Removing the Mask Read online

  Crouching down, I hold my hands up near the hot metal of the electric heater, savouring the warmth that clings to my skin. I’m about to stand up and leave when the phone rings.

  The temptations too much and without a second thought, pick up the corded phone from its cable.

  A woman says hello on the other end and I listen to them repeat themselves three times before speaking.

  “Why are you calling me? You’re not one of my customers, who sent you to me?” I say with the best raspy voice I can manage without a dry throat.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Excuse you? Excuse me! Why are you phoning me?”

  The doors cracked open slightly from where I left it open and I hear the sound of Miss Sears heels on the hard floor of the hallway. Placing the phone softly onto the desk, I stumble across the room until I’m behind the door, the best hiding place the office can give me.

  She waltzes into the room sending the door flying and bouncing painfully off my nose. With her back to the door, I take the small chance I have and duck out from behind the door before legging it out the room and down the hall. My boots sound louder than usual on the hard floor but I know she hasn’t seen me because she hasn’t called my name. Just seeing my back, she’ll know it’s me. I think I’m the only girl who goes around wearing a hoodie with skull and cross bones on the back. Apart from the Goths that like to break the rules, except the difference between mine and theirs, my skull is smiling. I’ll have to change into the blazer I stuffed into my bag this morning, but not until a teacher says so. Because I’m McKenzie Prince, I’m always pushing my luck.

  I finally stop running when I come to the building that houses my form tutor. I’m one of the lucky ones that register in the art studio. I may have gotten lucky with the room, I just can’t say the same for the teacher. Miss Jacy is the full time art teacher, but she doesn’t get in till after registration leaving us poor saps to get greeted every morning by Miss Brake; the stand in teacher that looks like she’s been smacked in the mouth with a baseball bat.

  Bored already, I make my away inside till I’m standing in front of the door marked ‘art studio’

  Written in fine black pen underneath is, ‘enter at your own risk.’ Smiling, I don’t think and open the door.

  As soon as I opened the door, I regretted it and now I know why.

  I don’t think I’ve ever been so shocked and grossed out at the same time. This is something that I wasn’t meant to see, or any student for that matter. He’s married, she isn’t, I think the word to describe this is cheating.

  The door didn’t squeak like it usually does, so they’re completely oblivious to they’re audience as they continue to…snog.

  Shuddering, I reach for the handle, knowing this is something I don’t need to get caught up in, but then he grabs her butt and I can’t stop the snort, laugh that comes out of me. This is the most awkward situation I have ever been in and I make a point to be in them!

  Miss Brake and Mr Alden break away from each other, expressions turning horrified when they see me. Mr Alden’s the first one to catch his composure.

  “Kenzie can you come in and shut the door please.”

  Nodding, I ease the door shut behind me before clearing my throat. “It’s McKenzie, not Kenzie.”

  He only nods although I don’t think he even heard what I said. Eyes locked with Miss Brake’s.

  “Can we pretend this never happened? I didn’t see anything because you guys weren’t doing anything sorta thing?” I say speeding things up, because clearly this is where this conversation is going to end up.

  The relief on both their faces is evident and I nod. “Cool…I’m going to uh, go…any place other than this room.” Turning, I speed walk out the room and down the hall straight to the girl’s loo before they can say another word.

  As soon as I know I’m alone, I sit up on one of the sinks staring at the floor. My hand reaches for my phone, I need to tell someone. But as I stare at the screen, I don’t know who to text. I know I won’t get a reply from Poppy, she hasn’t responded to any of my emails or text for the last month. The entire time she’s been in New York.

  My eyes land on a familiar name and contact picture. Maybe…

  Me: u r nvr goin 2 believe me

  Jimmy: try me ;)

  Me: I just wlkd in on my teachers xxx

  I wait for a reply but just when I think I’m not going to get one, my phone makes the sound of a gun going off.

  Jimmy: just 2 make things clear u mean snoggin?

