Different (2 page)

"Your dad plays the violin?” She couldn't visualize the burly ex-miner playing the violin.

"Only at home and he hasn't performed since it mum died. I've got a tape of the music on my dresser, but I forgot it, and there isn't enough time to go home and fetch it"

It was a shame about Mary's music,
Jay thought, and then she had an idea. Pulling out her mobile, she phoned Mary's home number and breathed a sigh of relief when her father answered.

She told him about the contest and Mary's missing music, and his voice seemed husky when he said he'd be at the school in five minutes.

Jay hurried through the halls main doors and sat by her grandparents who whispered their congratulations on her performance. A couple of minutes later the music teacher came up to the microphone. “Now we come to our final competitor, number sixteen, Mary Slymond.” Miss Hollinghead said, and led the smattering of introductory applause.

Mary, looking nervous, walked up to the microphone, faltered and began to sing. She wavered slightly and then abruptly a single violin took up the melody and Mary was back on track. The profound haunting quality of her voice fused with the strains of the violin to perfection, and when her father walked on stage playing, Mary's face lit up. The power and clarity of her voice filled the hall and ultimately, when the last lingering note finally faded away, the audience erupted. Everyone, parents and children alike sprang to their feet applauding and Jay saw Sophie was among them. Mary, appearing extremely embarrassed, left the platform with her father and it took Miss Hollinghead a couple of minutes to calm everyone down again.

"Thank you very much, everyone,” she said. “Now it's time for the vote. If you would all use the voting slip on your programmes, some of our students will collect them from you. While they are being counted, tea, coffee and other refreshments are available in the small dining hall. It will take about fifteen minutes to count all the votes, so if you could return to your seats in twenty minutes we should have the results."

"I'm going to see Mary,” Jay said, to her grandparents. “I'll see you at the end."

"All right, love,” Gran said. “Mary can sing a bit, can't she?"

"She's absolutely wicked,” Jay agreed. “She'd walk that TV talent show."

Her granddad seemed surprised. “I didn't think that was your type of music."

"It's not, but with a voice like that who cares what she sings. Nobody's going to knock someone with a voice like that."

Mary and her Dad were talking to Miss Hollinghead, but when Mary saw Jay approach; she said something to the adults and came over.

"You were brilliant!” Jay said.

Sophie came marching over to them. “What's this about Alex and Carl being in our changing-room?” she asked.

Jay looked at Mary who shrugged to show they hadn't heard anything about it.

"Someone said they'd seen them coming out,” Sophie said. “Alex told her they had seen some guy snooping around backstage and went in to take a look, but they weren't supposed to be back here either.” She smiled at Jay. “Look, I know they gave you a hard time over the contest, and I'm sorry about that, honestly. It was a mean thing to do and ever since you told me how you liked my singing, I've been thinking that perhaps I've been listening to Alex too much. He says he loves me but..."

"It's ok,” Jay said, surprised by Sophie's apology. “I meant what I said. You were great on stage."

She laughed, “I know, but not as good as, Mary. You were absolutely sensational,"

Mary blushed. “Thanks,” she said. “You don't mind?"

"No. It's funny but ever since Jay caught me coming off-stage, things feel different somehow. Anyway, life's too short to carry grudges."

"Why did you ask about the Alex and Carl,” Jay asked. “Something's bothering you isn't it?"

"Yes, I'm wondering if they were hiding in one of the cubicles and spying on us while we were getting changed. It's the sort of thing they'd do."

"The pair of lousy creeps,” Jay said. “Oh, I'm sorry Sophie. You and Alex are..."

"Not anymore,” Sophie said. “He's blown it, this time."

"You can do better than him, anyway,” Jay said. “Even I could do better than those two."

"What if they were spying on us,” Mary asked. “They'd have seen..."

"Yes, they'd have seen us undressing but so what? That's all they're going to have to remember us by,” Sophie said. “They're history as far as I'm concerned."

It wasn't a great surprise when Mary won the contest and the award. Sophie came second and Jay was third.

"Dad says we ought to have a combined birthday and celebration party tomorrow night after school,” Mary said. “You'll come won't you, Jay?"

"Of course I will. I'll sleep over if you like. Are you going to invite David?"

