Page 12 of A Twist in Fate
“Don't say things like that to them! They are only kids, and they will tell everyone! And stop calling me that,” she says, hitting my shoulder lightly. Her face is all scrunched up, as if she's angry but it's clear she isn't actually on the inside.
“Sorry, sorry. I was kidding. We are not girlfriend and boyfriend, just friends. Also, sunshine, you cannot stopme from saying anything. I'm used to it now, and honestly, I know you like it.”
She looks away, flustered and frustrated.It only makes me smile more.
“The boys are almost done unpacking, and I just wanted to check in on you guys. Does anyone need any help?” Both Mila and Daisy say no but Violet's eyes are glued to her small stuffed duck. I walk over to her bed and sit on the end of it. “What's her name?” I ask.
“Duck,” she replies, running her hand across it slowly.
“I like it. Original,” I say. I'm hoping she doesn't feel uncomfortable, and I feel like maybe I should move or get up, so I don’t bother her. She is supposed to be here for another seven weeks. I don't want her to hate them.
“His name is duck.” She annunciates on the first word.
“Ah, I'm sorry,” I say, putting my hands up, making her let out a small laugh. “Do you need any help?”
“I’m unpacked, but can you help me put on this duvet cover and my blanket over my bed please? I can't do it by myself.”
“Of course,” I say, standing up and picking up the duvet cover in her overpacked bag. She gets up off the bed and I start to strip the bed sheet.
“Here, let me help,” Ivy says, walking over to us, picking up the other end of the sheet but I pull it away from her.
“You really don't have to, I've got it,” I say, but all I get as a reply is a look, so I let her help me. We put the sheets on which are a soft pink, and her blanket is white and by how heavy it is, I'm guessing it's weighted.
“Thank you,” Violet says, putting her duck on the bed. “Sorry, I just couldn't do it by myself.”
“You're not allowed to apologise,” Ivy says, echoing my words from earlier today.
“That's so true, sunshine, I wonder what extremely smart person came up with that?”
“Shut up Blondie. Let's go to dinner.”
CHAPTER 5
Ivy
Song 5
Mess it up – Gracie Abrams
01/07
Mom: have a great first day!
Dad: love you sweetie.
The first night has been pretty easy, everyone ate food, and we sent them off to bed, after reminding them probably for a hundredth time how the schedule works and what time they need to be up in the morning. As I lay in my bed I wonder about all the things that could go wrong the first day. It ends up becoming a list starting from no one liking me to accidentally pushing someone in the lake. I fall asleep eventually, reminding myself as I do every day, that it will all be okay because I'm excited to do this. That means that when I wake up to a blaring sound of my alarm, it was not as bad as I thoughtit may have been.
I pull myself out of bed and change into my clothes to get ready to go on a run, leaving my necklace on my nightstand. After slipping on my shoes, I silently close the door behind me and head the same way I did yesterday. There is less morning sun pouring through the gaps between the trees, but the air has already started to warm up from the rising sun. I run, briskly, towards the woods that leads towards the pier. I remember to slip in my earbuds and listen to the playlist that I had made a couple days ago, just for these mornings. I would need something to motivate me to get up and go on my runs and the two things I know that will do that is, my music and the amazing sunrise.
The wildlife here is truly remarkable. You see so many things that aren't likely to be in London and everything around you, whether it's a plant or an animal, feels happy to be there. It’s quiet. Content.
I look up at one of the large trees that must've been there for years and perched in the scoop between two branches is a small grey squirrel. He is still and focusing on something just above itself. He looks like something out of a painting. I decide to take out my phone from my pocket and take a photo whilst he stays still, then hurryaway silently before I disturb him.I run slower to send the photo to my parents.
As I reach the pier, the sun looks lower than yesterday but that’s probably because I'm earlier today. I sit in the same place as I did yesterday, breathing slowly and humming to the lyrics of the song playing in my ears. As I look towards the water, I can see Alec swimming through the light waves. The light blue at the top of the skies blends into oranges and pinks. I can hear the buzz of bees and the crickets even with the soft music coming from my headphones. Whilst the air around me radiates nothing but peace, I cannot ignore the palpitations in my heart and slight tingles in my hands. I am excited for today, but I cannot ignore the feeling of doubt within myself. I have only been training for a week and have zero experience in looking after children. I've not even had a single sibling or often made many friends who have siblings, especially when I was younger.
Deciding I need to calm myself down, I get up and turn away from the lake. I walk back through the same trees, taking deep breaths and rationalising my thoughts. No matter how hard I try, the quiet walk, my pep-talk and my shower will not calm me down as much as I want it to. I throw on my light blue dungarees and a shirt wherethe collar is slightly trimmed with lace, an outfit I planned four days ago with Bailey and Abby. They both have been extremely helpful this past week and I'm becoming closer with both of them. It hurts knowing I'm making friends with such pure and sweet people when it's inevitable that I will be leaving in seven weeks. In seven weeks, I'll be needing to move into my dorm and set up everything before school. In seven weeks, it will all end.
After styling my hair, putting on light makeup and slipping into my shoes, I decide it is best to leave my small room and go back outside until it's time to wake up the children. The fresh air might calm me down. I open the door and sit on the small steps, hoping the weird feeling in my stomach settles. I glance down at my phone, checking the time.
