Modern Love

by EllyMae in

Modern love

Kate Justin stepped off the old, dirty bus that had stopped outside what looked to be a prison.
'This can't be it.' She thought. But then she saw the sign. Posted just above the main entrance, it screamed out to her that she was an orphan. Before, she had, nearly, enjoyed being an orphan, but now…
The sign said:

DARKBRIDGE HALL:
ACADEMY FOR ORPHANS.

So, this was it. The building itself was very square, and made entirely of old, worn concrete.
Kate looked up at its formidable shape, and squinted against the bright autumn sun. She raised a slender hand to her forehead to shade herself. A light breeze blew some of her blonde, curled hair into her face. She thought for a bit about her situation. A fifteen year old girl, sent to a special school for unfortunate orphans. It was a great scenario for a book or a film. It even had a villain - Mrs. Shacklock, the evil Headmistress of Darkbridge.
Kate was imagining her name in lights, when, suddenly, a megaphone sounded. It was bellowed down in such a loud voice, that it seemed to need no megaphone at all, waking Kate from her daydream.
It announced:
"Fourteen and fifteen year olds to the right. Sixteen year olds to the left. Anyone younger, straight ahead."
Kate suddenly found being pushed by a throng of people.
She tripped, and fell to the ground. Kate tried to pick herself up off the dusty floor of the tarmac covered playground, but failed.
Then, a hand emerged from above her, flailing wildly. She took it, and was instantly hauled from the floor.
As she straightened herself out, she saw that her saviour was a boy, about her age, quite tall, with neat hair that was light brown, and gelled perfectly upwards at the front.
'Oh, dear,' thought Kate. 'One of those boys who spends more time on his hair than there are hours in the day.'
Other than his hair, he was rather bland. His clothes were ordinary; his 'flappy-shirt-over-tight-t-shirt' and 'jeans-the-size-of-parachutes', was what all the boys were wearing.
The only thing that made him even slightly stand out was his amazingly grey eyes. Kate became aware that she was staring at them.
"Um…thanks," She managed to say.
"You're welcome." Said the boy. "Will I get your bag for 'e?"
Kate realised that the boy was Irish, and had presumably come all the way from there, just to come to this dump.
"I'm sorry," said Kate, without really thinking.
"No! Not at all!" Said the boy, as he ran over to where Kate's bag had skidded - a good five meters from where she had dropped it.
He plonked it at Kate's feet in a rather un-orthodox fashion, but Kate didn't mind. Here, of all places, she had found someone who actually liked her for who she was. Kate smiled. Well, maybe this wouldn't be so bad, after all.
"By the way," The boy said as he returned from collecting Kate's lunchbox, which had flown to the other side of the playground. "I'm Rob. And what'll I call 'e?"
'Rob', Kate thought. 'Well, I suppose it's not a bad name.'
"I'm Kate." She said, and held out her hand to shake. But the boy bent down and kissed her hand. Kate was rather shocked by this, as you might well be. A stranger you've known for all of two minutes is already kissing you.
"And the pleasure," said Rob. "Is all mine."
He stood up, and, seeing Kate's face, said;
"In my family, we were brought up knowing that it is polite to kiss a lady's hand."
Kate was stunned, but said;
"Oh. I didn't realise."
Rob took off again - this time, he'd spotted the same thing as Kate. An A4 piece of photographic paper floated gently on the breeze, and fell to the floor. He picked it up. Kate tried to take it off him, but he wouldn't let her.
"Who's this then?" Rob asked, looking at the picture of a man on the paper. "Uncle? Cousin? Who?"
"Never you mind!" yelled Kate. She snatched back the photo, and hugged it close to her chest.
Rob was rather taken aback, seemingly at the fact that a girl could be so fierce over a photo.
Kate saw Rob's look of surprise, and said, rather spitefully;
"This is the way we were brought up in my family."
And, with not a single word more, Kate picked up her bag, and headed for the right, leaving Rob startled and shocked.

