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1654 Words
“Okay.”
She quickly pulled herself up . “Keep your head held high Autumn and any time you need to talk you know where I am.”
She looked at him, leaving the room. She had hoped today would be different than the other day.
Connor slipped his arm round her dropping his arm over her. “You okay babe.”
“Yeah.’
’So did it go well with Harding?”
“I guess.”
“I’ll say no more let’s get to class.”
After class it was break they headed of to the smoking corner lighting their cigarette’s as they were joined by Dan, Ash, Harry and James. They too lit their cigarette’s.
The silence between the friends wasn’t an awkward one as they had nothing to say about this morning as none of them had had detention. They all said their good byes before the last lesson before lunch. They all met for lunch and had a cigarette before registration and their last two lessons. Connor kissed Autumn on the cheek goodbye and said he’d meet her outside class at the end of school he and Daniel crashed fists before he and Autumn entered their last double lesson of the day where they sat together.
“So are you okay Red? You’ve been quiet all day.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, just everything about Halloween brings back things I’d like to forget.”
“Like what?”
She opened her mouth.
“Right class settle down.”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
She smiled briefly.
The bell rang and her and Dan left the room after they had packed their stuff into their bags. Connor stood waiting out side class. The two friends crashed their fists. He dropped his arm over Autumn’s shoulders.
“You’re early, Con.”
“He was in a good must’ve got his leg over last night.” He laughed so did Daniel.
“Con.”
“Well it’s the truth you’ll get to learn this soon enough babe when the teachers are in a good mood they’ve either had their legs over or a good fill.”
“You’re gross.”
“I know.” He chuckled.
They all walked outside Ash, James and Harry stood smoking, waiting for them.
“At last, you lot having a threesome?”
“f**k off Jae!”
’It’s almost four.”
“So, come on we have homes to go to.”
They all walked away saying their goodbyes.
Connor pecked Autumn on the cheek before he and Dan said goodbye to her.
She watched them walk away making her way over to the lake sitting down having a cigarette consuming her thoughts of what had been said between her and Mathew today.
“So are you going to tell me why you were in such a foul mood today?” He asked, his shadow overcasting hers in the late Autumn sun.
She looked up his hair was over his face like the bell he had applied to it this morning was finally giving up on him. “Dan I thought you’d gone home.”
“I had.. May I?”
“Knock yourself out.”
He smiled sitting beside her. “I left Con at his, and I walked back once he was inside and I was around the corner there’s a short cut here.”
“Oh.”
“Maybe I’ll show you one day.” He said taking a deep breath. “So..what was wrong with you today? You seem miles away.”
“Nothing just.”
He stared at her waiting for her to continue.
“It’s nothing.”
“Big nothing, have you told Con?”
“Yes two days ago.’
“So you can tell me at a guess Harding already knows one more won’t hurt.”
“I just don’t like Halloween that’s all.”
“I see.’ He looked at her again. ’May I ask why?”
“Just say last year was exactly like this one.”
“Oh god Red. I’m sorry, we do it every year. We thought it would be fun.”
“So did they, and they ruined Halloween and I broke my ankle and got concussion.”
“I’m really sorry Red. We should never have invited you if we knew we ..”
“It’s fine, seriously Dan. I have to banish all my demons.”
“One at a time Red you can’t conquer them all at once.”
“I know.” She sighed.
He placed his arm around her pulling her close to him. “We’re all her for you red you can talk to us anytime about anything.”
“Thanks.” She said, unsure she would be able to her past was her demons, her nightmares.
13th November
Conner and Daniel met Autumn on the bridge walking to school where they met their
friends.
“Where were you last night Con?”
“We thought you’d gone.”
“Nice to see your ugly mush again Dan and you’re up early. Your mom kick you out?”
“Summert like that.”
“So, when did you get back?”
“Yesterday morning. I almost didn’t make it in.”
“So you met Autumn?”
“Yeah, we’re in lesson together.”
“Cool.”
The bell rang and they all went in for registration and their first two lessons before break.
Autumn stood smoking waiting for Connor as Daniel approached her. “Con running late?”
She looked up at Dan. “Yeah.”
He spread his hand across the wall his eyes in line with hers nerving her. “I won’t beat around the bush Red, I like you.”
“So does Con don’t mean I’m going to give him nought either.”
He got closer. Her nervousness showing. “Meet me Saturday.”
“I can’t.”
“Washing your hair?!”
“I just can’t.”
“You can, lie if you have to.”
“Sorry I’m late babe the class got held up., Connor said, approaching them.
Daniel backed away, lighting a cigarette. Connor took the cigarette off Autumn taking the last few drags. “Where’s the guys?”
“Here, damn f*****g teacher.”
“Snap.”
They lit their cigarettes smoking them before the bell rang for end of break.
“So we’ll see you at lunch.”
“You will.”
They all went into lesson.
“So, what did Dan want?”
“Nothing.” She lied.
“So, can we do something Saturday?”
“I don’t know, Con.’
“About three. I’ll meet you by the river okay.”
“Okay.”
They sat down taking their books and pens out. They walked out of lesson after the lunch bell rang getting their lunch sitting down to eat. Daniel looking over at her slyly.
“So are we all meeting up Saturday?”
“Yeah about six. I’m meeting Autumn first, then we’ll all meet up.”
“Cinema it is.”
“Sure.”
“Dan you coming?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Sweet.”
They all went outside having a cigarette before registration and their last two lessons. Daniel sat next to Autumn during their next lesson together. “Saturday at ten, meet me by the bridge okay.”
She looked at him.
“Be there.”
“Right class, settle down.”
They all walked aimlessly out of class. “Hey Red, wait up.”
“I have to go Dan.”
“I’ll walk with you?”
“Fine.’
“I ain’t done nought to offend you have I?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“This is me.”
“Well I’ll see you at the end of school no doubt.”
“I guess you will.”
“Laterz, Red.”
“Yeah Later.”
She went into her final class of the day how was she supposed to tell him she couldn’t meet him.
James tapped the chair next to him. She slipped into it. “So how are you Autumn? I haven’t had much chance to talk to you since Halloween seen as Connor was hovering over you at bonfire And that ass hole prick of a brother of mine.”
“I’m fine thanks.”
“Cool.” He moved closer nerving her. “I know Gaz likes you babe, he said as much.”
How dare he pry into her private life. “I’m not interested Jae.”
“Well, he is, so just watch yourself okay. Once he sees what he likes he wont stop until he gets it.”
“I will.”
“I’m here if you need me babe. I can tell him to back away.”
“I can handle myself Jae.”
“I know, but I also know Gaz and he doesn’t like taking no for an answer. So If he gats too much just let me know, okay.”
“Okay.”
He smiled as the tutor began their lesson. James and Autumn walked out of the class. “So do we have the pleasure of you walking home with us tonight?”
“You do.”
He smiled.
They met up with Connor and the others. Connor dropped his arm over her shoulders. “So Jae keep you company.”
“We were in lesson together.”
“Oh yeah sorry I forgot.”
They all walked out of school Daniel looking slyly at her as they did. Saying their goodbyes.
“Well I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Sure will babe.” Connor said, pecking her in the cheek.
“Later Autumn.”
“Yeah later.”
They all walked away her and Dan making eye contact yet saying nothing.
- Writer