  Me: yep.>.<

  Jimmy: Oh ma damnitg2gbutwetxtlatr?

  Taking a second to decipher his text, I quickly send him my reply before stuffing my pocket. Now what?

  ***

  Tossing two pieces of gum into my mouth, I lower my hand just as the teacher looks my way. He’s the worst teacher in this entire school. He looks like something out of a cartoon and smells of something out of the sewer. He has no sense of personal space what-so-ever and gets stark raving mad about absolutely nothing. That’s exactly why I put a pin in his chair. I’m just waiting for him to sit on it.

  Coming round, he hands a sheet to every student. With me being at the very back in the very corner, I’m last. Stepping forward, he slides a sheet on my desk. His BO assaults my senses without mercy and I bluntly cover my nose and mouth with the sleeve of my shirt making him frown.

  “Everything alright Kenzie?” His gorgonzola cheese resembling breathe brings a lump to my throat. Never have I met someone who has such a highly fermenting odour. It’s sickening.

  “McKenzie and no, just feeling a little queasy.” I say swallowing thickly.

  “Don’t throw up in my classroom.” Glowering at his back, I wish I’d stuck a bigger pin in his chair. I wish the smell would go with him but it stays in the air like natural pollution. Then again nothing about him is natural.

  “Complete the sheet and then we’ll move on.” His towering form moves toward the desk before lowering onto the chair. He jumps up with a very bad word slipping from his lips. His whole body starts twitching, the sign that he’s losing it.

  Giggles and sniggering erupts around the room but quieten when his gaze reaches them. When he looks at me and sees my triumphant grin, he glares before gesturing to the door.

  “Get out my classroom.” His voice booms so loud I have no doubt the people next door heard him.

  I spend the rest of the afternoon dodging teachers and listening to music, anything other than going to the head’s office and class. I don’t even consider going home, knowing what’s waiting for me there.

  I want to text Jimmy, but he’s probably in class and he’s always been the one to work hard. I wish I was like him.

  Mum doesn’t speak to me when I get home, or the next morning as I’m getting ready to go to school. I find myself hurrying dad up so we can leave. If I thought things were strained with mum before, it’s nothing compared to what it’s like now.

  I had friends until they skedaddled off and left me; Leaving me my family, and even that’s breaking beneath my feet.

  Dad and I part our separate ways, while he makes his way to the building where the staff room is, I head straight for the main building. I’m so absorbed in my own thoughts that I don’t notice the piece of paper stuck on the door until its right underneath my nose. I stare at it before stepping inside and yanking it off the window to get a better look. Looking around, I spot them everywhere.

  Cutting down a hallway, I find them posted all over the walls, doors and even spot a few stuck to the ceiling. My eyes are drawn to the picture that takes up most of the posters space. Miss Brake and Mr Alden in the same state I walked in on them in. I read the note at the bottom again. ‘Try walking in on these two.’

  Whoever wrote the note purposely wrote it like my handwriting. I’m being framed!

  Chapter Five

  “McKenzie, can you leave so I can talk to your parents?”

  “Are you actually asking me? Do I have a choic
e? Because if I do, then no because whatever you’re about to say is about me so I am entitled to hear it.” I purse my lips and raise my eyebrows in challenge and watch the displeasure flicker across Mr Jones’s face.

  “Mc-”

  “Why am I complaining?” I ask as I pick my bag up off the floor. “I’ll be outside.” I say rushing out the room before they realise what I have in mind.

  I shut the door behind me before jogging until I get to the front entrance, which isn’t far from the head’s office. My hand clasps the smooth, cold handle when I hear the voice.

  “You’re going to get expelled you know?”

  “If I do, it’s only because you framed me.”

  “Oh yeah? Can you prove that?”

  Turning, I face Gina in all her polished glory. “I think I’ve seen this in a movie before-” she takes on a slightly amused look as she looks at me. “- but the whole thing was shit.” I say in complete honesty.