Later on that day, Kate was sitting in her dorm, her new home. She shared it with two other girls; Ruthe, and Samantha, or Sugar, as every one called her. They seemed alright, though Kate had not really met them. She had spoken to them briefly when they had first met, and managed to figure out their basic personalities:
Ruthe was a 'don't push me around or else' kind of girl, while Sugar was more an 'I can talk for England, but I look nice anyway' girl. They were both from very different backgrounds.
Ruthe came from the sleazy suburbs of Birmingham. Brought up in the slum houses, with her mum being rushed to hospital every week because of an overdose, Ruthe had to learn that to survive in such a harsh environment, she would have to be tough. And really, without her mum's support, Ruthe didn't have much choice. Her mother had told her on several separate occasions that she was too like her father, and if she dared to ask who he was, then she'd be beaten.
Sugar, on the other hand had come from a completely different background. Sugar's mother, after the death of her beloved husband, had over-protected Sugar, and not given her her freedom. Sugar, therefore, was weak, and relied on someone else to care for, and look after her. She was afraid of Ruthe, and was devastated at the fact that she would have to share a dorm with her this year. Though Sugar had not been bullied, she felt sure she would be now.
Ruthe and Sugar were having an argument now - rather, they disagreed, and Ruthe thought she was right, and was thus threatening Sugar. Kate sat on the edge of her bed, scheming. She had to get back to Newcastle, but, how?
Kate did not have much time to think, as suddenly, a 'Heads up!' from Ruthe announced the presence of a stiletto shoe that came hurtling through the air at around 30 mph, on a collision course for Kate's head.
She was too slow to dodge the on-coming shoe. It struck her head, and Kate fell backwards onto the bed.
"Oh my goodness!" yelled Sugar. Then, to Ruthe; "Look what you did now! Poor Kate's hurt, and it's all your fault! Oh, no! She's bleeding! I'm going off to find some help. Stay here! If someone sees this, I'm telling them that it's your fault!" And with that, she set off to find help.
But, help was not that far away. Sugar opened the door and bumped straight into Mr. Cole, a really good looking teacher.
"What the devil is going on in here?" he asked. "I can hear your screeches, Sugar, from across the hall. What's up?"
Sugar took a deep breath, and began, quickly;
"Well… Ruthe and I were arguing over some chocolates - my chocolates -I didn't let her have any because they are mine, so she threw her shoe at me, but it missed and hit Kate instead but it wasn't anything to do with me - Ruthe threw the shoe and was trying to take my chocolates. So, it wasn't my faaauult." Sugar finished on a penetrating whine.
"I'm sorry," said Mr. Cole. "I didn't hear a word of that."
Ruthe stepped forward.
"A shoe was thrown," She looked accusingly at Sugar, who frowned back at her. She looked so funny that Mr. Cole had to try really hard not to laugh. "And, yes, it came from my hand," Ruthe continued. She looked back. "And it hit Kate on the head, and K.O.'d her."
"Ah, ha!" exclaimed Mr. Cole "I understand."
He leant over Kate, and put his fingers to her neck.
"Why is he touching her up?" asked Sugar.
"He's not." explained Ruthe, patiently. "He's feeling her pulse. To check she's still alive." She added, as Sugar looked blank.
Mr. Cole stood up, and picked Kate up. Ruthe looked slightly worried, while Sugar looked petrified!
"It's alright, you two." Mr. Cole laughed. "She's not dead. You won't have to dig out the funeral gowns yet! She's just had a nasty bump, and I'll have to take her down to see the first-aider, and, eventually, Mrs. Shacklock." Ruthe looked worried. "After all," Said Mr. Cole in a sly tone. "Mrs. Shacklock really must see to that top step." He winked at Ruthe, and left.
"Wow!" said Sugar, dreamily, as she slumped down on her bed.
"I'll say," agreed Ruthe. "I mean, she has all the luck. First, Rob's after her…"
"And his dreamy Irish accent."
"… and now Mr. Cole!"
"And his equally dreamy hair! Oh, it's not fair! I won't to be pretty!"
Ruthe sighed, and stood up.
"Well, there's nothing we can do to stop her getting all the attention while we're up here. Come on, let's go."
Sugar stood up, and followed Ruthe out of the room.

