C3

Tai woke up in a grouchy mood on Monday morning. She forced herself out of her uncomfortable bed and rushed into the bathroom before Raiden and showered. She walked out in her towel and smiled at Raiden who was waiting outside, towel in hand. "You better be quick, there's not much hot water left," she said and Raiden narrowed his eyes at her.

"You're mean," he said.

"So are you for making me go to school!" Tai called and walked back into her room. She dressed in a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeved navy top. She pulled on a pair of combat boots and ran a brush through her hair before plaiting it down her back. Once she was dressed she made her way into the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the side and stuffed it into her bag.

"Morning," Raiden greeted as he stumbled into the kitchen. His hair was damp and he rubbed his tired eyes as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Morning," Tai nodded. "I'm going to take the bike today."

"Be my guest, I don't want to be anywhere near that death trap," Raiden shivered. "Do you know how to get to the school?"

"I'm sure I can figure it out," Tai nodded.

"When you get to the school go to the reception."

"Will do," Tai said. "We better get going then if we don't want to be late, not that I care but I know what you're like with being punctual."

Raiden chuckled. "Drive safe, Tai."

"I always do."

"And please try to have a good day," Raiden said, his tone pleading as Tai walked towards the door.

"Impossible!"

"Be nice to people!"

"Even more impossible! Bye Raiden!"

Tai made her way out of the house and climbed onto her motorbike, slipping her helmet on, revving the engine and then speeding off down the road. Tai felt free when she rode her bike, it was exhilarating, there was a wildness to it that she loved. She didn't care that if she fell off she could be hurt, she could potentially seriously harm herself but that didn't put her off. She viewed herself very lowly. After her past, she didn't care if she was hurt. She thought that if she ever injured herself then she would view it as her penance, it would make up for the horrors she had inflicted on people.

*

When Tai drove into the school car park she was aware of many eyes following her and she couldn't help but smirk when she received shocked looks as she climbed off of her motorbike and took her helmet off. She pocketed her keys and adjusted her bag on her shoulder, scanning the crowds of students briefly before heading up the stairs into the school building. She didn't pay attention to the curious looks as she walked through the school hallways. She located the reception easily, finding it empty apart from two students arguing.

"What is your problem!" A girl with curly blonde hair hissed and glared at a blond-haired boy. "I told you to leave me alone! Why can't you freaking listen?"

"Because I want to apologise! C'mon, please let me explain,!"

"Explain? Now you want to explain? I don't want to speak to you, ever! Do you not understand that?"

"I didn't have a choice!"

"Yes, you did!" The girl gasped and threw her hands up in exasperation. "Because of you my best friend is hurting everyday! You've ruined her!"

"I never wanted to hurt her," the boy whispered. His face was pale and he looked at the floor, in shame.

"Well, you have, and you've hurt everyone else," the girl snapped, clearly having no sympathy towards the boy. "I don't care why you did what you did, I don't care about you. I don't want to ever speak to you again. You have destroyed any hope of ever making this right."

"Please-"

"There's only one thing that you could do that would make things better. Make. Him. Leave." The girl spat the last three words out with such ferocity that even Tai raised her eyebrows in shock. "But you can't make that happen, can you? It was nice knowing you, Brandon, now leave me alone, I'm waiting for someone-" The girl stopped talking and glanced in Tai's direction, her eyes going wide and mouth dropping when she spotted Tai who was standing in the doorway. "Oh... Hi!"

"I can come back?" Tai said, raising her eyebrow at the two people. "And you two can finish... whatever this is."

"No, no, no. Don't leave! Brandon was going," the girl said and glared at the boy, Brandon, who scowled and stalked out. The girl stared after him for a few moments before letting out a long sigh and rubbing her eyes tiredly. "I am awfully sorry for that. How much did you see?"

"Enough to know that he's done something major to piss you off," Tai commented.

"To say the least," she murmured, but suddenly a bright smile covered her face and she held her hand out, her personality switching from distressed and annoyed to friendly and bubbling. "You must be Tai?"

Tai raised her eyebrow at the girl's sudden personality change, but she reached out and shook her hand. "That's me."

"I'm meant to show you around and get you settled in here," the girl said with a smile. "I'm Brooke."