La FACADE

A mulatto girl could be seen skipping about in her classroom during lunchtime, how old was she six? Five? It didn't matter, her skipping about did. It mattered to Ms. Bridge.

"Come in" called the raspy voice behind the mahogany door, Ms. Bridge walked into the office and shut the door behind her,

THE office, the very office she envied, was so different from the school environment, like it was a world of its own, giving home to accolades of different kinds, the aquariums with Mr Cameron's infamous Piranhas, the beautiful patio leading to a mini resort. Linsdey wanted this, all of it, but one could only dream. She wasn't getting this far soon, not even in seven years.

"I assume you came here for a reason Ms. Bridge", spoke the raspy voice cutting through her thoughts.

"Um, yes Sir, our student has shown progress"

"In what way, if I may ask?" The look Cameron spared her was tentative

"Social activity Sir, she seems to be less anxious, I think, Miss Dortmund's idea has proven to be effe..."

"There should be no more word of Dortmund! Take your leave" Ms Bridge still didn't understand his anger towards that lady, nevertheless, she hurried out. She needed to check on Brangwen's progress anyway.

Scurrying to the classroom, her heels clinking "Fifth period, always fifth period, I either missed it or missed most of it."

"Where's Brangwen?" Lindsey asked Riele, a ginger-haired girl with the prettiest freckles she had ever seen, when she scanned the classroom and caught no sight of 'Bran' her nickname for the odd but potential child.

"I gave her a hallway pass, she wanted to use the bathroom"

" Damn it", Lindsey cursed under her breath, she needed to find her and fast.

"Thank you Riele, if I'm asked about, let whoever it is know I took a potty break, okay?"

'As dumb as that might sound, it could be credible' she convinced herself. The little girl nodded with a blush creeping on her cheek, Ms. Bridge chuckled. Riele was embarrassed for her, 'Isn't that sweet'. With that, she stormed out of the classroom her composure broken.

****

Gwen entered the auditorium, man, she hated this place, "And one, two, go"

"Ms. Void" rang the famous voice, "I understand this lecture was scheduled for seven thirty a.m" he ran a quick assessment of her facial expressions, but there was nothing he could decipher. He let out a sigh of defeat.

Professor Logan, a sturdy man with handsome features and a jawline though not chiselled was magnificent, his rather 'infamous' British ginger hair was slicked back and a good chunk of height, 6ft4 was by no means a small feat.

"Any reason why you choose to disturb this class with your tardiness, yet again?" after a pause he continued, "No reason I'm sure, it's 5 minutes to the end of it, make yourself at home" Gwen made her way to a row of seats in front of her when she heard the finish for his sentence "Outside the auditorium, I presume it's more homely there" His cold yet husky voice made some of the ladies squirm.

'Typical' she thought, feeling irritated by the open admiration of supposed 'mature women/feminists' as she made her way out, they made her sick.

The fresh air slapped her face as she made contact with the outside world again, it seemed it wasn't just her face it hit, her composure was yanked away as well, "Swell" she said after letting out a breath she didn't know she had held. Her denim itched at her calf, if only she had listened to her gut not to wear this today. The black mutton woollen cardigan she put on was overlaid with a porpoise coloured T-shirt, the black jean? Still itched.

She tried her best not to swat at it with the college's magazine as she headed to her apartment.

GWEN's POV

It wasn't getting any easier, might as well go bunkers, I have searched everywhere for the goddamn keys, could hear rattling and still couldn't find it, beads of sweat formed at my temple. The park, I'd go there and when my uneasiness lessens, I'd take my time with this, whatever shit it is, having decided that, I made my way to Green Park.

GREEN PARK

The lush trees shadowed the people, it was an abode to all, the homeless, the elite, the beautiful, the not-so-beautiful and the ugly. Its fresh pasture stretched across to an end the lady coming in couldn't see, she took in the environment, her face spared an expression for anyone who cared to look, a pleased one, the beauty of this place would continue to enchant her, Gwen made her way to a secluded area, 'Finally' she relished in the serenity that seemed to affect her, laying on its soft grass she let it all slip away, the thought of it all, shutting those eyes, Gwen couldn't help but think what it'd be like to shut 'em forever.

"Brrr brrrr" her phone buzzed, she let out a hiss, it was 4 pm already.

"Hello Gwen" the cheery voice sang. 'Arthur, why Arthur?' she pondered, Gwen considered the fact that he could need her help, but that wasn't all there was more to this call, certainly there was more, she just had to let it play out.