26
1920 Words
16th October
Autumn hadn’t seen Connor since they’d left registration as they had no lessons with
each other this morning. She walked down the corridor and out the double doors walking down to the smoking area where she lit a cigarette. “There you are.”
She choked, looking at him. “Connor.”
“Babe.” He said kissing her cheek lighting a cigarette. “So how did you morning go?”
“Slow just wish you were in lesson with me.”
“How come? Things ain’t that bad are they?” He asked blowing the smoke out of his mouth.”
“Just, I feel like I don’t belong.”
“You will babe.”
“When Con they all look at me as if I’m trash.”
“They’re just jealous babe trust me they’re all in comp with one another. They’re all sluts ignore them.”
“I’m trying.”
“Anyone else hassling you?”
“Not really the guys try and talk but the cut eyes say the girls want them to have nothing to do with me.
“Just try and ignore them babe it will get better trust me.”
“I hope so.”
He edged closer. She stood nervously. “It will.”
“Bu...”
He pressed his lips on hers kissing her, she foolishly returned his kiss, he slipped his tongue in kissing her harder and harder, tears slipped down her check. He moved away looking at her concerned. “What’s wrong? Everything will be okay babe they’ll get over it trust me no one likes a new face they forget as the weeks go on trust me.”
“Is that what happened with you?”
“Yeah. Dan was my only friend when I begun it took the guys over a month to come and talk to me, but were friends now and your ours. We’re all that you need Autumn trust me.” He said, moving forward.
“Put her down Con leave it for the bedroom.”
He moved away. “We weren’t doing nought just talking.”
“Looked more than just talking.”
“She’s had a bad dad I was just trying to reassure her everything would get better.”
“So the slags still giving you grief?”
“A little.”
“Ignore them Autumn were your friends I’m sure you’ll make more they’re just jealous because you’re getting more attention than them they’ll get over it.”
“I guess.”
The bell rang and they doubted their cigarettes out walking away going to their next lesson.
Connor draped his over her shoulder as they walked walked to He dinner hall meeting their friends.
“Hey over here.”
Connor looked over Ashby calling him over to join them. “Come on Autumn.”
They walked over to the table where his friends were sitting placing their treys down, sitting next to one another. “So today better than yesterday?”
“I guess.”
“So you okay now Autumn.”
“I guess.”
“We all know how it is autumn it’s either the guys or them sluts they’ve been through most of the school.”
She looked at him.
“Yeah we’ve all been there there’s only a few girls here that are like you Autumn and they don’t like the fact every guy is digging on the not so pretty and perfect or the pretty that hasn’t put out before school has ended. Guys respect girls like that we respect you.”
She smiled briefly.
“Come on let’s go fo a fag.”
“Sure.”
They all pulled themselves up going outside.heading for the cigarette corner. They lit their cigarettes smoking till the bell went for the end of lunch. “We’ll meet up in the usual place.”
“Sure.”
“Later Autumn.”
“Later.”
After registration Connor and Daniel said good bye to Autumn. She walked into her lesson wishing that they were still with her.
Everyone met outside the school, Connor draped his arm over her shoulders and they walked away.
“We’ll see you tomorrow guys.”
“Will do.”
“Later Autumn.”
“Later guys.”
Autumn and Connor walked towards the bridge.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“You will Later Dan.”
“Larter.”
“Yeah Later Dan.”
He smiled walking away.
“So is everything okay now babe now you’ve got it all out in the open.”
“Yeah thanks.” 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. I didn’t mean..”
She looked at him.
“Well.’ He said quickly steering away from the present situation. ‘I’ll see you tomoz.”
“Sure.”
He smiled turning, walking away she stood confused.
17th October
Autumn met Connor by the lake. He kissed her cheek.
“We ready to go?”
“Yeah.”
He dropped his arm over her shoulders and they walked away.
They met up wit their friends out side the gates as the bell rang he kissed her goodbye. “I’ll see you later babe.”
“Yeah sure Con.”
“Come on Con we’ll be late.”
“Later babe.”
“Yeah later, red.”
“Later” She said, walking away walking down the hall.
“She’ll be okay Con.”
“I hope so.”
