Nameless - Chapter Four

Katherine gazed at the boy with an interest that surprised even her. There he stood, leaning against the office desk casually. His dark brown hair was swept of his face, revealing clear, pearly skin. His eyes gazed at the secretary sleepily, his lips curved into a smile. 1

Katherine took her sunglasses off.2

He turned to look at her, and involuntarily, she gasped. 3

At the sound, he smiled again.4

The secretary finished shuffling through her papers and looked up at the two of them. “I see you two are getting acquainted,” she said. “It’s fitting, seeing as you are in each other’s home-group.” She stifled a yawn, adding, “We like to shove all the newbies together,” 5

After throwing a careless glance at the secretary, his gaze returned to her. “So you’re Katherine,” he said, his voice was smooth and calming, touched with an accent. 6

“Y-yeah,” she stuttered. 7

“I must apologise for my absence yesterday.” He stepped a little closer to her, extending his right hand in greeting. “Jetlag is awfully terrible.” 8

“You’re not from around here?” Katherine’s eyes lit up as she shook his hand.9

“I’m from London, London England,” he said. "Though you can probably tell from the accent, anyway. I’ve been told it’s quite pronounced.”10

She nodded. “You must hate the weather here.” She genuinely pitied him. 11

“Yeah, it’s bloody hot. It feels as if one moment I was basking by a lovely fire back in cold Mother England, and the next someone’s pulled me into that fecking fire!” He shuddered, fighting back a grin.12

Katherine laughed. “I can’t help but agree.” She looked up at him shyly. “I’ve lived here my whole life, yet my European genes still seem to reject the sunlight.”13

He chuckled in return. “You, me and the sunscreen had better stick together,” he said, tugging playfully at her arm.14

A giggle escaped. “Sure.” She looked up into his shining eyes. A minute ago, Katherine could’ve sworn they were baby-blue. Now, they were the colour of the ocean.15

He caught her staring, and he blushed. 16

“What did you say your name was?” She asked, giving him the opportunity to recover.17

A small dimple formed in his cheek. “It’s James Hemingway.”18

♦♦♦♦19

In the locker-room afterschool, Katherine encountered locker-opening difficulties. 13-0-33, 13-0-33. It seemed so natural for her to twist her lock in that sequence, that she was adamant when it didn’t work. As she yanked at it repeatedly, the clinking noise echoed throughout the room, and those nearby gave her a funny look. Katherine could just imagine their judgemental thoughts. 20

She threw up her hands in defeat, walking off dramatically to the bathroom. 21

Katherine weaved her way through a crowd of obsessive girls hovered around the mirrors in the bathroom, and she flung open a toilet door. Her hand flew up automatically to the right-hand-side, but there was no lock. Just my luck, she thought bitterly. It took Katherine a moment to realise that the latch was, in actuality, on the left hand side of the door. 22

She closed it, and seated herself on the toilet, exhaling. 23

Physically, she was here, in Ferntree Gully, yet her subconscious rejected that thought. In her mind, she was still back at Presentation College, with its right-hand-side-latches and sheer simplicity – back in the city with all her friends.24

It felt like such a cliché – moping in the bathroom – that Katherine felt obliged to storm right out. Everyone was too busy to notice her passing. 25

By the time she returned to the locker-room, everyone had already left – well, almost everyone.26

“Bloody Australian lockers.” James moaned as his lock refused to budge.27

“I know what you mean.” Katherine walked towards him.28

He smiled up at her, squinting in the sunlight. “One last try!” he proclaimed. When it didn’t work, he pushed himself away, saying, “Ah, feck it...”29

“What did you say, James?” As if on cue, Ms Bertuna’s head popped up at the doorway, her piercing, blue eyes narrowed. 30

“I, err –” 31

“He said he should “check it.” To make sure he has the right combo.” Katherine smiled winningly. 32

The teacher’s gaze wandered over to the new speaker. “Well, then, I guess I’ll um, send Mr err, Loosemore out.” She retreated slowly.33

“Thanks.” James turned to face her suddenly, beaming brightly. “Those RE teachers are dead scary. You’re a top girl, Katie.”34

“I’m glad someone thinks so.” 35

“Forget them. If those wankers don’t like you I’ll...” He trailed off as footsteps sounded.36

“You needed me?” Mr Loosemore interrupted, and the moment was gone.37

When Katherine had discovered that she was using her old locker combination, and James that he had to pull the lock if he wished it to open, they went their separate ways.38

Arriving at the house, Katherine felt lighter. 39