Chapter Eight

The Precious Necklace

Silence filled the air as ripples of shock invaded Savannahs body. It was as if a tornado had formed in her mind causing complete chaos making her unable to think straight. She didn't know what to feel, what to say but in the eye of the tornado in her mind, she remained calm and collected.

She had been staring at Leon with a neutral expression as he stared back carefully hoping to make out a reaction.

"Please explain," urged Savannah in a voice that was a lot shakier than she would've liked. She couldn't figure out if it were anger, fear or hurt that made her palms sweat and her mouth dry.

"Um... okay...," said Leon, he sounded as nervous as ever, "that day when we were studying in the library, when you went to the bathroom I cleared the table and threw away the scraps of paper on our table... I accidently threw away your poem."

At this point Leon was staring blank-faced at his knees trying to get the story over-with so he could explain himself.

"When you came back, you sort of jumped to the conclusion that Natalie took it, and I didn't really have the heart to tell you it was me after you burst into tears and bolted home."

The further along the story he got, the angrier Savannah began to get with him, but she bit her tongue and tried to shake off those feelings until he finished explaining himself.

"After you left, I searched the bin and found the poem, still in perfect condition, Natalie caught me and sort of got the wrong idea even after I tried to explain to her what happened.

"Because of the twisted way her mind sometimes works, she thought I was disposing of your poem because I didn't think it was very good, which of course wasn't true... isn't true.

"So I gave up trying to convince her, so naturally, she then blackmailed me, told me that if I went to her birthday party instead of yours she wouldn't tell the entire school that I think you're as 'pathetic' as Natalie thought you were."

'What a great way to spoil such a great night. Why is he telling me this now?!' protested the voice in Savannah's head.

"Savannah, I hope you understand why I did it?" asked Leon as sympathetic as ever,

"because you trusted Natalie's judgement over mine?" retorted Savannah, sounding angrier than she intended, Leon opened his mouth to retort but closed it again and stared at the ground.

"Why didn't you just tell me? save us from all that happened afterwards," said Savannah calmly, after a while of silence and blank staring,

"the only reason I did it was to avoid problems with you... but it's ironic how I tried to protect you, but I ended up hurting you and I'm so sorry for that." Leon said honestly.

Savannah couldn't wrap her mind around the whole situation. She spent four years believing a story that turns out to be false and way more complicated than she could've imagined.

She tried not to let the fire of anger she had towards Natalie that burned out years ago ignite once more. Natalie was trying to get between her and Leon, and she was successful, Savannah only wished she could see right through her back then as she could now.

She felt a sense of closure, finally understanding why Leon abandoned her for Natalie, it wasn't out of disloyalty but out of love which made her heart flutter. She couldn't really blame Leon for doing what he did, Natalie has always been a manipulative wrench, even as a fourteen year-old.

Savannah so badly wanted to ask Leon why he was friends with people like Natalie, but quickly realised that tonight was neither the time nor the place to address it.

"You had good intentions, that's all the matters... you were a little stupid with your approach, I've gotta say, but I can get over that," smiled Savannah,

"it was eighth grade... we were all stupid," laughed Leon, "but I hate when there's bad blood between us,"

"Lee, there will never be bad blood between us. But why'd you bring this up? I mean, why now?"

"Once we figured everything out and built bridges, I was afraid that once I confessed that it was me who threw out your poem... you'd want nothing to do with me, so I've always put it off, but the guilt has been eating me alive." Confessed Leon, looking like a weight that was long-overdue has been lifted from his shoulders.

"Also, I thought I'd give it back to you," he said while reaching for something behind him,

"give what back to me?" asked Savannah confused as she tried to recollect the conversation she just had in an attempt remember what Leon might've mentioned.

"This," Leon said solemnly handing her a piece of laminated paper. Savannah reached out and immediately recognised her poem she wrote four years ago.

Her handwriting was a lot thicker and messier than she remembered as each word was traced onto the pale blue pace of laminated paper. Her poem was short, encased with a whimsical border outlining the text.

Savannah felt nostalgic and in incredible disbelief, her work created by her fourteen-year-old self, which she thought she would never see, yet read again, was in her fingertips.

"You didn't think I'd throw it away did you?" grinned Leon, "I hung it on the doors of my wardrobe... you know, it gave me comfort in times of great difficulty, it always reminded me of you and I'll miss it awfully... but I think it's time to return it to it's rightful owner... rightful creator."