"Yes and a few of our other friends."

"Great, it sounds ace!"

"Right, I'll see you tomorrow,” Mary said. “Dad's waiting for me over there and your grandparents look as though they're waiting to go too."

"Right, see you tomorrow,” Jay said.

Carl and Alex waited for Sophie by the pedestrian shortcut that ran between the houses of their estate. She came hurrying in their direction carrying her backpack, but slowed her pace when she saw them waiting for her.

Alex wondered why she was looking so mad when she finally reached them.

"It's not my fault you didn't win,” he said quickly. “I didn't even know Slymonds could sing.” He slid an arm around her shoulders intending to kiss her, but she shrugged him off.

"We're finished,” she said. “I can guess what you and Carl were doing in our changing rooms."

Alex flinched.
How had she learned about the photos?

"You were spying on us getting changed,” she said. “Well, I hope you got a good look because that's all you'll be getting from me. We're finished. I'm dumping you!”

She didn't know!
He breathed a sigh of relief. “You've got it all wrong,” he said. “We saw this guy coming out and we..."

Sophie cut him off. “You're a liar, and must think I'm stupid!” She pushed past him, but he grasped her coat, stopping her.

"No one dumps me,” he growled.

Sophie laughed in his face. “They do now."

He didn't know what to do. He wanted to bash her. Hurt her, but most of all he wanted her to be his again. But somehow knew he couldn't, that Sophie meant what she'd said. They were finished. He felt as though his insides were tearing apart, and his anger at the thought of her being with some other boy, made him suddenly want to hurt her. He was strong for a seventeen-year-old and he shoved her hard into Carl who automatically grabbed her.

"Hold her for me,” Alex snarled, seized a handful of her hair and yanking her head back, he drew back his fist; intending to smash her face in so badly that no one else would even look her

"No,” she cried.

"Yes,” Alex said.

But Carl grabbed his wrist. “Pack it in,” he said, releasing Sophie. “Are you crazy? Do you want to get us done for GBH?"

Alex jerked his head back just in time and Sophie's fingernails missed his eyes and clawed his cheek instead. He doubled up in agony when her knee rammed into his balls, the pain was incredible.

"Bastards!” she hissed. “I'm going to report you two to the police!” She snatched up her backpack and ran.

Ignoring the pain, Alex half straightened and went after her, shouting threats of what he was going to do to her when he caught her. Carl was following along behind, shouting at him to let her go.

Alex ignored him and continued the pursuit. He was breathing awkwardly but the pain was lessening with each stride, he was gaining on her. All notions of making up with her had gone. Now he wanted to crush her, to make her cry, but most of all he needed her to suffer.

They were almost at the end of the walkway when his hand brushed the back of her coat. She ran faster out into the road and then—as though in slow motion—a car hit her.

If it hadn't been for her belt, Mary would've been catapulted out of her seat when her father swore, and stamped on the brakes. She saw a dark shape flying over the roof of the car in front of them. It took her a second to realise that the thing now lying in a crumpled heap on the opposite side of the road, was a body. There was a shriek of brakes and the squeal of rubber and as if in slow motion, a bus seemed to slide over the crumpled form

"Oh no!” Mary cried out in horror, but her dad was already half-out of the car.

Mary was quick though, flinging open the car door, she ran over to where her dad and some other people were crouching around the victim. It was a girl and her legs were pinned beneath the front wheels of the bus.

"Someone phone for an ambulance,” Mary's dad snapped. “She's alive."

Someone bundled up a coat was about to slide it under the girl's head but her dad stopped him.

"Better not to move her,” he said. “She may have a broken neck."

"She just ran out in front of me!” A woman appeared from behind the first car, tears were streaming down her face. “There was nothing I could do."

"There's an ambulance on its way,” a young man said and turned to the weeping woman. “I saw her run out of that alley way. There was no way you or the bus driver, could have missed her."

The bus driver staggered out of his cab took one look at the girl trapped under his vehicle, and fainted.

Mary, who was edging closer and hoping there wouldn't be too much blood, froze when she saw it was Sophie who lay on the ground. It looked as though she'd landed on her face, which was covered with cuts and abrasions. Blood trickled from her nose and there was a huge bruise just above her right eye.

