บททั้งหมดของ Played In Thirty Days : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Saints Academy indeed lived up to the direct opposite of its name. The school had no one left to be called a saint. Absolutely no one! Everyone was either sleeping with someone, doing drugs, being part of a gang or juggling all together.It was a little wonder Leigh's former principal had recommended her to a school like this. It was a school for the socially delinquent. You either join the tide and be carried away by it or drown trying to go the opposite way or very well just stay clear of the muddy water. The school itself, was painted the colour of muddy water. Fits. Leigh thought as she walked through the crowded halls. She hadn’t been able to take a good look at the exterior of the building as her mother had practically dragged her reluctant ass all the way in. From what she could tell though, the school was a three story, red bricked building that looked like those ancient places she only saw in movies. Though inside, it boasted of modern day decorations and met up with demands

Finally, classes were over. It was time to go back to her somewhat normal life as a teenager. One who didn't have to pretend to be someone else to the whole damned school. Leigh hurriedly packed her bags and skipped out of the school grounds amidst the flood of students. It was early November yet the sun still shone bright and hot like it had no intention of paving the way for winter. Then again, Leigh thought, raising a hand to wipe the droplets of sweat trailing down her forehead, the weather here was never predictable. She couldn’t wait to be out of the fiery heat and into her much cooler and quieter room. Students here at Muddy were loud. Scratch that, extra loud and lousy. As if to prove her point, a group of boys ran past her nearly knocking her down, shouting and laughing at the top of their voices. Yeah, Leigh affirmed to herself, she so couldn’t wait to be back home. Most of all, she couldn't wait to get on the phone with Thea, her best friend and fill her in on all the d

The house where the party was hosted was a huge contemporary mansion that stood out proudly among the neighboring houses and flanked by the tall heads of Oak trees. The blaring music which could be heard from several miles away had Leigh sympathizing with the many eardrums in the process of being damaged and preparing her own eardrums too to be damaged. Willis turned around the circular driveway several times before finding a spot in between two poorly parked cars. Then led the girls up and into the party proper. It was barely past seven and the place was already packed with practically everyone from school. One could barely take two steps without colliding with someone walking sloppily or being pressed against bodies of people who were either making out or dancing. Most people were already in the large outdoor pool, not caring that they were splashing water everywhere. Others were hanging around in groups, drinking a liquid substance from a red cup which Leigh suspected was booze an

Apart from the wild number of balloons and flowers on her doorstep, Leigh had not heard nor seen hide or hair of Willis since the party on Saturday night. Now it was Monday morning which also meant school. Unlike most high school teenagers who always grumbled about school and not wanting to go to school, Leigh actually loved attending school. The very act of waking up morning every morning, preparing for school, attending classes, taking notes, doing assignments, projects, pop quizzes, everything. She enjoyed the routine and rigor of school life and it didn't bother her in the least that she was attending school with a whole bunch of pretenders and assholes who only cared for themselves. Leigh had never for once in her sixteen years of schooling, encountered bullies. She had always stood straight with her head held high and given whoever crossed her path a piece of her mind which was a lot. The last guy who had tried, was much to her satisfaction, not going to be walking for the next

By the time Willis got to the car, Leigh was nowhere to be found. For a second, he felt a cold reeling sensation lick at his gut. Had she left? She had been really willing to let him take her to that ice cream shop. Had she changed her mind and then decided to leave? He had not known her long enough to know if she would take spontaneous actions like that but he really hoped she hadn't. Maybe she had been tired of standing in the sun and had gone to find shade somewhere.  Yes, that had to be it he thought, going around the length of his Chevy with hopes that he might get a glimpse of wherever she went to. "Looking for someone?" Willis almost jumped at the sound of her voice. He had not heard her come up behind him. She really had quiet feet he was thinking now as he turned to face her. She was standing with her back to the sun, her face cast in the late afternoon shadows. The wind had blown her hair out of its ponytail so that it was now dancing f