The Luna's Fate

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

I absolutely loathed school. Of course, I knew that I had to be here but sitting through class pretending to learn was an absolute bore to me. I knew all the material that Mrs Fraser was teaching and probably the lessons coming for the rest of the year, and I hated that I had to pretend to be stupid and go along with whatever she was babbling on about. 

I looked down and realised that I had been absently doodling on my book, two large dilated eyes were staring back at me. I jumped and slammed the book shut before anyone saw. It was the same every time, I would get bored and start drawing but it would always be the same creepy eyes staring back at me. I don’t know what it meant or what was happening in my head but it frightened me. 

The bell shrieked loudly and I gathered up my books and hurried out to my locker. I fumbled with the code on my lock a few times before getting it right. “Stupid thing”, I mumbled to myself. I shoved my books in and grabbed my sandwich and drink bottle, ready to catch up with Sierra for lunch. 

As I pushed my lock closed, someone grabbed my arm and started dragging me down the hall. It took all my strength not to break their hand until I turned and realised it was Sierra. She looked panicked yet thrilled at the same time. 

“Where are we going?”, I asked trying to break free of her grasp.

“To the shops, silly”, she giggled, like I should have known. My mind raced trying to figure out what exactly called for an impromptu shopping trip. Then it all clicked, the school dance was tonight. Perfect.

We hurried out to the car park and into Sierras old beaten up VK Holden. You could see that it used to be bright red, but now it was a faded pinkish colour with flakes of paint missing and small dents coving the front bumper. The fabric seats were stained grey with pieces of thread hanging out the sides. It would have been a nice car in its day but now it was far from pretty. 

Sierra had been so excited for the dance since she got her drivers’ license last week and that meant we would be able to go together without needing either of our parents as a chauffeur. We parked quickly and made our way to the little dress boutique that was our favourite shop for everything to do with dresses. We wanted to look hot and sexy but also beautiful at the same time, and with the shop keeper, Ella’s help, we would be ready to dance our socks off in no time at all.

“Hey girls, I assume you’re here for your dresses?’, Ella asked as soon as we were through the door, a bright smile on her face. 

“Sure are”, Sierra chirped, the excitement apparent in her voice.

“I’ve got a few things here that I thought would suit you, and save you time from trying on a million dresses”, Ella giggled, directing us to the change rooms.

We spent a few hours trying on dresses that we liked from the racks and then tried on the ones that Ella had chosen out for us. She knew us too well, picking out a short lilac piece for Sierra and a more modest knee length, black cocktail dress for me. Ella had been a grade above us in school but graduated last year and then decided to have a gap year to save money to go to university. She was tall and thin and absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Most of the boys at school had spent their high school years drooling over her, praying that she would notice them, but of course she didn’t have any interest in being in a relationship with any of them. 

As we walked up to the counter to pay for our outfits, Scarlet came through door, her eyes connecting with Ella’s in a way that would make any single person green with envy. Ella had met and fallen in love with Scarlet on her trip to Sweden after graduation and Scarlet made the decision to move back to Australia with her so that they could be together. 

“Hey Scarlet”, Sierra and I said at the same time.

“Hey girls, off to the dance tonight, are we?”, She smiled, walking around the counter to wrap her arm around Ella’s waist.

“Yeah, we are just heading off now”, I grabbed the bags off the counter smiling, then Sierra and I turned to leave. We didn’t like interrupting their love-fest. “Have a great night”, Ella yelled, just as we walked out. 

“They’re so cute together”, Sierra laughed, almost skipping along.

“Yeah, but doesn’t it make you a little jealous? Seeing them all cuddled up and looking like they’re hungry for the other?”, I asked her, feeling a little deflated.

“Hmm, I see what you mean but I already feel that way towards Alex, I just need to make him see me that way”, she winked and kept up her joyful prance towards the car.

Sierra dropped me off at my house, leaving me with the reminder that I had exactly two hours to be ready to leave. I sighed heavily as I got out of her car and made my way up the path to the front door. I pulled my key from my pocket but the door opened before I could get it into the lock. My dad pulled me into a firm hug, “welcome home kiddo”. 

“Can’t. Breath. Dad”, I stuttered, trying to get air down into my lungs. He let go quickly and smiled his wide toothy grin at me. He always seemed to be too happy to see me, too eager to know how my day had been. I wasn’t really the type to be open and tell my parents every detail of my life, not that I didn’t commend their efforts to make me feel like I could tell them everything, but that I didn’t want them to know how completely boring and uneventful it actually was. 

I put my keys on the hall table and made my way to my room, ready to force myself to get all dressed up for yet another boring dance. No doubt the few boys- that seemed to pay attention to me at school- would try and force me to dance with them but I had no intentions of being passed around like a children’s toy. I wasn’t desperate for a brief fling or to be ogled over by drooling, hormonal teenagers. If I wanted anything at all, it would be the love and companionship that Ella and Scarlet had. Not in the same way obviously but I wanted someone who looked at me like I was their world, like they couldn’t possibly live without me. I wanted to be the only woman their heart would ever beat for.