Kate was able to start lessons the day after. The swelling on her head had gone down considerably, and Mrs. Shacklock had got some people in to fix the 'broken' top step.
"Hi!" Sugar yelled from the other side of the dorm as soon as she saw Kate. "We were worried about you! You're our favourite person!"
"You're a bleeding lucky one." Remarked Ruthe
"Whoa, yeah!" said Kate. "Having that oh-so-cute Mr. Cole pick me up and carry me heroically down the stairs in front of all those jealous girls… Not that I can remember much of it, though."
There was a knock on the door, and Kate submitted their visitor.
"Come in," She said in her best I-have-a-headache-so-I-can't-come-to-lessons voice.
Mr. Cole popped his head round the door.
"Room service." He chirped
"Ah! Mr. Cole! We were just talking about you," Said Sugar, a little embarrassed in case he'd heard any of the last sentence.
"Hmmm," said Mr. Cole "I'd never have guessed." He turned to Kate. "And how's the patient today, then?"
"Much better, thank you," Said Kate, still in her 'not very well' voice. "But I've still got a headache."
"Oh, dear!" said Mr. Cole. "Well, I hope these make you feel better:"
He produced a bunch of flowers from behind his back.
"Wow!" exclaimed Kate, surprised that anyone really cared. "Are they really for me?"
"Not sure," Commented Mr. Cole, scratching his head. "…But these certainly are:" Yet another bunch of flowers appeared from behind his back.
Kate was truly amazed. She was just about to state so, when a small, irritating bleep started. It came from the direction of Mr. Cole.
"Whoops!" He said. "That's my pager." He removed it from his back pocket. "That'll be the girlfriend…yup. It is. Excuse me, ladies."
And with that, he left the room.
"Girlfriend?!" Chorused the girls all at once.
"I don't believe it," sighed Kate, as she slumped down on the bed. "I just don't believe it."
"I know," agreed Sugar, as per usual. "Who could have sent you TWO bunches of flowers?" Once again, though, she'd missed the point entirely.
"Yeah," added Ruthe, wanting to remove everyone's minds from the disappointing thought of Mr. Cole actually having a girlfriend. "Come-on, let's see who they're from." She lent over Sugar, amid screams of discontent, to get a better look.
"Wow! Look!" Squealed Sugar, her voice more than slightly muffled by Ruthe's huge form. "These are from Rob!"
Ruthe picked up the other bunch of flowers, while Sugar fussed around beneath her. "Hey, Kate," she whispered, so that Sugar would not hear. "These are from 'Your Favourite Teacher' ".
Kate gasped, and grabbed the flowers out of Ruthe's hands. She jumped up, and ran to the door, flung it open, and yelled down the empty corridor. "Thank you Mr. Cole!" She leant out of the door a moment longer, half expecting a reply from the deserted space. But the only sound that this sinister building gave to Kate was her own words, reverberated along the walls, and carried back to her.
Disappointed, but also extremely happy, Kate turned and closed the Dormitory door. She leant back against it and let out a long, contented sigh. She held the flowers close. She can't already have forgotten what it's like to be in love, can she?
Kate was aware of an argument going on between Sugar and Ruthe, but paid little attention to the topic. She just stared at the Dorm, slowly taking in everything around her.
The Dorm was number 103 in the West Wing, more commonly known as the West Dorm. The Room itself was rather small, only just large enough for three single beds, three desks and the ubiquitous fireplace. That was yet another odd thing about Darkbridge. Despite the fact that the building was only 50 years old, and was fitted with central heating, all the rooms contained fireplaces.
Kate was just debating in her confused head why this might be, when the bell signalling the start of the day's lessons sounded.
Ruthe and Sugar's argument now forgotten, they stood and started for the door.
"Hurry, Kate." Advised Ruthe. "Avoid the crush. Just a tip for life. V. useful. You coming then?"
Kate shook herself free of desire, and took Ruthe's arm.
"Now, stay close." And with that, Ruthe launched her and Kate out into the wall of children.

