The Stories of Silvia Silverman: Chapter 1 ~ Blue Autumn

This article contains banners that link to affiliate sites and I will make a commission if you purchase from them. For more info, view my disclosure.

Chapter 1

It was the second week of junior year. As I approached my locker, I was surprised to find a small envelope sticking out of the green door. I looked around to see if I could catch the culprit as I pulled it out of the slightly bent metal siding. Maybe it was a mistake; I was new to the school and had yet to make a friend. I flipped the sealed envelope over to see that it was addressed to “Blue.” I felt my face flush as I nervously brushed my galaxy blue hair away from my face. The scent of bleach still lingered from last night’s dye job. I dug my pointer finger into the seal to break it, revealing the note.

Blue,

You have been assigned to The Colours. Initiation begins on the quad at 4pm. Don’t be late.

~Crimson

The note seriously confused me. My blue hair had gotten me noticed after all. But who were The Colours? Why was I assigned? And who the hell was Crimson? I scanned the halls, wanting to catch the eye of whoever stuffed the note in my locker. The stifling, white-washed walls of the recently renovated building made me ache for the familiar chipped paint and musty smell of my old school. The hallways were alive with students laughing, talking and running to class, but no one looked my way. A blatant reminder that I was a lone wolf separated from the pack. I held the note in my hand a moment longer, deciding if I should ignore it or take it seriously. I thought I was invisible at this school, but someone had noticed me. I hoped I could trust the person responsible, but my heart betrayed this thought as it pounded in my chest. I folded the note and tucked it into my purse. Whatever this was, I was going to find out.

I thought I could ask one of my lunch mates about the note. But when I stopped at the table we had all shared the week before, it was completely empty. I pulled out my phone to check the time. It was noon. Ten minutes into lunch, only 20 more until the bell. I stared down at my lunch tray of pizza and applesauce and felt a pang of insecurity. I couldn’t sit alone. It was fine on the first day -- when loads of students were still unsure of their seating arrangements -- but now I would stick out and look like a loser.

Normally at least three people had a packed lunch, saving the table, and the rest of the group would join after buying theirs. My concrete gray eyes scoured the bustling cafeteria, willing anyone to make their way to the table. I realized that I looked like an idiot just standing with my tray, staring at a table instead of sitting. Why was I being so paranoid? Possibly because I understood loneliness all too well. My shy disposition had always kept others at arm's length. But, maybe I was just the first to the table today. I rolled my shoulders back, trying to shake my anxieties off. I sat down and nervously placed my phone next to my lunch tray.

I was scrolling through social feeds and chewing on my rubber rectangular pizza when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned instinctively turned towards the right. No one was there. Then I felt another tap on my left shoulder. I swiveled that way and saw a boy with shaggy auburn hair smiling at me.

“People always fall for that,” he said. I was still staring at him, dubious. “I’m Austin, by the way.”

I was still staring. Words were not my strong suit and I had barely spoken at school since it started. “I…umm,” I stuttered. Austin’s smile fell. I willed my brain to function, but his beat me to it.

“Look, I’m sorry if I scared you or something. I saw you were alone so I thought I’d invite you to sit with me and my friends.” He pointed to a table outside on the quad. It was a perfect summer day, and the perfect escape from the looming, white hospital walls. He was being polite and I was still in an embarrassing daze.

“Sure!” I said too loud, getting looks from the table next to mine.

Thankfully, he laughed. “Okay then, follow me.”

I picked up my tray and followed him out onto the quad. Picnic tables were scattered on the grass and the sun instantly warmed my skin. I was glad I wasn’t alone anymore but now I had to figure out a way not to be an awkward mess around his friends. Luckily, they were all smiling.

“Hey! I’m Savannah,” a girl with shoulder length amber-highlighted hair, and a warm smile welcomed me.

A chorus of others introduced themselves and I felt instantly better, my own smile forming. “I’m Silvia Silverman. I just moved here from Connecticut,” I said.

“Damn, that name rolls off the tongue.” A boy who looked older than me with gel-styled blonde hair and bright blue eyes was staring. The left side of his mouth was turned up in a smug smirk.

Austin shoved him and said, “don’t mind Eric, we try to ignore him.” Eric feigned offense by clutching his heart and falling backwards into the grass.

Savannah rolled her eyes but her smile still lit up her face. “It’s true, Eric’s an idiot,” she gave me a side-eye look and leaned towards my ear, “I know he’s cute, but he’s a total frat star. Don’t be fooled by the eyes.” His eyes were an amazing Caribbean blue, but I noted what she said. I wasn’t sure what a frat star was, but I could already tell he craved attention.

I was finally feeling comfortable when suddenly, I remembered the note burning a hole in my purse. I began to ask Savannah as the bell to end lunch rang. “So, I got this note in my locker today,” I started. Her eyes widened. I chalked it up to the bell ringing, surprising her, and continued. “It said I was assigned to The Colours and to meet at the quad after school for initiation.”

Savannah was pulling her book bag over her shoulder, the smile gone from her face. “You should go,” was all she said and then she was through the doors, heading the opposite direction I needed to go for my next class. Austin was next to me then, walking with me toward the Fine Arts building.

“I’ve got Art Appreciation next, what about you?” he said.

“Choir,” I mumbled, my eyes focused on the cafeteria doors.

“Cool! Your class is right next to mine, I’ll walk with you.” Austin talked the entire walk to Choir, but I wasn’t listening. I couldn’t get Savannah’s wide-eyed look out of my head.

The final bell rang at 3:45, which gave me plenty of time to get to the quad. The note had said not to be late, but I couldn’t imagine how anyone could be. The school wasn’t that big. So, by 3:50 I was sitting at the same table I’d shared earlier at lunch. I took in my surroundings, waiting for some sign that something was going to happen.

To my right, was the student parking lot, where I saw my silver sedan and a crowd of students making their way toward their own cars. To my left, was a queue of vehicles for car-pooling. Students whirled by me in slow motion. What if the note was a joke? I was starting to panic, afraid of embarrassment by people that didn't even know me. I told myself to stick it out. It wouldn’t be weird to stay 15 minutes after school. I pulled out my phone for something to do. Finally at 4 on the dot, I looked up from my phone to see at least thirty people spread out on the grass or sitting at the other tables. Everyone was silent, which is probably why I hadn’t noticed them arrive. Then, I heard a girl’s voice echo through a megaphone.

“If you did NOT receive an invitation, find another place to be,” the voice sounded vaguely familiar. I looked in the direction of it, and saw that it was Mariah, the girl that had invited me to lunch last week, but had blatantly ignored me after I sat down. A group of three girls at one of the tables all stood up, which caused Mariah to yell, “now!” I felt embarrassed for them. They didn’t seem to mind though, they just laughed.

“Bitch!” one of them yelled, causing more catty laughter. Now I felt bad for Mariah, I could feel the embarrassment surrounding her like fog. They seemed to have had their fun because they started toward the parking lot, tossing their perfect hair behind them.

“Now,” Mariah breathed into the megaphone, “let’s begin.” I hadn’t noticed before, but there was a group behind her, and they all moved single-file, to the middle of the quad. When she stopped, the line behind her moved to either side: ten to her left, ten to her right. I was nervous again, fingering the note in my purse. Was it too late to leave? As if on cue, Mariah stared directly at me, then to the rest of the group. “Welcome to the initiation of The Colours.”

Enjoying the story? Follow my journey on Twitter @kalahmclaughlin and on Facebook facebook.com/themidnightwriter13 (blog) and facebook.com/kalahmclaughlinwrites (fan page)

#story #fiction #YA #YAfiction #blogger #blog #blogstory #highschool