“Come on or we’ll get detention.”
“Sure.”
They walked away heading for registration.
Mathew Harding stood at the door of the office. He smiled. “Good morning, Autumn.”
“I guess.’
“What’s wrong Autumn? The sun is out and it’s forecast for the next week.”
“Cool.” She said, stepping into the office.
He closed the door. “Take a seat.”
She fell onto the sofa. He strode across the room sitting opposite her. “You okay Autumn? You don’t look like you want to be here this morning.”
“So you noticed.”
“What’s wrong Autumn? Maybe I can help.”
“I doubt it. Connor and our friends tried to reassure me everything would be okay but it won’t.”
“Okay, let’s start at the beginning.”
“They all hate me.”
“I’m sure that’s not true Autumn, you have friends.”
“I know, but they all look daggers at me Matt.”
“Who do surely not your friends.”
“No all the rest of them those who chose not to speak to me.”
“I see.”
“They’re not perfect Mat, everyone talks about them.”
“Even you.”
“No. I don’t know them the guys the other girls and they look at me as if I’m on their territory. Most the guys try and strike up a conversation but the daggers through you cuts like a knife and they don’t bother the names they call you.”
“Like what.”
“Slag, slut, hoe. They should take a look in the mirror a long hard f*****g look.”
“You're none of those, Autumn.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do.” He placed his hand on hers. She looked nervously at him. “You’re not them, Autumn. You should be proud of who you are and walk with your head held high.”
“I’m trying.”
“You’re better than them.”
“I guess.”
“You are.”
“It wasn’t like this at my old school.”
“What was it like?”
“Different. We were all so close I got in with everyone, well almost everyone. Not everyone likes a clever girl.”
“Just cause you’re clever it doesn’t mean you are better than them Autumn.”
“I know.”
“So did you clash with anyone?”
“Joanne, on several occasions.”
“Your friend?”
“Yeah. She was clever though she wouldn’t admit it. I guess she thought she had something to prove to me prove she could be better than me.”
“And was she?”
“Yeah she was. We helped each other though we had loads of arguments we helped each other through our seeker subjects until…”she stopped.
He looked at her pulling himself up sitting next to her, his eyes sparkled in hers. “Take your time Autumn. I can see all of this is hard for you. You haven’t got to open up all at once.”
‘I know.” She looked at him he smiled. “I’d like to continue.”
“Sure.”
“We were close but not as close as me and Caz, but we done most of our homework together as we were in practically all the same classes as one another.”
He smiled.
“Anyway we were all okay then.”
He looked at her engaged with interest.
“After Rudgey and Caz you know.”
He looked at her.
“We weren’t that close none of us were we tried to be but loosing three friends so close to one another we found it hard to talk to one another.”
“I see.”
“I thought she could confide in me Matt. She chose not to.”
“She could’ve had her reasons Autumn.”
“Yeah she didn’t trust me enough.”
“So what happened?”
She looked at him.
“Take your time Autumn, we can always pick up where we left off next time.”
“They were found together.”
“Who?”
“Joanne and Downey. They weren’t sure what they’d taken there weren’t no traces of anything in their system why didn’t she tell me Matt I could’ve stopped it?” She cried.
He placed his arms around her. “It’s okay Autumn.”
“How? I could’ve stoped it.”
“Do you think she would’ve listened.”
“Yes I do.”’
“Did he love her?”
“I guess, she loved him.”
“So she’d do anything for him?”
“I guess. Why?”
“Just he may have talked her into it twisted her arm. They may have agreed together.”
“She wouldn’t her life and what she wanted out of life was to important to her to do what she did.”
“We all do dumb things when pressured into them, Autumn.”
“She was too head strong for that Matt I knew her she had her head screwed on.”
“Maybe but guys do weird things to your head and twist you into believe I guess in everything that they say autumn. He may have convinced her that it was safe and I wasn’t.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m sorry Autumn, I know this is hard for you but we need to put it into perspective.”
“Maybe another suicide more kids forgotten.”
“You don’t have to forget them autumn just refer to your photos for the good times.”
“I guess.”
He moved away wiping her tears away. “I’m here when ever you need me, Autumn.”
“Thanks.”
- Writer