Five minutes, and six very sore elbows later, Ruthe, Sugar and a rather baffled Kate, arrived outside their new form room.
"You are going to have a surprise when our teacher arrives," said Sugar, with a cheeky smirk. "Ruthe and I have known who our form teacher would be since the end of last year. We're certainly happy with the choice!"
Kate was rather confused by this, but was yanked into the classroom - Form room G - before she could question any of the girls words.
She had counted going up and down several staircases: four or five at least, all with Ruthe muttering something about the 'bloody classrooms in the way of kids travels...' and 'they always wonder why we're so bloody late for their bloody lessons...' and 'think their so big with their push everyone around, detentions here, there, everywhere, see me after bloody class…' Ruthe was not shy with her words.
Though she had no confirmation of it at all, Kate thought that her form room was on the first floor. They entered their classroom.
"Over there," boomed Ruthe. "At the back. Three together. Come on." Sugar looked confused.
Ruthe sighed, and began to talk very slowly to Sugar. "T-h-e-r-e a-r-e t-h-r-e-e s-e-a-t-s. T-h-e-r-e a-r-e t-h-r-e-e o-f u-s. G-o-t t-h-a-t?"
Sugar gave Ruthe a withering look, but just sat down without a major fuss.
They had sat down, and everyone had had their chance to stare at the new girl - almost a ritual, apparently at Darkbridge - when Kate's new teacher swooped into the room.
He had his back to the class now, he was examining his hair in the mirror behind his desk, but Kate still thought he looked rather familiar.
He yelled to the class; "Ok, guys. Settle down, now. I know you've probably got a lot to talk about, but can it for now, will you?" without once looking up from the mirror. He spoke in silky, smooth tones that made your spine tingle, and Kate's heart flutter. She knew now who this mystery teacher was - and she was delighted!
Mr. Cole spun round to face his new class, just in time to find a paper aeroplane zooming towards his face. He reached up with his hand and caught the plane mid-flight. He crumpled it in his hand, and said;
"That'll be quite enough, thank you 10C. Now, today being the first day back, there is obviously a lot to sort out in the extended form period we've got today. Now, I'll take the register, hand out some notices, and then we'll crack down on getting to know each other better. Ok? Good. Abyss, Lucy…"
He carried on through the register like that, asking people what they preferred to be called.
He reached Kate, and said: "Justin, Kate. Katie?" he frowned at Kate, then smiled. "Katie?"
"No." Kate said. "I don't like the name Katie. Just Kate. Please." She added, politely.
"O.K, Kate." He said sarcastically.
When he'd finished, he stood up and asked Kate to come to the front and 'talk about yourself'. Kate hesitantly took two steps forward, and fell flat on her face. A girl sitting on the other side of the side aisle to Kate had stuck her bag out under Kate's feet.
"Oops!" She said, innocently. "Did I do that?"
Kate looked at her before walking to the front. She was a tall, thin brunette with a perfectly formed breast and stomach. Her thick, wavy hair hung down her back in a luxurious curve that made it look as if it was more like a cloak than her hair.
"Now, come on, Sandy," said Mr. Cole. "You remember what your first day was like, don't you?"
"Oh, Yes!" she shot a knowing glance at a boy on the other side of the room, who blushed bright pink, and turned away. "I remember perfectly!"
Kate wasn't sure quite what it was, but she took an immediate disliking to the girl. Maybe it was the fact that she had shown her up in front of the whole class, including Mr. Cole, on her first day. Or, maybe not, thought Kate. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, and right now, she didn't want to. Right now, she wanted to enjoy being the focus of Mr. Cole's attention.
She started with her name, and where she came from:
"Hi, I'm Kate Justin, um, and I've just moved here from Newcastle. And I'm very, um, happy, to, er…"
Kate faltered. She wasn't happy to be here - that was a lie. She had just moved there from Newcastle. But it didn't feel right about lying about something like that. She didn't know why, it just did.
"Well, actually, I don't like being here at all, and I wish I wasn't a stinking orphan. I was really happy in my old school, but I made one mistake, and was sent to this dump. In other words, I hate this place so much, that I could, and would spit on it right now."
The words hadn't meant to come out like that. But the class seemed to like it. After a few agonising second's stunned silence, the class erupted into cheers of agreement. Even Sandy, the nasty girl, nodded in an amused way.
Then, Mr. Cole stood up, looking very stern. But to everyone's surprise, he clapped along with the others.
"Well, that was a slice of the courage cake. And, might I add," He leaned in close to the kids. "A couple of chapters from the book of Truth." His beautiful, lop-sided grin showed off several of his pearly-white teeth. Kate longed to wrap her tongue around them. But then she remembered his hurried exit from her Dorm earlier on. '…that'll be the girlfriend…'. He was spoken for. With a heavily disappointed heart, Kate returned to her desk at the back.
Mr. Cole hushed the class, then said, "Well, it seems like it's going to be really fun having Kate in our class. Welcome, Miss Justin, from everyone in this 'dump'." He then proceeded to give out several notices, which no one paid any attention to. They, instead, gave all their attention to Kate, which she enjoyed immensely.
Even Sandy, as they were leaving the classroom, ventured to say; "Hey: you're alright." which Kate guessed to be a large compliment. Mr. Cole winked as she left the classroom, which put her in a great mood for the rest of the day.
And so the weeks passed. Kate's popularity grew by the day, as did Ruthe and Sugar's as they always hung around with Kate. Kate was delighted when she found that not only was Mr. Cole her form teacher, but also her Drama teacher. They had started the year with group and pair work, plays and things. Mr. Cole had been so impressed, that he offered her a substantial part in the school production that year. She declined, saying that she would be too shy to take on a large part.
Later on in the term, they had moved on to individual work, where, at the end of the topic, each pupil would perform a speech learnt by heart. Kate had chosen Juliet's speech, when she wakes up, and finds Romeo's body lying next to her. Kate performed it amazingly, and when she got to the last part, 'O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die', there was not one dry eye in the drama room. Even Mr. Cole had to wipe tears from his eyes. After the lesson, he stopped Kate as she was on her way out to compliment her on her performance.
"That was amazing," he said. "Have you ever considered amateur dramatics?"
"Well, yes," She answered. "I have. But it's not going to do me much good while I'm cooped-up in side 'this dump'." Ever since Kate's famous speech on the first day of term, Darkbridge had been known as 'this dump' by all members of 8C, pupils and teacher alike. "We're not even allowed out to visit friends except Christmas, Easter and the summer."
Mr. Cole replied that he knew an amateur dramatics group who were looking for a young girl, about Kate's age, to be in their next play, though he didn't know any more information.
"I'm a member," he added. "So persuading Mrs. Shacklock shouldn't be too hard."
Kate thanked him, and they made arrangements to meet on Monday evening to go to the play reading. Mr.Cole touched her arm, and said "Great speech", before winking, and turning to leave.