There’s a buzz in the air today, there always is the first day back at school as summer stories are swapped, gossip is shared and rumours are started.

Alya, the self-proclaimed extrovert of their little friend group, leads them through the twisting halls of St Benedict's, turning her button nose at the lower years who still have to wear school uniforms. 

Smoothing a hand over her ripped jeans, Peggy grins, their clothes were a marker of their status as Sixth Formers. 

“-And then we went to Greece and I got this ring at the market,” Chloe is recalling the tales of her summer holidays, she holds out her thick hand to show them the sapphire ring. Their little group continues onwards until they reach their first lesson. “And then we went to-”

“Girls,” The shrill voice of Mrs Maddison cracks the air. She appears in the doorway to the art classroom like a phantom dressed in a beige pant suit. “Stop gossiping and hurry along.”

Mrs Maddison has the lips of a cat’s asshole and the wey skin of someone who has been dead for a few hours. Stepping into her classroom, Peggy’s stomach drops. The singular tables have been arranged into clusters of three. Assigned seating, the enemy of the introvert. 

“Right girls, let’s get you seated.” She furrows her brow at her clipboard, oversize cat eye glasses balanced on her long thin nose. “Alya you're with Jenna and Dustin.” She’ll like that, she’s had a thing for Dustin ever since he grew his hair out. “Chloe and Bella…”

At the corner cluster, Mrs Maddison has shoved Attis Jones. His broad shoulders are slumped in his chair, scowling at the desk as if it had spat in his face. He looked up, eyes locking with Peggy.

Heart pounding in her ears, her eyes jumped across the room. Half the rumours in the corridor had been about Attis this morning. Or more accurately his father. People had heard he was back in town. 

“And Peggy,” Mrs Maddison sighed, Peggy had always used a few too many pastels in her art projects for Mrs Maddison’s liking. “Your in the corner with-”

“Where am I sitting?” Slurping on a coffee mug which read Mrs Bouvier across the side Vivienne strolled into the classroom. 

“What are you wearing, Miss Stock?”  

“Clothes. Didn't want to get arrested for public indecency this morning.” 

“Detention.” Mrs Maddison’s voice rose an octave and Peggy caught Alya’s eye across the room, she did not want to be in the middle of this. “Sixth Formers may be allowed to wear their own clothes, but there is still a dress code which clearly states no fishnets or unnaturally coloured hair.” 

“Shock horror.” Drawled Vivienne casting her eyes around the room. “Where am I sitting?” 

“You and Peggy are sitting with Attis in the corner.” 

“OOOOhhhh.” The class choroused and Peggy’s copper cheeks heated. 

“Miss you can’t set Peggy next to them!” Ayla squawked and Peggy is glad she did because she couldn’t find her own words. Not with everyone, including the twisted gaze of Attis and the loathing one of Vivienne, watching her. “She might catch something from Vivienne.” 

“Yeah and the Tank will probably shank her.”