  Her face hardens and I shrug, turning to leave until Katy comes through the door leading to the main office.

  “Oh goodie, it’s the vandal.”

  My teeth grind together and I take a deep breathe. Katy being the student I’ve got into the most fights with.

  “Considering the amount of tables I’ve drawn on, that’s nothing new. Don’t let it get to you sweetie we all have our moments.”

  Her frown only makes me smirk.

  “Did you just call me…dumb?”

  “In more than a few words yes, why? What you going to do about it?”

  “You’re such a bitch McKenzie.”

  Shrugging, I push the door open. “You’ve called me worse.”

  ***

  “Oh Georgia don’t be so dramatic!”

  “It’s true Archie! I have tried everything!”

  I roll my eyes, here we go again.

  Having heard enough, I stand up and get changed out of my uniform. I run a brush through my hair before pulling my beanie on and the hood of my hoodie up over it.

  I don’t want to hear about my options only being boarding schools or the disappointment in both my parent’s voices as they talk about me. I’d actually done it this time, I’d gotten myself expelled. I don’t want to sit in this room listening to them argue in the study directly below my room.

  So I’m not going to.

  My door opens silently but the floor boards creak as I step out my room.

  “McKenzie, don’t even think about it or-”

  I slam the door, blocking out his voice.

  “For flip’s sake! Why can’t anything ever be easy?” Dragging my hands across my face, I take a deep breath, feeling even more so like a caged animal. Sighing, I ease my door open again. My ears strain to hear what they’re talking about but all I can hear is their voices, not the words they’re speaking.

  “No!” Mum’s voice sales through the air and I dash toward the stairs and stop on the first step. Please. Please. Please.

  I pray that mum’s protest covers up the squeaky floorboards and when dad starts talking I know they don’t know I’m picking the lock on the imaginary cage.

  The carpet covering the stairs softens the sound of my footsteps and getting down the stairs and into the living room is too easy. Making a beeline for the kitchen, I take my iPod out my pocket before plugging my earphones into my ears. I catch the end of Heatwave by Wiley and Ms D before it changes.

  The cold air bites at my skin but it’s better than being prisoner in a room I wasn’t meant to leave, let alone the house. Splashing through the puddles left on the pavement, my thoughts go to where it all started. Before my computer was filled with documents filled with words, chapters, redrafts and more redrafts. We were in the living room, Dad, Roger and I. Mum was out with Trisha because it was Sunday, but she was having dinner out so we had to fend for ourselves; which meant we ordered Chinese and dad went and picked it up.

  “What’s the matter McKenzie? You can’t be bored!” Dad’s sarcasm doesn’t stray my focus from the ceiling or more specifically the smudge on the ceiling.

  On my back, I lay on the rug staring at the smudge wondering how it got there or who put it up there.

  “I’m not bored. Just trying to figure out how that smudge got on the ceiling.”

  Roger scoffs, “We were playing football remember? You kicked it up to the ceiling, it bounced off and broke the lamp on the side board.”

  My lips twitch as I remember the day it happened. Blinking, I scoff. “You were the one to kick it up to the ceiling! I threw it to you and said ‘we should take this outside!’ After you broke the lamp, you agreed!”

  Dad chuckles while shaking his head, his gaze never strays from the telly’s screen.

  Sitting up, I pluck a prawn ball out the carton on the coffee table before stuffing it into my mouth whole and chewing the battered goodness.

  “Leave off Kenz. Go write a book or something!” Roger gestures towards the door, as If I’m just going to do as he says. What am I a dog? Should I bark and wiggle my backside?

  Dad erupts into loud laugher so hard I think he’s going to hurt himself.

  “What’s the matter with you?”

  Smiling he shakes his head. “It’s just the thought of you writing a book, it’s almost comical!” Roger starts laughing away with dad. Looking between them; I try hard to not let on how offended they are making me feel.

  “You don’t think I could do it?”

  His focus shifts to the telly and he deliberately doesn’t answer my question.

