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1034 Words
Autumn walked out of the classroom after her English lesson had finished. “I see you didn’t take my advice.”
She looked up straight at Miss. Strum.
“Well!”
“I was told to be myself.”
“Who by?”
“My shrink.”
“Mr. Greyson! Impossible!”
“No, Mathew Harding.”
Her eyeballs gauged. “Excuse me!”
“Mathew Harding.”
“Right.” She snapped. “I’ll see you tomorrow and no piercings.”
“Sure.”
The head mistress stormed angrily away.
“Well, it looks like you pissed her right off.”
She turned to a sandy-haired boy who stood face to face with her wearing the same ridiculous uniform as her. “Yeah.”
“Ignore her, we all do.”
She looked at him to say “Who the hell are you?”
“Connor, Connor Harborne.”
“So you finally show your face after bunking off?”
“I did.”
“Is that wise? You’ll have your balls strung up.”
He laughed. ’I like you.”
“Autumn.”
“Well, Autumn, how’s about we do lunch, and we can hang?”
“Are you digging on me?”
“Maybe, guess you’ll never know unless you hang with me.”
“Fine.” She sighed.
“Cool.” He said, placing his arm over her shoulders.
She looked at him.
“Wha!”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, lunch waits for no one.”
They walked down the corridor.
Mr. Greyson opened his office door to an angry Miss Strum. “Mr. Grayson.”
“Miss Strum, how can I help you?”
“A word.”
“Sure.”
“Mr. Harding.”
“What about him?”
“Why is he taking Miss. Cleveland?”
“I thought it would be a good experience.”
“No more.”
“Why?”
“We all know his background.”
“He’s promised.”
“Promises count for nothing in this world.”
“He’s a good kid. Give him a chance. He can get through to her, they connect.”
“Fine.” She sighed, defeated. “But, if he screws up.”
“He won’t.”
“Make sure he doesn’t.” She said, storming off.
Autumn and Connor sat down after choosing their lunch, a pork roast which looked barely cooked. His friends sat opposite them, all shaggy haired and pierced. “Guys, this is Autumn, Autumn. These are my bros Ashby, Jae, and Harry.”
She smiled.
“Hay.’
“I said Autumn could hang with us, she’s just joined us and needs to get in with it.”
“What, are you desperate?”
“No. I can do this dump on my own.”
“Gee girl, you're stroppy. You on a home game?”
“No, and wouldn’t you be if you had to up and leave to come to this dump?”
“Hay, this is our dump and it aint that bad for your info.”
“Sorry!” She said, sarcastically.
“Just ease up on her guys, okay, the first days are tough. We’ve all been there. Make her feel welcome.”
“Sure, my apologies.”
“Mine too. Just every time I have friends I seem to lose them.”
“You won’t lose us, will she guys?” Connor said, looking at his friends for reassurance.
“Nope, unless we die or something.”
She looked at them. Her completion paled, her eyes glazed.
“Are you okay Autumn?”
Her eyes retracted and she looked at Connor. “Yeah fine.”
“You sure? You seemed a little phased out for a while there.”
“Yeah I’m fine.”
They ate their lunch in silence not to upset the new girl.
“Come on guys, let’s have a smoke before lunch is over.”
They all pulled themselves up. “Are you coming Autumn?”
“Yeah sure.”
She pulled herself up, Connor placed his arm round her as they walked out of the dinner hall. Mathew walked into the dinner hall staring angrily as she caught his eye in Connor’s company.
“So do you smoke?”
“Yeah.”
“Here.” He said, passing her a cigarette.
“Thanks.” She said, taking it off him.
He lit a cigarette. They blew the smoke out.
“So where do you come from Autumn?’
“The city.”
“Mmm, it must’ve been a big leap coming somewhere so quiet.”
“Yeah.”
“So why did you leave the city?”
She looked at them and her expression changed.
“Okay, bad subject.”
The bell rang.
“Great lunch is over. Are you coming Autumn?”
“Where to?”
“Lesson, of course. Geo right?”
“Yeah.”
“Come on then.” He said, grabbing her hand and pulling her away.
“I take it you just don’t do English?”
“Don’t like the teacher.”
They walked across the meeting ground going into the building and up the stairs to their next lesson. He sat next to her with his arm strewn across the back of her seat. “We’ll take a look at your timetable and sort something out okay.”
She smiled.
They walked out of the class together at the end of the day. “Mr. Harborne!”
“Shit.” He looked at Autumn. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled.
“He’s in shit.”
“She always cop him?”
“Nine times out of ten. We’ll walk with you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah sure.”
They all walked out of the high school laughing and joking. Autumn tried to join in but found it hard to. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“You live by the river?”
“Close.”
“You’re lucky.”
“I guess.”
“We’ll see you tomoz.”
“Okay.”
“Bye Autumn.”
“Bye guys.”
They all parted company, going their separate ways.
- Writer
