually sad or if she wanted attention. I didn't want to upset her anymore than I already had and more so I was growing nervous she was going to tell the principle about my strange relationship with Mr. Way.

"Regardless of the circumstances, Miss. Roseden you will be attending Saturday school with other students who thought it was a good idea to skip school ad Mr. Way has kindly agreed to teach it. Both you girls also need to apologise to each other and I don't want or need a repeat of this," Mrs. Thompson said, her face lacking any expression. My eyes shot to Mr. Way and he was still staring at me like a statue although his lip twitched quickly when I looked at Alex to apologise.

"I shouldn't have to apologise," Alex snapped looking at me also.

"It's not like I feel like I should apologise either, Alex," I replied bluntly, my expression blank. The principle stood as did Mr. Way and I sighed out heavily, beginning to chew the side of my cheek worriedly.

"Amelia the students here are of the highest standards. Mr. Way tells me you have also been hostile towards some of the girls in your art class, I have to insist you begin to turn over a new leaf-"

"-Those girls weren't just innocent victims I decided to prey on either," I interrupted, flaring up.

"Well I feel like I am innocent, I didn't do anything to you part form try and help you in this school!" Alex practically shrieked.

"Help me? Do you really think that's what you were doing? Kyle was chasing me!" I replied, my voice raised considerably. Alex's glossed bottom lip shook, her cat like eyes watering.

"He was my boyfriend!" she shrieked indignantly, bursting into tears as she said it. Mrs. Thompson sighed before hurrying around her desk to crouch down beside Alex who was crying into her hands. I stared at them, blinking rapidly, trying to figure out what or if to say anything. Before I got a chance there was a knock at the door and Mrs Thompson went to open it, her heels thumping on the carpeted floor.

"Mr. Way could you just look after the girls," she asked hurriedly, gesturing to Alex before slipping out of the room and shutting the office door with a click. Alex howled loudly and I tried to suppress an eye roll by clenching my jaw tensely. I watched as Mr. Way took the principle's place in kneeling beside Alex, a broad hand patting her back pathetically. With yet another sob she threw her arms around his neck and promptly started bawling into his shoulder. My eyes widened and a streak of jealous whipped through my body. My stomach dropped when he hugged her back, rubbing his hand up and down her blazer clad back.

"I -I don't want to be... to be in the same room a-as her right now," Alex whimpered, choking on her tears, "I fe-feel like I'm going to lose my temper with her and I don't want to do that," she added in a baby voice, sniffling in a watery manner.

"That's very sensible, Amelia could you please step outside for a moment?" Mr. Way said, his voice monotone.

"You want me to step outside?" I questioned, my eyes glaring at them as she was still cuddled into him and it was making my heart pound in my chest.
"Now!" Mr. Way ordered.

Swallowing, I grabbed my bag from the floor and practically threw myself out of the office, tears prickling in my eyes as I stormed back down the hallway.

Notes

hope you guys are enjoying, updates should be a lot more regular as i've written chapters in advance! x