autumn ✦ chapter one

Instructions

Autumn ✦ Blurb — — — IT’S ALWAYS THE MOST INTERESTING TIME OF YEAR FOR ME… I can’t believe it. Hanna has officially become my ex-friend. She’s such a monster. What can get worse? It’s already at the peak of it. If anything else happens, surely, I’m going to stab myself with a sharp knife. Mum lost her job, Dad’s smoking, Albert is a kleptomaniac. This is the worst day of my life. But the only thing keeping me together is my best friend. Autumn. — — — Burnt Toast ✦ Chapter One — — — ‘HEY, WAKE UP!’ A voice roared. It was six twelve. I thought who it could be at this time. It couldn’t be Mum, she’s too gentle. It couldn’t be Dad, he has never waken me up before. Oh, Albert. I groaned. My eyes were blinded by the bright rays shining straight into my soul. When my sight finally came back, Albert stared into my broken eyes. I flinched. ‘Oh, finally! Mum says it’s time for breakfast. Ellie, don’t give me that look, you squash.’ I hated when he called me a squash. ‘Get out of my room! What’re you doing in here anyways?’ I lay in my bed, drowsy. ‘What do you mean? Oh I know, you’re deaf. Now I’ll see myself out.’ Albert rolled his eyes. Annoyed, he stamped out of the room, leaving the door ajar. He always did. I sat up, my feet dangling. I was short for a thirteen year old, 4,9. My phone instantly began ringing. I snatched it off my bedside table. I pressed accept. ‘Hello! Will you be a buyer and get free face cream from-‘ Spam. Oh, how I wished it were Alexander Robinson. But I think he fancies Maia Hepburn — the popular girl who’s smart, blonde, blue-eyed and the definition of perfect. It’s really devastating, I’ve got wavy, chest length, auburn hair, yet people call me a red head. ‘Ellie Anna Sunderland!’ called Mum. ‘You better come down here now or else!’ She’s upset about something. She wouldn’t usually have this tone. ‘One second Mum, I’m getting ready!’ I replied, tossing on my white uniform shirt and my ironed, grey skort (or as others would say, culottes.) At my vanity, my hair was all too tangled to brush through. I decided to just tie a bun, no one would notice. Right? Maybe. I sprinted down the stairs to find my mum and dad muttering under their breaths. But a smell of smoke reeked before I said anything. The smoke alarm rang deafeningly. Mum and Dad panicked. They weren’t like this. Just as it started, it ended. Mum took a deep breath and sat down. Her golden glasses drooped down her nose. She pushed it back up. ‘Albert, Ellie…’ she said with a sigh, ‘you’re moving schools.’ No. No way this is happening again. ‘Mum you can’t!’ I yelled, ‘You don’t know how much I need this!’ ‘Ellie. You have to understand, we can’t afford such a privileged school.’ Mum looked at me. ‘NO. I’M NOT GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO NO WAY I’M LOSING MY FRIENDS.’ My face burnt with fire-like tears, slowly creeping down my cheeks. How could she? After Hanna and everything. I couldn’t take it. I ran to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me.