13
1961 Words
20th September
Connor and Dan met Autumn on the bridge. “So did you get up okay?”
“Yeah.”
He dropped his arm over her, and they walked away, heading for school. “If you have any problems today, just let me know.”
“Okay,”
“Wow you’re almost five minutes early on the second day too.”
“Button it, Jae, or I will.”
“Gee Con, what’s eating you this morning?”
“Nought.”
The bell rang.
They all walked into the school saying goodbye. Connor kissed Autumn softly. “I’ll see you at break babe.”
“Okay,”
“Later Dan.”
“Con.”
He walked away. Autumn looked at Daniel.
“Wha, what did I do?”
“You told him, didn’t you?”
“What about?”
“Stenton.”
“No, I said I wouldn’t.”
“So what’s wrong with him?”
“I duknow, I swear I didn’t tell him nought.”
They both sat down.
They walked out of the class after the lesson. “So what lesson have you got next?”
“Science.”
“Well, I guess I’ll see you later.”
“Sure.”
He parted from her company and she walked down the corridor into her lesson. Stenton looked up at her and tapped the empty seat next to him. She swallowed, walking over to him sitting next to him. “Grimston wants us to work together. He recons, I’m lagging, you don’t mind do you?”
“No it’s fine.”
He smiled. “So, about Saturday?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t, I’m meeting Dan.”
“He boning you too?”
She glared at him. “We have an assignment to do.”
“Sure you do.”
“We do.” She said, angrily.
“Right class settle down.”
Stenton smiled at her as the teacher began the lesson.
The bell rang, and they all packed up, pulling themselves up. Mr. Grimsotn walked over to them. “Did Mr. Stenton tell you that I paired you?”
“Yeah he did.”
“I think his grades can improve with a little help. I took a look at your grades from your previous school. They’re quite impressive. With someone like you helping him, it might give him a shove in the right direction.”
“I doubt it.” She muttered.
“What did you say, Miss. Cleveland?”
“Nothing, just that I’ll try my best.”
“Good. I’d like you to start with his homework. It’s a little sloppy.”
“Yeah sure.’
“I’ll see you two next lesson. No fooling around, Mr. Stenton.”
“I won’t sir.”
“Good you may go.”
“Sir.”
They walked out of the classroom. “So I think that you will be available to come to mine Saturday?”
“I can’t. I have to help Dan.”
“Sunday then.”
“By the lake.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“Not really no.”
“About ten suit you?”
“Yeah that’s fine.”
He smiled. “I had best let you go and have that fag. I guess you’ll be needing one.”
“I guess I will.”
“Later red.”
“Yeah later.”
He walked away. She walked up to the smoking corner lighting a cigarette. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
She almost dropped her cigarette. “s**t Con.”
“You okay babe?’
“I’m fine.’
“Don’t look it.’
“I have to put up with Stenton.”
“Grimston pair you?”
“If that’s what you call it, he wants me to help him get his grades up. Fat chance of that when he’s only interested in one thing.”
“I told you.”
“He insists I help him on Sunday.”
“So we’re not meeting up?”
“We can afterward. God knows how long it’s going to take.”
“A while knowing Stenton.”
“I’m sorry Con.”
“It’s okay.” He sighed.
“Where’s the guys?”
“Not sure that they were here, guess they got board of waiting.”
The bell rang, and they stomped out their cigarettes and walked away to their next lesson.
Connor and Autumn met their friends for lunch.
“So did Con find you?”
“Yeah Grimston cornered me and Stenton.”
“What did you do?”
“Nought.”
“What Stenton do?”
“Nought. He wanted me to help Stenton get his grades up.”
They chocked. Laughing.
“What’s so funny guys?” Dan asked, sitting down.
“Autumn is helping Stenton get better grades.”
“You can’t help him Autumn, his un-help able.”
“I have to try or he’ll fail.”
“He’ll jump on you.”
“He best not.”
They all looked at Connor. “If he does, I’ll break his balls.”
“Unless Autumn does first.” Jae laughed.
“Is he really that bad?”
“Worse. He’s only interested in one thing, and it ain’t learning.”
“With him, it’s how many girls he can, bone.”
“Jae.”
“It’s the truth.”
They all pulled themselves up walking outside and having a cigarette before registration going into their final two lessons.
Connor sat by Autumn. “Are you okay babe?”
“Yeah. I just don’t think me helping Stenton is such a good idea.”
“I’ll talk to him, okay.”
“Okay.”
Autumn and Connor walked down the corridor to their last class. “I’ll meet you by the gates, okay.”
