The journey back to the Compound seemed much shorter than the drive there.
Maybe it was because Nelly and I spent the entire journey laughing.
At one point we’d laughed so hard over my failed attempt at pronouncing the name of a fancy coffee that Nelly had to pull into a lay-by because she couldn’t see through the tears in her eyes.
“I swear,” she laughed, wiping her eyes, “you’re going to fit in perfectly here.” “I still don’t know why it’s called a frappuccino.” “Neither does anyone else.” We both burst into another fit of giggles.
It felt…Easy.
Like we’d known each other for years instead of days.
As the familiar gates of the Compound came into view, I found myself smiling.
Home.
I never thought I’d have somewhere that word actually meant something.
Nelly parked the car outside the main hall before climbing out.
“We survived.” “We did,” I laughed.
“And we only bought half the shop.” She opened the boot, revealing enough shopping bags to stock a small wardrobe.
“Maybe a little more than half.” I shook my head.
“I still can’t believe all of this is mine.” She smiled warmly.
“You deserve every bit of it.” As we carried the bags across the square, I noticed Peter and Jace sitting on one of the wooden benches outside the dining hall.
Peter was leaning forward, listening intently to a robin hopping around at his feet.
The tiny bird chirped furiously.
Peter frowned.
“No…Jasper I told you yesterday I’m not asking her that.” The robin chirped again.
“I’m not!” Jace looked up from the book he’d been pretending to read.
“You arguing with birds again?” “They’re very opinionated.” “So I’ve noticed.” The robin flew onto the bench beside Peter and chirped loudly.
Peter sighed.
“No I’m not embarrassing myself.” “What are you talking about?” Jace asked.
Peter looked around innocently.
“Nothing.” The robin chirped again.
Peter folded his arms.
“You are unbelievably nosey.” Jace laughed.
“I’d love to know what that bird’s saying.” Peter smiled.
“You really wouldn’t.” “Afternoon, boys,” Nelly called.
Jace looked up.
His eyes widened slightly.
“You’ve been gone ages.” “We may have got a little carried away,” Nelly admitted.
Peter looked up too…Then froze.
Completely.His mouth opened slightly.
He forgot to blink.
I was wearing my new black skinny jeans, white trainers and a fitted forest-green jumper.
For the first time in my life, my clothes actually fitted me.
My hair had been left loose, falling naturally over my shoulders.
Peter stared.
The robin chirped loudly.
Peter didn’t react.
The robin pecked his trainer.
Still nothing.
Jace slowly turned towards Peter before following his gaze to me.
A grin spread across his face.
“Oh…I see.” “Peter blink”, Said Jace laughing.
“Huh?” “The bird’s gone.” Peter looked down.
“Oh.” “So it has.” Nelly bit her lip, desperately trying not to laugh.
I suddenly became very aware that everyone was looking at me.
“What?” Peter rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“You just…”He paused.”…look really nice.” My heart raced.
“Thank you.” Jace stood up and walked over.
He looked me up and down before smiling.
“You look..
like a girl”.
“i am a girl,” i laughed “i know, i know, i’ve just never seen you so….you know….”.
i smiled at him “i know”.
Nelly began rearranging the shopping bags.
“I think we might have overdone it.” “Might?” Jace laughed.
“There’s enough clothes there for a football team.” “I’ve been deprived for sixteen years.
“i joked”.
Nelly shrugged.
“We’re making up for lost time.” Peter picked up one of the bags.
“Need a hand?” “Please.” Within seconds the four of us were carrying bags towards the boarding house.
As we crossed the square, a loud crack echoed overhead.
Everyone looked up.
A teenage boy standing on a roof had accidentally launched himself several feet into the air.
“Oh no…”He windmilled his arms desperately before landing safely in a hay cart below.
A girl standing nearby folded her arms.
“I told you not to practise your super jump near the rooftops.” The boy poked his head out of the hay.
“I was aiming for the training field.” Tony walked past carrying a clipboard.
He looked at the boy.
Looked at the roof.
Looked back at the boy.
Then quietly wrote something on his clipboard.
Peter leaned over.
“What did he write?” Tony read it aloud without looking up.
Please practise enhanced jumping from ground level.
“The boy gave Tony a thumbs-up from the hay.
“Fair enough.” Without missing a beat, Tony carried on walking.
Peter laughed.
“I swear that man’s rule board is going to need its own building one day.” “I’m running out of room already,” Tony called over his shoulder.
We finally reached my room.
Shopping bags covered almost every inch of the floor.
Nelly clapped her hands together excitedly.
“Fashion show!” “Oh no,” I laughed.
“Oh yes.” She pushed me gently towards the bathroom.
“Go and put the dress on.” “The dress?” “The dress.” “I’ll wait.” I disappeared into the bathroom, carefully changing into the blue dress we’d bought earlier.
I slipped on the matching shoes and looked in the mirror one last time.
I barely recognised myself.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.
The room fell silent.
Peter looked up first.
His jaw almost dropped.
Jace smiled proudly.
Nelly folded her arms with a huge grin.
“I knew it.” Peter cleared his throat.
then said nothing “Erm i think Peter needs rebooting”, joked Jace “Lilah…” “You look…”He smiled softly.”…beautiful.” I felt my cheeks burn.
Before I could reply, Jace walked over and gently adjusted a loose strand of hair that had fallen across my face.
“There.” He smiled.
“Now you look ready for the Blue Moon Festival.” Nelly nudged me.
“I told you the blue one was the right choice.” I looked around at the three smiling faces in front of me.
A few days ago…I’d owned nothing.
Nobody.
Now…I had friends.
New clothes.
A home.
And for the first time in my life…A future worth looking forward to.
I smiled.
“I can’t wait for the festival.” Peter grinned.
“Neither can I,” peter said, still eyes glued to Lilah.
Jace laughed.
“Its going to be so much fun.”