16
1725 Words
Mathew Harding looked at Daniel. “Mr. Harrison come through.”
He pulled himself up. He and Autumn made eye contact yet said nothing before he went into the room. Mathew closed the door behind them.
Daniel sat opposite Mathew. He looked angrily at him. “How dare you talk about me to Autumn?”
“I daint, what she say?”
“Enough. She’s unstable, and she needs my help.”
“So you can bone her?”
“No, I genuinely want to help.”
“Don’t screw this up for a girl, Matt.”
“I’m not.”
Autumn sat down by the river she’d said goodbye to Connor an hour ago and was smoking a cigarette. Maybe she was giving this guy too much info.
“Your mom said you’d be out here.”
She looked up, wondering who had disturbed her thoughts. His eyes glistened in hers. “Dan.”
“May I?”
“It’s a free country.”
He sat next to her.
“So what brings you here, Dan?’”
“I missed you at school today. b***h gave me detention for being late and disturbing her class. Goddam w***e thinks she’s pretty, and she’s not.”
She looked at him questionably. What was so important that it couldn’t wait till tomorrow.
He looked at her, his eyes glazed. “Why did you tell Harding what I said?”
“He asked.”
“I don’t need to be badgered by a shrink.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean nought by it. I never meant to get you in shit.”
“He’s a prick Red. He’ll keep pushing and pushing till there’s nothing left, till he gets what he wants.”
“And you and Con don’t?”
“No we don’t. We’re your friends. You’re safer talking to us than him.”
“I can’t right now.’”
“What’s so bad, Red? We all have a past.”
“It’s too hard, it’s too much pain.”
“Have your whole family gunned down for serving your god-damn f*****g country, then tell me how it f***s with your head!” He said, angrily.
“I’m sorry I…”
“I’m sixteen. Red. I fell back a year. My head was so screwed up. It’s just me and mom now. My dad and brothers got gunned down with many others. They sprung an attack on them. Why the f**k should you help the starving, the dying if they have no respect for you to hold a gun to your head and f*****g shoot?” He said, angrily.
Tears slipped off her face. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to come to terms with what happened. Matthew and I connected. He’s in my league. I will tell you, I promise. But not just yet.”
“When Red? When it’s too late, if it weren’t for Grayson, I’d just be another headstone.”
She cried. She knew just how that felt. She wished she wasn’t alive. Most days, her friends were her world, and they’d been taken away from her, and she had to watch them disappear one by one.
“What are you so scared of Red, opening up?”
“I can’t lose anyone else.”
“You won’t.”
“I don’t want you to die.”
“I won’t.”
“You will, every friend I’ve ever had is dead. I never wanted to come here, but mom thought it was for the best to start again.”
“Maybe it is.”
“How? I don’t belong here. I preferred to do it alone and not to have any friends.”
“Well, you have, and we ain’t going anywhere.”
“I don’t want you to die.”
“I won’t.”
He placed his arms round her. “We’ll take care of you red. We’ll get you through this.”
They sat for a while as she shed her last tear. “I’m sorry Dan.”
“It’s okay babe.”
He took his arms from around her, wiping her tears away. “Guess we’ll never know why you came here, but we’re your friends, Red, and when you're ready to talk we’ll be here.”
“Thanks.” She said, pecking him in the cheek.
“Don’t babe, you’ll make me blush.” He cracked.
She cut a short smile.
“Come on. I’ll walk you home.”
He took her hand, pulling them both up. He dropped his hand off hers, walking away from the lake.
“Well, this is me, thanks Dan.”
“My pleasure, and I’m sorry.”
‘“It’s fine. I am too.”
They hugged. “Night Red.”
“Night Dan.”
30th September
After a grilling weekend of trying to help Stenton with his science homework and time with Connor Autumn finally had a few hours to herself late Sunday afternoon where she lay on the grass by the lake listening to her music. Smoking a cigarette doubting it out closing her eyes for a short while before Dan caught up with her and talked to her for a while before she headed home for supper.
