The bell rang. “So what have you got next babe?”
“Geo.”
“I’ll walk with you.”
“Okay.”
“Hey, guys, where are you heading?”
“Autumn has Geo. I have history.”
“Can I tag I’m going that way?”
“Sure.”
Harry walked down the corridor with Connor and Autumn.
“So what room you in Autumn?”
“Ten.”
“I am too. You can sit next to me.”
“Sure.”
“Well, this is us, Con. We’ll see you at the end of school.”
“You will.” He kissed Autumn on the cheek. “By the gates babe.”
“Okay.
He walked away as Harry and Autumn walked into their geography lesson, sitting down. “So did you meet anyone new in class?”
“Apart from Jarrod. No.”
“Surprising guys usually drawl over a new face, a pretty face. Stenton's usually the first.”
“Conor mentioned him. Who is he?”
“Oh, you’ll know, trust me.”
Connor met Autumn for her last lesson. “You looked good today. I think all you girls give us a boner.”
“Even you?”
“There’s only one girl that gives me a Boner.”
“Really who?”
“You.” He said, kissing her.
“Mr Harborne, Miss. Cleveland inside now.”
“Miss.”
They walked into their lesson sitting down.
They walked out of school just gone four after receiving a lecture from their tutor who was not pleased with them at all.
“I’m sorry Autumn. She can be a bitch.”
“It’s okay Con.”
“No, it’s not.”
“I was running late.”
Autumn and Connor walked toward the bridge. “Look Autumn, I’m sorry about today.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I should’ve realized you had issues with relationships.”
She looked at him. “How do you..”
“Look Autumn, I like you, but it’s obvious you’ve just come out of something long-term. So, I’ll try and back away.”
“You don’t…”
“I do Autumn. I can’t promise that I won’t try and kiss you. But I won’t push you into anything you are not comfortable with.”
“Thanks, Con.” She kissed him on the cheek, moving away, their eyes connected. He pressed his lips onto hers, kissing her hungrily.
He moved away, she looked so lost, so confused. “I’m sorry Autumn. You’re just so different.”
She looked at him.
“Well,” he said quickly, steering away from the present situation. “I’ll see you tomoz.”
“Sure.”
He smiled, turned, and walked away. She stood confused.
They walked over the bridge. “I’ll meet you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her cheek. “Later babe.”
“Later Con.”
5th September
Autumn met Connor by the bridge. “Everything okay babe?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“Come on, let’s meet the guys.”
He dropped his arm over her shoulders and the three friends walked to school.
“There you are.”
“Sorry guys, Autumn was a little late this morning.”
“Makes a change from being you aye Con.”
He pulled a sarcastic face at them and walking through the gates as the bell rang.
“Guess you’ve got Harding this morning.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll see you later babe.”
“Okay.”
“Later Autumn.”
“Later.”
They all walked away.
“So it’s true that you’re hanging around with Mr Harborne?”
“Miss.”
“You’re a bright girl, Miss. Cleveland, you could do with better friends than Mr Harborne. He’ll drag you down to his level and your grades will slip.”
“No, they won’t.”
“I suggest you get better friends, ones that won’t bring you down to their level.”
“Whatever.”
“And the piercings I want them gone.”
“Sure.” She said, turning and walking away.
“Bad start Miss. Cleveland?”
She looked at Mathew. “Call me Autumn and yes.”
“Come in.”
She slipped into the room, he closed the door behind him. “Sit down and tell me why you have a face like death on you this morning.”
She glared at him.
“I’m sorry Autumn. I mean, why do you look so angry? Your eyes are like fire.” He said, sitting opposite her.
“That sour face bitch.”
“What’s she done to make you so angry, Autumn?”
“Trying to tell me who I can make friends with.”
“You made friends. That’s good.’
“Not according to her, it ain’t. There’s nought wrong with Connor.”
“Mr. Harborne.”
“Yeah, he’s the only one who chose to acknowledge me. Everyone else thinks I’m invading their territory.′
“You’re not Autumn.”
’Well, it sure as hell feels that way. Connor took me under his wing. We have some of our lessons together, some I have with his friends, others alone with the stares that say I don’t belong.”
“Ignore them Autumn and ignore her, okay? You choose who you have as your friends and if you think Mr Harborne is good for you.”
“I do.”
“Well then, be friends with him. She can’t stop you, Autumn.”
The bell rang.
“I’ll see you Tuesday, okay.”
“Okay.”
She pulled herself up. Mathew opened the door. “Just remember Autumn, you know best, not her.”
“Thanks, Matt.”
“My pleasure. I’ll see you next week.”
“Okay.”
She walked away to her next lesson.
She stood smoking.
“Hey, babe.” Connor said, as he, Ashby, Harry and James approached her.
“Con, guys.”
“You okay Autumn? Your eyes are glazed like someone has pissed you off.”
“Yeah, it really pissed you off.”
“They did.”
“Was it Harding?”
“No.”
“Who then?”
“Sour face bitch.”
“What she has to say this time.”
“She didn’t like the fact I was friends with you. She reckoned you’d bring me down to your level. And get this fucker she wanted me to get better friends.”
“The b***h. I’m going to sort this.”
“No Con, you’ll get in shit.”
“I don’t f*****g care. We’re friends. How dare she tell you who you can and can’t be friends with? Telling you can’t be friends with me how dare she.”
“Chill Con.”
“No, I f*****g won’t chill.”
“Autumn won’t listen to her. You didn’t, did you?”
“No.”
“We’re still friends, aren’t we?”
“Yes, we are. I choose my friends, not her, okay? I’ll decide if you are good for me or not.”
He smiled, pecking her on the cheek.
They had their cigarettes doubting them out before the bell rang, and they headed off for their final lesson before lunch.
Mathew stared at them as they sat down to eat. He had to get her away from them, especially Connor Harborne, but how?
They had a cigarette and went into registration before their last two lessons. Connor placed his arm around her, meeting their friends and walking home.
“We’ll see you tomorrow Con, Autumn.”
“Later Guys.”
“Yeah Later.”
They walked away. Connor and Autumn stood by the bridge. “At least you don’t look as angry as you did this morning.”
“Neither do you.”
“I had a chance to calm down.”
“Me too.”
“Promise me we’ll always be friends, no matter what.”
“I promise, no matter what.”
“So do I, no matter what Autumn. I’ll l always be here for you.” He kissed her softly. “I had best be going, Autumn.”
“Okay.”
“Bye babe.”
“Later Con.”