The bell sounded for registration, it was 9am on April 10th 2008. It was the last day of school before study leave and there would inevitably be a whole lot of shit to deal with. Traditionally, study leave was a week where you were supposed to go off and prepare for the end of year exams which would either set you out on the road to college, or invite you back for another year at the privately run and ultra expensive Lekmaan Heights High as a repeat year student.
“Hey Short-Stop!!!” said a voice from behind me. Surprised but yet happy, I instantly he knew who the voice belonged to although it had been a very long time since last we had spoken. I turned around and my gaze met that of the slender young woman in front of me, standing some 6ft tall. Michelle Emmanuel; name like an angel, attitude of a devil, body of a goddess. Her long brown hair and big blue eyes could draw you in no matter what she was saying or what you were doing. We had lost contact some 4 years ago when Michelle’s father had taken a job in Annan, Dumfriesshire; so to see her here and now felt like a dream.
“I said Hey Short-Stop?” repeated Michelle who was now standing by my side. Slowly climbing out of dream world and back into reality, I managed to respond with a wave and a smile. The girl I’d dreamed of for so long was now back and this time I needed to make a stand. Last time we were together, I made a fool of myself by hurtling from my skateboard into a plate-glass door. The next 3 months after that incident were the worst I could remember; having to use a rubber ring when sitting down just to stop the throbbing pains was not only degrading but embarrassing.
Finally managing to speak, I said “So, couldn’t keep away from me huh? I knew you always had a thing for me”. A roll of the eyes from Michelle was enough to tell me she still thought I was a joker but she smiled with a hint of seduction. “What are you doing around these parts anyway? I thought you and the folks had moved away to Annan, chasing a dream?”
“I’ve been back for a month now,” she said with a smile. “My parents are still out there but I have unfinished business here, and whilst Annan is amazing, my heart will always be in Dundee. I have great friends there and live in a really friendly neighbourhood… but I belong here. This is where I was born and bred… No matter where I am, this city will forever be my home,” said Michelle as she flicked her hair over her left shoulder.
“You haven’t changed a bit… still as soppy and emotional as ever. It’s good to have you back; I’ve missed you and thought about you a lot over the last 4 years”. An almost awkward silence took over the scene for a few moments. Michelle had a knack of always knowing what I wanted to say when I couldn’t find the words. She also knew how I felt about her, which made things awkward and yet not… in a weird and wonderful way. Anyway, she walked over and gave me a re-assuring hug and, together, we walked up the hill towards the front gate.
Making our way through the car park slowly trying to delay as much as possible, the mundane class that was first on the timetable; Business Administration. It still hadn’t been confirmed who would be taking the class as Dr Robertson, who had been my lecturer for the last 3 years, was found only a few days ago tied to a tree out by his home near Templeton Woods. Speculation was rife as to who did it and why he had been killed even though it was all just gossip; the only people who claimed to know anything were the local police force. Chief Constable Alfred Lonergan was never a popular figure with the general public, his suspected and often commented on links with underground figures throughout the country doing him no favours but there was nobody better in his field and that’s what matters when it comes to law enforcement; so if there was anything suspicious about the death of Dr Robertson, you could be certain Lonergan would issue a gag on all officers within his constabulary until he decided it was right and proper for you to know about it.
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“Isn’t it kind of pointless you transferring here right before your exams Michelle? Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact you’re back home and all, but it seems like an awful lot of hassle to transfer at such an important time that could make or break your dreams for the future” I said.
“I’ve done all of the course work back in Annan and I was in a meeting with Principal Anderson yesterday morning who has assured me that all of my coursework has been delivered via courier to the school. He also arranged for all of the access codes I need for the computer systems, my swipe card for entering the school building and got me a locker right next to yours, out of coincidence I promise you. Besides James, the way you said that, it sounds like you don’t ‘want’ me around,” said Michelle with a laugh to try and ease the tension between them. She put her hand on my shoulder and without a moment to spare, punched me square in the gut crumpling me to the floor. “Yellow Car James, Yellow Car!!” she announced, pointing her finger across the car park to the BMW parked over by the entrance. It was a game we used to play as kids, though apparently I’d forgotten all about it. At least she had moved on from giving me a dead leg to a gut shot, but she did pack one hell of a punch for a girl… though I’d never tell her that or she’d never stop.
“Bitch” I said trying not to smile even though I was wincing in pain. Michelle helped me to my feet and I put my arm around her neck in a headlock, dragging her for a few metres as payback, before we went into the tech building.
Walking along the corridor and turning into the PC suite, Michelle found us seats near the door half way back and we sat down and waited on the new professor. Quite a few people were whispering and pointing at Michelle as she came in, wondering who the new girl is and why she had come in on my arm. Michelle took no notice and logged into the systems using her ID card provided in the welcome pack she was presented with by Principal Anderson just a few days previously. As part of the security on every new PC profile, she was required to fill in online questionnaires and set-up the profile to meet her needs.
After 4 or 5 minutes there was no sign of any professor. The PC Suite started to become filled with the usual adolescent chatter, the nerds talking about some online game launch date, the jocks talking about their next game and how they planned to annihilate the opposition quickly, the ‘it girls’ talking about make-up, boys and other pointless things (you get the idea). As the noise started to get a little louder, there was a distant boom coming down the hall; a voice that everyone with the exception of Michelle knew meant that Sebastian Spence was on his way and business was about to pick up. Most of the students had either been given guidance by Spence as one of the house counsellors or had faced his wrath when hauled up by the disciplinary board. Michelle and I had been lucky enough to have no prior dealings with him but we still knew his name and that was enough to scare the wits out of anyone.
Waltzing in to the room, he slammed the door behind him nearly taking it off the hinges. "Welcome to Business Administration. My name is Mr. Spence and I will be your lecturer until after your exams. I do not tolerate slacking off and anyone who thinks this will be a walk down easy street like your time with Dr Robertson is extremely mistaken. Anyone who does not adhere to my rules and my methods of tutelage will find out soon enough that you do not screw around on my time unless you want to find yourself repeating the entire year,” he barked as he looked out over the students with a sense of disgust and anger.