"Sophie!” She rushed forward and knelt beside the unconscious girl and took one of her hands between her own. “You'll be all right, Sophie,” she said. “You'll be all right."

"Let me through, I'm a doctor.” The man was elderly but efficient and within seconds he was examining Sophie. He listened to her heartbeat and when he removed his stethoscope, he examined her eyes. “She's bleeding internally and I suspect she's suffered some damage to her brain. Her vital signs are very weak.” He turned to her dad. “It might be best if your daughter waits in the car,"

Her dad nodded, and Mary reluctantly let go of Sophie's hand.

Her dad led her firmly back to their car. “Wait here, until the ambulance comes,” he said, “I'll need to talk to the police."

"Is Sophie going to die, dad?” Mary asked, fearing the worst.

"I don't know, love,” he said. “You could try praying for her.” He rejoined the doctor and in the distance Mary heard the wail of a siren. She sat shivering in the car, not from cold, she realised, but from shock. Mary took out her mobile and with a trembling hand pressed a pre-dial button.

"Hi Mary,” Jay said. “Are you ringing to gloat?"

"No, Jay. It's Sophie. She's just been hit by a car. It's awful and she's trapped underneath a bus.” Mary said, and started to cry. “There's a doctor here,” she sobbed, “and I think Sophie's going to die. He says she's got brain damage and internal bleeding. The ambulance hasn't arrived yet. She looks so pale though, Jay. It's awful. She was hit by the car in front of us and the bus..."

"Whereabouts are you?"

"On Lexington Street, you know by the post-box."

"I'm on my way,” Jay said and hung up.

Mary jumped when Jay tapped on her window a few minutes later. Climbing out of the car again, Mary wondered how on earth she had got there so fast, they were at least a twenty minute walk away from where Jay lived with her grandparents. Before she could ask a strange look came over her best friend's face and Jay hurried over to where Sophie lay.

The ambulance and the police arrived simultaneously, and one of the policemen tried to bar Jay's approach.

"Stand aside!” The voice came from Jay's mouth, but Mary knew it wasn't hers. This was a voice so authoritative that the police, ambulance men and even her father moved to one side. Jay straddled Sophie and stooping, she grasped either side of the huge tyre that was resting on Sophie's legs and heaved. Incredibly the bus tilted away from her. Mary heard the startled cries of the onlookers as Jay lifted the huge wheel up off the road, tilting the bus even further.

Once Mary's dad and the doctor had dragged Sophie clear, Jay released the tyre. Even as the wheel hit the road causing the bus to rock on its shock absorbers, she dropped to her knees and clasped one of Sophie's hands. A blue light poured from Jay's fingers. It travelled along Sophie's arm over her shoulders and head then flowed downwards until Sophie was completely encased in a pulsating blue light.

Mary stared in shock, trying to take in the incredible things her best friend had done, but then Jay seemed to collapse. As though awakening from a trance the ambulance men rushed towards Jay and Sophie.

"No!” One of the policemen cried. “That light or whatever it is could be dangerous."

The men hesitated but Mary's dad pushed past them.

"Dangerous?” he asked bending and scooping Jay up into his arms. “Are you going to let a bit of light stop you from helping that girl?” He carried Jay over towards Mary and lowered her onto the back seat of the car. “Take care of her,” he said and turning, he walked back towards Sophie. Ignoring her luminous covering, he squatted and gently stroked her hair. “Now then, who's going to give me a hand with this girl?”

The ambulance men looked at each other, shrugged, and then carried a stretcher over to them. One of them gingerly lowered his hand through the glowing blue shroud and felt for Sophie's pulse. Apparently satisfied, he nodded towards Mary's dad.

"Her pulse is okay, this stuff seems harmless,” he said and turned to his colleague. “We'll need a collar and a head brace. Come on, let's get his girl in the ambulance and to hospital."

They worked quickly and at last Sophie, who was still encased in the strange light, was lifted onto a stretcher.

"I'm sorry but you can't move her!” A police officer wearing sergeant's stripes barred their way, two other officers joined him. “That stuff, whatever it is, could be radioactive or something,” he said. “My instructions are to keep you isolated until a rapid response team arrives. You're all under quarantine restrictions."