Savannah looked up at Leon and smiled, she couldn't find the words to express to Leon how much he meant to her, she looked down at the poem and began to read it, to her surprise Leon spoke along, remembering it word for word.

"For all the weirdos, the outcasts, the loners and freaks

The ones who are too scared to move or speak

The ones who get picked on for being him or herself

The ones who are hurting but never ask for help

You are strong, beautiful, powerful and bright

You are the stars and the moon so shine your lights

You've got a lot to offer, and you matter

I'm speaking the truth, not trying to flatter

So stand up proud and tall, with you head help high

Don't reach for the ceiling when you can reach for the sky

There are always going to be forces pulling you down,

But you're all kings and queens with jewel crowns"

Savannah started cackling wildly, as Leon chortled along. The poem, although brilliant, didn't move her as much as it did when she first wrote it. She guessed that in those four years, she'd learned the lessons her poem was trying to teach, making it useless to her, yet sentimental.

"It's 10:30pm Sav, I better get home, don't want Miss Mewdan up my ass tomorrow morning about being late," yawned Leon. Together they packed up their late-night picnic and bade each other goodnight.

Savannah made her way upstairs. Just as she was about to lie down to sleep, at the corner of her eyes, she saw something glisten at the end of her bed. She approached it and examined the piece of jewellery.

It was a beautiful gold necklace with a round pendant in its centre with her name intricately carved on it. It was breathtakingly beautiful as she held it up towards the light, taking in the the beauty and preciousness of it.

There was no card or tag to indicate who had left the marvellous gift for her, it was clear that someone had come in her room when she was outside with Leon and placed it on her bed, the only question was, who?

By the morning Savannah had made up her mind that Leon had gotten Ben to place the pendant on her bed while they were outside, as it clearly wasn't from either of her parents when they were so surprised by it themselves.

Leon couldn't help himself sometimes, buying extravagant gifts for Savannah in particular was almost impulsive for him. She placed the necklace around her neck where it dangled just below her collarbones. It was so delicate and mesmerising, it elegantly brought beauty to anything Savannah could possibly wear, even her preppy school uniform.

"Not so fast! uniform checks are in order I believe," snarled Miss Mewdan after the first period bell rung. Savannah desperately tried to hide the necklace inside of her white collard school blouse, she had stupidly forgotten that flashy jewellery is a violation of the uniform standards.

"Brown!" bellowed Miss Mewdan, "front and centre!"

Savannah reluctantly approached Miss Mewdan, her palms sweaty and her heart pounding. She was going to get called out and it wasn't going to be pretty.

"Ah... what is that around your neck Savannah?" asked Miss Mewdan in a sinisterly calm tone, making Savannah's knees tremble and lips quiver.

"I-It's a... gift," Savannah said flatly. "No, I believe it's a violation of your school uniform," spoke Miss Mewdan while holding out her palm, every inch of her face covered with pure and utter disgust yet a hint of pleasure lurked in the outer corners of her mouth.

Without another word, Savannah put her books on a nearby desk, took off her necklace and placed it on Miss Mewdan's pruned palms.

"You are to collect it Friday afterschool from me at my office,"

'Friday?! really?! that is five whole days without the gift that I'd barely had for a day!' protested the voice in Savannah's head, she would say it out loud if she wasn't terrified of Miss Mewdan or what she was capable of. She also thought it was pointless to argue with Miss Mewdan as it was a fight should would never in her wildest dreams, win.

With that in mind, Savannah simply nodded and left Miss Mewdan's sight feeling devastated and disappointed in herself for not being more careful.

"Sorry about your necklace Sav, it looked pretty special," said Leon patting Savannah on the back as they sat in the garden at lunchtime.

"I don't blame Miss Mewdan, I should've been more careful. You'd know how special it is wouldn't you?" asked Savannah while winking at Leon accusatorily while he stared back in confusion.

"Savannah I haven't got a clue what that was supposed to mean," he said as he bit into his sandwich. Savannah jokingly rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh, "that necklace was a gift from you wasn't it?" she asked.

Leon shook his head with furrowed eyebrows. "I wish it was me mate, but glamorous jewellery isn't really my thing." Savannah was now more confused than ever, who could've given her that necklace, and why didn't they identify themselves?