“Okay.”
He pecked her cheek and, walking away, she went into her lesson.
Connor looked at Stenton. “You had best keep your hands to yourself when Autumn’s helping you.”
“So she told you?”
“She did. So be warned.”
“I won’t touch her, Con, you have my word.”
“Good.”
Autumn sat by Ashby. “Are you okay Autumn?”
“Yeah.”
“Ignore us about Stenton, okay, it’s just gossip. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
She looked at him hoping she would.
The bell rang, and they all walked out of the lesson. Connor dropped his arm round Autumns’ shoulders. “So are we ready to go?”
“We are.”
They all walked away, heading home with their friends, saying goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay, about six.”
“Okay.”
“Then Sunday, at the same time. You’ll need it with Stenton.”
“And I don’t with Dan?”
“You’ll need more with Stenton, believe me. I’ll see you tomorrow night babe.”
“Night Con.”
He pecked her on the cheek.
21st September
Autumn sat by the lake smoking. Dan overshadowed her. “Your mom said you were
out here. I thought we were doing it at yours?”
She looked up at him. “I needed time out.”
“Sure.” He said, sitting next to her. “So your mom bugging you?”
“Yeah, too many questions.”
“What about?”
“All of you.”
“Oh…” He said, looking at her. “What did you say to her?”
“We’re all friends, and I was helping you out with your school work.”
“Well, you ain’t lying.”
“She doesn’t get why all my friends are boys and not girls.”
“Why’s that Red?”
“I don’t know. I just felt more connected with you guys. You didn’t look at me as if I didn’t belong, an outcast or a predator, but as an equal.”
“You’re not a predictor Autumn or an outcast.”
“They seem to think I am. If looks could kill, they would.”
“Ignore them Red, okay, they’re all whores anyway.”
“So you’ve had them all?”
“No, a few. Yes, they’re easy. Too easy if you ask me, at least, with you, what you see is what you get. Not a face full of slaps and a skirt up your ass trying to be someone you’re not.”
She looked at him.
“Look red, you’re one of a few that ain’t so far up their own ass that you can’t see past the s**t, they’re all for themselves. Trust me, they think that they’re something they’re not. Pretty and perfect is what guys see. Guys like Stenton don’t see past the pretty face, t**s and fanny cause that’s all they are.”
“And me what am I?”
“A challenge.” He looked at her. Her eyes looked so lost in his. His eyes sparkled in the sun. “You’re an angel. Red guys like Stenton will take advantage of that just to bed you. Guys like me and Con like a challenge, unlike Stenton, who will get board and move on to the next fix. Not me and Con. You’re stuck with us.” He smiled.
“We had best get started.”
“Sure.”
They pulled out their books, paper, pens and pencils, starting their assignment.
He looked at Autumn. “We had best get this finished tomorrow. It’s given me a headache.”
“I can’t. I have to meet Stenton then Con.”
“I’m sure you can squeeze me in, can’t you?”
“I guess.”
He smiled, moved forward. She began to back away. His lips hit hers, kissing her. She looked at him. “I thought you weren’t like Stenton.”
“I’m not. If I was, I’d be on top of you right now.”
She looked at him nervously.
“It’s okay, Red even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t. I have respect for you even if Con and Stenton don’t.”
“Con does.”
“Well, Stenton certainly don’t.”
“Con will be here soon.”
“I guess that’s my que to leave.”
“I guess.”
He shoved his belongings in his ruck sack. “I’ll see you tomorrow after lunch, okay?”
“Okay.”
He kissed her, quickly pulling himself up. “Tomorrow, Red,” he said, throwing his rucksack over his shoulder.
“Sure.”
He walked away as she lit a cigarette.
Connor sat down wrapping his arms round her, kissing her cheek. “So was that Dan.”
“It was.”
“So did you get much done?”
“No. I’m seeing him tomorrow to finish it off.”
“So we are still on for six then?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled, kissing her softly. He took the cigarette off her, smoking it, doubting it out. “We can go into town for a pizza or something tomorrow if you like.”
“That’ll be nice.”
They sat by the lake watching the sun go down.
“I had best go, Con, it’s getting late.”
“I’ll walk you.”
“Okay.”
They pulled themselves up, he took her hand, and they walked away from the lake and over the bridge. He looked at her. “Maybe next weekend it will just be the two of us.”
“That would be nice.”
He pressed his lips on hers, kissing her hungrily. He moved away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night Con.”
He walked away as she closed the door behind her.
- Writer