Connor and Daniel stood by the bridge. Autumn approached them yawning. “Up late babe?”
“Yeah I couldn’t sleep.”
“You had best not fall asleep during class.”
“I’ll try not to.”
They all walked to school. Autumn yawing all the way.
“You keep her up late, Con?”
“No.”
“You sure? She looks like she’s been at it all night.”
“f**k off Jae, we spoke yesterday. I left her at four. I aint seen her till this morning.”
“Sure whatever.”
“It’s the f*****g truth, she just ain’t had much sleep.”
“And we all know why that is.”
Connor went for him, they all held him back.
“Just quit it, Jae, if Con says he wasn’t with her, he wasn’t with her.”
The bell rang. “Come on, let’s go in.”
They all let go of Connor, and they all walked into school going to registration.
Autumn and Connor walked down the hall. “I’ll see you second lesson babe.” He said, kissing her cheek.
“Later Autumn.”
“Later guys.”
Autumn walked into the lesson as Con and Daniel continued down the corridor to their first lesson.
Stenton called her over and smiled, tapping the seat next to him. She slouched down on the seat. “Look, I’m sorry about the week end I’ll try harder I promise.”
“It’s fine, Stenton, really.”
He smiled.
“Right class lets settle down and begin.”
Autumn met Connor, Dan and their friends at break. They all smoked in silence, feeling the friction in the air.
They all had a cigarette before the bell rang for the end of lunch. They all went to registration. Connor kissed her softly. “I’ll meet you after, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Later red.”
“Dan.”
She walked away as Connor and Daniel walked down the corridor to their lesson.
At the end of the lesson, their teacher called them back to see him. “I’ve been speaking with the head, and she has managed to find you a tutor.”
Stenton’s face paled. He hoped he wouldn’t. He’d prefer spending time with Autumn. She was doing well. It was just a pity his brain wasn’t.
“But unfortunately, they won’t be able to tutor you till after Christmas. I’m sorry Miss. Cleveland, but you will have to continue helping Mr. Stenton till then.”
“Sir.”
“You had best do your best, Mr. Stenton or I’ll find you someone else if you start messing around until you have a tutor.”
“I will, sir, I promise.”
“Good, you may go now.”
They both walked out of the room heading to their next lesson.
“Well, I guess you’ve got the pleasure of my company till after Christmas.”
“I guess I do.”
“I’ll learn I promise.”
She looked at him.
He smiled.
“I had best be going Stenton. I’m already late.”
“Sure Red, I’ll see you next lesson.”
She closed the door going into her next lesson, sitting down next to Connor.
“Where have you been?”
“Had to talk to Sir about Senton's tutoring.”
“How’d it go?”
“I have to help him till new year, then he’ll have a tutor.”
“Right class settle down.”
He smiled that at least come the new year she’d be spending less time with Stenton and more time with him.
They walked out of the lesson going for a cigarette before their next lesson.
The friends had lunch, going outside for a cigarette before registration and their last two lessons
Connor stood by the gates waiting for Autumn.
Autumn and Stenton walked out of the classroom, heading down the corridor. “Thanks for all of this red.”
“Its fine Stenton.”
“Maybe we can go for a shake and a bite to eat once we’ve done our homework.”
“I don’t know Stenton.”
“No strings, Red, just as friends.”
“Then I’ll pay for mine.”
“You don’t have to.”
She looked at him.
“Fine. So can I walk you home.”
“Con’s waiting.”
“Sure.”
They walked outside. Con stood waiting smoking.
“Guess this is my que to leave. Later red.”
“Yeah, later Stenton.”
Stenton walked away and Connor doubted his cigarette, dropping his arm over her shoulder and kissing her cheek. “Let’s go.”
“I’m surprised you’re still here.”
“I thought I’d wait tonight.”
“We weren’t that late. Con the tutor was giving us homework.”
“So you’ll be seeing Stenton this weekend?”
“I guess.”
They walked away from the school, walking over the bridge. “I’ll meet you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay.”
He kissed her softly. “Night babe.”
“Night Con.”
- Writer
