Laila Solo Closed

[font=note this]September 21, 2019
To: Ana Fox, Scotland (?)
From: Laila Adams[/font]

[font=note this]
Ana,

I'm doing my best, but I just don't understand any of this. Why on earth did your letter come with an owl? I know those boarding schools are probably old-fashioned, but why deliver letters with birds? Why are we writing letters anyways? I've sent you hundreds of text messages, but you're not replying. Have you lost your phone? Is there a number I can call? I want to talk to you.

I'm not sure if you're actually going to get this letter. You didn't say where exactly you are. I just wrote Scotland on the envelope, I hope your owl will remember the way back. (Where on earth did you get an owl, Ana? Do they live in that school? Is it your pet? It looks cool, but it's making a huge racket. I think it's annoyed at me for taking so long to write this. My mum is downstairs and she keeps calling up telling me to stop making such a noise. I don't think she'd approve of live owls in the house.

What do you mean, you're "not allowed" to tell me anything? Have your parents told you not to do that? Why would they? I thought they liked me, they seemed pretty friendly last time I came over. What harm is there in us being friends?

I researched boarding schools in Scotland to find out where you are, but all of them where ridiculously expensive, and I can't see how your parents could afford this. There's definitely no chance of me joining you at that school - Mum could never pay for it. I wish I could, though.

I really, really miss you.

Can't you find a way to tell me about it? Nobody would ever need to know... It kind of hurts that I'm stuck here and completely unable to find out where you are and why. 

What do you mean, you'll find a way to get back? I'd love that, I want to see your face again, talk to you in real life. Can you tell me more about that? I can help you. We can make up a plan together. Just don't do anything stupid. Don't try to get yourself expelled!! I could maybe talk to your parents? I could get some of the others, Luna and Aaron maybe. They miss you a lot and they've asked me to tell you so. (Liv is angry that you went without saying anything. She's right, I have to say. I wish you'd told us what was going on. But she misses you too. She's just bad at admitting that kind of stuff, you know her.) Well, what I wanted to say, we could go to your parents and show them how much you're missed here. Maybe they'll let you come back! It can't hurt to try, can it?

And yes, it's still the same with Miss Allen and homework. We have to write a comment and a short story until next week. (I still have no idea what my story's supposed to be about. Any ideas?!) What's the English teacher like at your new school? Are they strict? What about the other teachers? What kind of stuff do you have to do? What d'you mean when you say the curriculum is different?

School is so boring without you. There's a new girl, Sylvie, who's sitting in the empty seat next to me now. Keeps trying to tell me to stop drawing in class and pay attention. Honestly, I'm paying more attention than she is, since she keeps reprimanding anyone who just looks like they're THINKING of misbehaving. Yesterday, when Aaron turned around because she was whispering, she scolded him for not looking at the blackboard. Who does she think she is? I'd swap her for you anytime.

Lots of love,
Laila

PS: What was that thing you wrote before the "lots of love"? There's a big scribble right over it, it's been crossed through so much that you almost ripped the paper. Just kind of made me curious...  [/font]

[font=segoe print]September 25, 2019
To: Laila Adams
From: Ana Fox[/font]

[font=segoe print]Dear Laila,

I just can't tell you anything... Look, I'll come back as quick as possible, and then we never have to speak of this place again. Please don't hate me for it. Please. Believe me.

There's no cell phone reception here - I've tried. They don't even have computers, I've searched the whole school wanting to write an e-mail. They're really old-fashioned. Lots of traditional stuff and all that. The owls are just supposed to add to the vibe. I hope you didn't get into trouble because of the owl screeching around in your house, I think I've picked a quieter one this time. (Try stroking it if it does make noise. They like that, maybe that will calm it down.) 

You wouldn't want to be here anyways, I'll just do my best so that I come back. The fees are OK, I don't really know how much, but it must be affordable. My parents couldn't pay for it otherwise. (Maybe I could fake a letter telling them the cost has increased and everyone who can't afford it has to take back their child! I'll think about it.)

I haven't thought of trying to get myself expelled, but really, what does it matter? I don't mind if they throw me out. I'll only use that as a last resort though, Dad wouldn't be too happy. I also think that they only expel students if they do something really awful. Kill someone, something like that. I'm not planning to commit murder. 

Thanks a lot for wanting to go to my parents. I don't deserve a friend like you. I wish we were more than friends, though. Mum and Dad wouldn't change their minds, whatever you do, so don't waste your energy trying. I'll just appear in Dublin and it'll come as a suprise to them, they'll have to let me in then. (Maybe I could live at your place for a while if they want to send me away from you again... No, sorry for asking. It's too much to expect. Shouldn't have written that.) 

We don't really have English class here. The school specializes in other subjects. We still have to write a lot of texts though, I'll get a lot of practice. Teachers are OK, I guess.

Good luck with Miss Allen and that new Sylvie girl! Don't let them get to you. 

I miss you too, Laila. I miss you so much that I can't put it into words. I want to get back more than anything in the world.

Lots of love,
Ana[/font]

[font=note this]October 1, 2019
To: Ana Fox
From: Laila Adams[/font]

[font=note this]Dear Ana,

I miss you so. It's been one month since we've last spoken. It was so crazy - at 8 am in the morning, we were talking, we sat on that beautiful tree in your garden and laughed and joked (even though you did seem a little quiet) - and in the evening, I came over to ask you if you wanted some of my homemade mousse au chocolat - did your mum and dad tell you that? - and your parents said you were gone. Just like that. I wouldn't see you till the Christmas holidays. I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a prank. I ran into the garden and called up to your bedroom window, I climbed the tree again and looked in, but it was empty, your bedsheets gone, your wardrobe wide open and no clothes hanging in it. I cried all night that day.

Have you been crying too? Your last letter was kind of damp in some places and the ink had run all over the place in some areas, but maybe the owl just flew in the rain. (The last one was quieter, but it was really exhausted. I had to give it some of Paws' old cat food. It didn't seem to like it, but what was I supposed to do, feed it a live rat? Also, I can't believe that you're talking about stroking an owl like it's the most natural thing in the world. I think this school has changed you. Why won't you tell me anything about it?)

It sounds really crazy what you're telling me. What kind of school doesn't have computers? And no cell phone reception at all? Next thing you'll tell me there's no landline.

No matter though whether they have advanced technology or not, I want to be there with you. I want to share your experiences. I want you to be able to tell me everything. I don't want to be separated from you, Ana...

So, how are you going to escape, then? If you get out of the school, you still have to get from Scotland to Ireland, and no one in their right mind would let an eleven-year-old board a plane. Please, please, please tell me if I can help you in any way. And of course I'd let you stay at our house! I'll convince Mum to allow it. I mean, what's the alternative? Letting you go back to Scotland? NO WAY.

I'm disappointed though that you're not telling me anything about the school. I wouldn't tell anybody else. Nobody would find out! Don't you trust me enough?  

Aaron and Luna send their love. Liv is still angry, but she misses you a lot.

Lots of love,
Laila [/font]