Young Writer

Eyemouth Rotary recently held our annual Young Writer Competition. The topic this year was ‘Peace’. Following judging we are pleased to confirm that first place was awarded to Ava Heald, second place was awarded to Anna Campbell, third place was awarded to Freyja Morton and highly commended was awarded to Faith Ritchie. All of the young writers impressed the judges. We are pleased to share Ava’s winning entry with you:

Peace by Ava Heald

I pulled on my school uniform with a heavy heart. Monday again. Why couldn’t every day be a repetition of Saturday or Sunday? I used to enjoy school, when it was about learning and reading and writing but now it was about friends and boyfriends and I’d never fit into that crowd.When I walked into my first class my heart stopped. Chloe and her gang of blonde, small minded robots were crowded on one table conveniently close to the boys table. I kept my head down and tiptoed toward an empty table at the front.

Just as I thought I’d got away I heard my name being called in a mocking way and bursts of laughter ripped through the crowds.

“Rose, hey don’t ignore me you freak!”

I sighed and continued to ignore her. Rising to the challenge only made things worse. I knew that. She had much more people on her side than I had on mine and to survive in school you had to be smart.

“Is it just me or does it stink in here?” One of Chloe’s minions asked.

“Hey leave her alone!”

I flushed in surprise as a deep, masculine voice shocked all other voices into silence. I was scared to turn around but curiosity finally won over and I peaked over my shoulder to see the scene unfolding behind me. Chloe and her gang was staring at the table of popular boys in shock. The boys were laughing behind their hands, all but one. The most dreamy boy there.

He had brown fluffy hair and hazel eyes streaked with orange. Not a bright orange but a look of sunset and beauty.

I stared forward and focused on the lesson. As soon as the lesson finished, I stormed out of the class planning to go to the bathroom and hopefully get away with skiving but just as I opened the door someone stopped me by grabbing my wrist.

“Who’s” I started however immediately shut up when I saw Nathan tall above me.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

He looked at me with such adoration that I was momentarily transfixed by how pretty he was.

Then suddenly we kissed.

I felt enchanted. Happier than I’d ever been.

“Nathan. Why are you with her?”

The only thing that could make me feel worse was Chloe’s snarky voice.

“Chloe shut your mouth. Nobody finds you funny.” Nathan snapped turning on her with a huff.

“Urgh!” She exclaimed, “What has gotten into you?”

“A better life, Chloe. I mean you’re all hung up on the fact of being the most popular person in school that you don’t care how you are treating others in the school who don’t look exactly like you do. Why are there people in school like you? And maybe, maybe I could forgive that all if you weren’t so shallow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about anything but boys and Rose. I mean why are you so obsessed. God why are you like this?”

She looked at Nathan then at me and I could see genuine sorrow in her eyes. Like she wanted to cry.

She walked over to me and put her hand on my shoulder. She never bullied me again. We actually became quite close.

Peace was restored to my school life.