  Standing up I shrug casually, “Whatever.”

  I walk out the room and up the stairs to my room where I boot up my computer and start brainstorming for ideas about the book I’m about to start writing.

  I miss those nights. Roger, dad and I. We used to spend the evening watching whatever there was on the telly together. Roger and I used to bicker all the way through but I secretly loved our banter. Then he went off to college and now I’m mum and dad’s main aim of attention. Lucky me.

  The toe of my boot sends an empty can rattling across the pavement bringing me back from my thoughts. I lift my head in time to catch myself on the lamp post before I walk straight into it.

  The black paints chipped under my hands and I wonder why they painted it in the first place.

  Something draws me to take an earphone out. When I do, I know why because I can now hear the laughter coming from the park to my left.

  My feet had brought me here, I wish they hadn’t.

  Tilting my head, I see Daniel, Greg and Nathanial; three players of my now old school’s football team.

  Slipping my cold hands into my pockets, I walk towards them straightening my shoulders as I do.

  “What’re you three cackling about like evil little old ladies?” My attitude comes in full swing and I feel myself rising for my second fight today.

  “Feeling a little absent today are we Kenzie?” Nathanial smirks.

  Shaking my head, I tuck my hair behind my ear.

  “Can you blame me? I just got kicked out of school.”

  Greg’s grin fades into a look of concern. “You alright?”

  I scoff before smirking at him. “You don’t know me very well do you?”

  He frowns and Nathanial helps him. “She’s the girl that put the paint in Gina’s hair, dipstick. She also put the pin in Chuck Ups chair. In other word, little throws her.”

  I can see Greg thinking about what to say and I jump in before he can.

  “What’s with the football kit?” I gesture down to their football gear.

  “We’re playing some school from…somewhere. I don’t remember the town but we are so going beat them!”

  I roll my eyes at Daniel’s enthusiasm; he’s the one that never shuts up in class if I remember correctly.

  “I’ll watch; anything to not go home.” I wince at what’s waiting for me when I get home; a whole plate of a long conversation with a side of yelling.

  The cold starts replacing the heat that’d en
gulfed my body while walking, leaving my teeth chattering at the chill.

  “Is Jack team captain today?” I stutter through my lively teeth, feeling like a fool.

  “No, he got caught in Mr Jones’s office, spray paint in hand.” Daniel smirks while the other two stare in amusement to my teeth chattering state. “I’m in charge today.”

  “Oh no, that can’t be good.” I say jokingly while wrapping my arms around my body.

  “Whatever. Would you like my jacket?” Ignoring Daniel’s sarcasm, I nod.

  “Please.”

  He laughs before gesturing for me to follow him. Greg and Nathanial start throwing insults at each other and I just roll my eyes ignoring the two of them.

  He leads me over to a pile of bags behind one of the football goals and picks up a Superdry jacket with an orange lining. I’m cold, do you really think I’m going to care what colour the inside is?

  He tosses it to me and I make quick work of sliding my arms in and zipping it up. Someone behind me puts the hood up over my own and I turn to find Greg.

  “Thank you.” I smile a real smile, making him grin.

  He wiggles his eyebrows at me and I chuckle. Pushing his shoulder as I go past, I walk to the swings to sit down. I don’t see much point walking all the way over to my bench when I’m closer here.

  “Oi! Kenz I want my jacket back later!” I wave in Daniel’s direction, not looking up from the stone on the ground.

  I swing back and forth gently and put my earphone back in to watch them warm up.

  The team they’re going to play is on one side of the park, with them on the other, an invisible divide between them.

  Looking down, I scan through my songs before deciding on Hurts like Heaven by Coldplay. I look up when I see movement out the corner of my eyes and watch one of their players walk over to a football resting against the roundabout. I can only see the back of his head and his spiky gelled brown hair.

  He scoops up the ball before turning around and looking at me, a smile slowly taking up his features. Hello hot stuff.