"So it wasn't your parents? are you sure?" asked Leon

"no, I mean, a gift like that, they'd want to gloat, you know how mum and dad always compete on giving the better gift."

"It wasn't Ben... where would a fourteen-year-old get that kind of money right?" commented Leon as he fiddled with his thumbs, "and Ben would gloat and brag too, not to mention make me his personal slave," laughed Savannah.

"Are you sure it wasn't Mike?-"

"It definitely wasn't Michael," Savannah said bluntly, clearly still irritated by her older brother. "Even if I wanted to believe it was him, it can't be, he left after dinner, before the necklace was placed on my bed... so unless he could be in two places at once..."

Savannah was starting to get a bitter taste in her mouth, she wished she didn't feel such anger towards Mike, she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Mitchell approach.

"What's going down, Savannah Brown?" Mitchell greeted Savannah in a way that peculiarly reminded her of Ben. Savannah gave him a polite smile as he greeted Leon and sat opposite to them.

"I'm having a dinner party Friday night to celebrate... adulthood. I'd like for you two to come," he smiled as his deep crescent-shaped dimples grew.

"Mitch, mate, you turned eighteen in January," said Leon as he played with his hair,

"So?" asked Mitchell as he threw his hands in the air,

"So its May," retorted Savannah laughing at the pair of them.

"Yeah Jan was not a good time with dad becoming the principle and all, didn't really have the time to y'know... anyway I want you both there," he finished as the wind blew on his already messy hair.

"Sure no problem," answered Savannah, feeling elated about actually being invited to an event by someone other than Leon.

Leon stared at Savannah in pleasant surprise and nodded to Mitchell. "Wonderful, I'll see you next period Savannah, later Lee."

The week had gone by quickly, before Savannah knew it it was Friday, 7 minutes before the end of the last lesson of the day. Savannah had finished her work before everyone else and asked Mr Wilson if she could leave class early to see Miss Mewdan. After a reluctant 'yes' Savannah packed up her books and was on her way to Miss Mewdan's office.

She knocked on the door and a familiar voice answered, "come in."

Miss Mewdan's office smelled like a mix of dead flowers and moth balls, her walls were covered in shelves filled with books and her desk was satisfyingly neat.

She had a picture of herself with someone Savannah guessed was her daughter who looked to be in her mid-thirties in a beautiful frame which was situated at the end of her desk.

"Good afternoon Miss Mewdan... um I was wondering if I could... if I may please receive the necklace which you confiscated from me on Monday?"

Miss Mewdan hadn't looked up since Savannah walked through the door, she looked busy marking papers, crossing things out and scoffing under her breath.

Without looking away from her papers she opened a draw, retrieved the necklace and held it out to Savannah, who gratefully took it.

"Thank you," spoke Savannah in the politest voice she could master, she turned around to walk out, "if I do as much as see you wearing that necklace, in your school uniform, I will take it and you'll never see it again," spoke Miss Mewdan in a voice that has terrified Savannah since the seventh grade.

Savannah skipped to her locker feeling elated about getting back her necklace and excited about Mitchell's dinner party that evening. She was packing up her books when she was greeted by Mrs Bennet, her Ecology teacher and year-level co-ordinator.

"Hi Savannah, do you have a minute?" smiled Mrs Bennet,

"Sure," answered Savannah, having no clue on what this could possibly be about.

"Somebody has... informed me that you are not taking part in an extra-curricular activity?"

'Crap!' thought Savannah as she guiltily nodded her head,

"I don't need to tell you how important it is to be a part of the activities this school tries to offer, especially in your final year. I must say, I am a little disappointed in you Savannah, I know participation hasn't exactly been your strong suit, but I expect more from you."

Savannah stared at her black school shoes in guilt waiting for her to finish speaking. Mrs Bennet heaved a sigh, "I've made arrangements to have you join the environmental sustainability club.

Your lab partner Mitchell Jones is the co-ordinator of the group, see him for further details, you start as of Monday."

Mrs Bennet stared at Savannah with sincereness, "Savannah please don't let me down... don't let yourself down," she smiled and walked away, leaving Savannah leaning against her locker with her foot in her mouth.

'Who could've possibly ratted me out to Mrs Bennet?' thought Savannah, another question that she doesn't have the answer to.

One thing she knew was that she was tired of having too many questions and not enough answers.