11
1916 Words
17th September
Connor jogged away from Autumn. She soothed down the corridor to the office where Mathew Harding was waiting for her, impatiently. “We’re late this morning.”
“Sorry damn alarm daint go off.”
“Fine.”
“Sorry Matt, Sour face collared me.”
“It’s fine, come in.”
She walked in. He closed the door behind her. “Take a seat.”
She soothed over to the sofa, collapsing on it.
He walked over, sitting down. “So did you have a good weekend?”
“Yeah, I went out with Con and our friends. We went to the cinema and a bite to eat.”
“Getting close, aren’t we?”
“Not really no.”
He coughed. “So moving swiftly on. Tell me a little more about your school in the Netherlands, than your previous school.”
“Okay.” She swallowed, she just wanted to forget.
“So what was your school like in the Netherlands?”
“Big.”
“Did you like it there?”
“Yeah, I had a lot of friends.”
“I bet they were sad that you had to leave.”
“Yeah they was. I kept in contact with them, till…” She stopped.
“It’s okay take your time.”
She looked at him unsure that she could go on. He quickly turned it around, changing the question. “You said your mom and dad are divorced.”
“Yeah. He found himself a w***e and mom found out.”
He looked at her.
“Sorry but she was. She had to be for breaking up a family.”
“You can’t just blame her Autumn.”
“I don’t . I blame him too, he could’ve kept it in.”
“You’re still angry?”
“Damn right I am. He threw away over twenty years of marriage for a skirt no older than you.”
“Right.”
“I hate him, okay, they split up and split me and my brother up when we didn’t want to be. I haven’t spoken to him in four years, and I’m not supposed to be pissed about it?” She said, angrily.
“I’m sorry Autumn.”
“Why, it’s not your fault, I had a great life over there. I had great friends and a great brother, then they had to go and ruin it all.’
“So, I take it was messy.”
“Yeah and unfair. Just cause he had to go to college then do his degree, he had to stay over there. Why couldn’t he come here and do it?”
“I don’t know Autumn, have you tried asking your mom?”
“She doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“She’ll have to one day, Autumn, maybe when you leave or go to college, and you decide that you want to find him. She’ll have to talk about what really happened.”
“I know.”
The bell rang.
“We’ll finish this Thursday, okay?”
“Okay.”
They pulled themselves up, he opened the door. “Thursday.”
She nodded and walked away. Connor slipped his arm around her. “So did you get in s**t for being late?”
“Not really.”
“You really need to fix that alarm.”
“I know.”
“Come on, let’s get to class.”
They walked down the corridor to their next lesson. “Well, I’ll see you at break.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her cheek.
She went into class he went into his, they all met at break.
“So where were you this morning? It’s usually Con that’s late.”
“Yeh not the both of you having a quickie?”
They kicked James. “Owe.”
“I already told you.”
“Yeah whatever.”
“It’s the truth Jay. Gee. I waited for her. I told Dan to get to school. He didn’t need either of us being in detention.”
“So did you get in shit.”
“Yeah we did. We had isolation.”
“Bet that pleased your tutor.”
“Not really, no.”
“You should get a new alarm Autumn.”
The bell rang and they doubted their cigarettes.
They went into their final lesson before lunch. They all ate together, having a cigarette before registration. Autumn and Daniel said goodbye to Connor going into class, sitting down. “Give me your number, and I’ll make sure you’re up.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Con has it, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah, and his time-keeping is as bad as yours.”
“No worse than yours. Come on Red.”
“Fine.”
He smiled. “You’re okay with this, aren’t you red?”
“Yeah, why shouldn’t I be?”
“Saturday, Con.”
“What about Con? We’re just friends.”
“Nothing, he just acts like an over-protective boyfriend.”
“Right class settle down.”
Daniel smiled as they began.
The bell rang, and the class packed their belongings away. “So are we cool to sit next to one another in lesson?”
“Yeah sure.”
He smiled. “Come on, the guys are waiting.”
They walked out of class. Connor wrapped his arm around her, looking at Dan. “So did he behave himself?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Come on, the others will be waiting.”
They met their friends outside the gates, walking home, saying goodbye.
18th September
Connor and Daniel met Autumn by the bridge walking to school.
“Well, at least you’re on time this morning.”
“Yeah.”
“Con wake you up, or did both of them?”
Ashby and Harry kicked him. “Owe.”
“No we didn’t.”
The bell rang.
“Come on.”
They all walked into their tutor groups for registration. Connor kissed Autumn before their lesson.
Autumn sat down, Stenton sat next to her. “Are you okay, Red?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I need a new alarm, everywhere was sold out.”
“I’ll be your alarm and wake you.” He smiled.
“No, thanks.”
His smile faded. This girl was hard work. Although she wasn’t like the other girls, he knew most of them had had their cherry popped, the others were too tight to get close to. He was surprised he still had any balls left. “So what are you doing this weekend, Red?”
“Dunknow why?”
“You could always come to mine.”
“I..”
“Right class settle down.”
He smiled at her. She just looked at him.
The bell rang, they all packed their stuff up, walked out of the classroom.
“Can I walk with you to your next lesson, Red?”
“I guess.”
He smiled. “You never answered my question. This Saturday mine what do you say?”
“I’m sorry I can’t.”
“Why not?”
She stared at him.
“I won’t jump on you. I promise.”
“I’m busy.”’
“Washing your hair!” He cracked.
“Something like that.”
“Don’t you ever bite back?”
“It’s a bad day, Stenton.”
“It always is.”
“I’ll catch you later, Stenton.”
“Sure.”
She turned to walk into her next class. Harry looked up and smiled, calling her over. She soothed over to him, sitting down. “What’s up, Autumn? You look vexed.”
“Nought.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah I’m fine.”
He looked at her not quite convinced.
“Really.”
The two friends walked out of the lesson. “So are you really okay?”
“I’m fine. Just drop it.” She said, angrily.
“Chill Autumn.”
“Sorry, bad day.”
He smiled as they walked over to their friends. Having a cigarette.
“You okay babe? You seem a little tense.”
“I’m fine. I just wish people would stop asking.”
“Gee chill babe.”
“She was like it in lesson too.”
“Who was in the first lesson with you?”
“Stenton.”
“What did he say?”
“Nought.”
“Do?”
“Nought. Just drop it.”
The bell rang and they doubted their cigarettes. Walking away.
“I’ll see you at lunch, okay?”
“Okay.”
Autumn went into her next lesson, sitting down looking out of her window. Wishing the guys round here would just leave her the hell alone and get on with it.
“You okay Miss. Cleveland?”
“Yeah sorry.”
The bell rang, and she met up with Connor and the others for lunch. Having a cigarette before their final two lessons.
Daniel sat next to her. “You were okay with me calling you this morning weren’t you?”
“Yeah why?”
“And Con?”
“He rang to.”
“So the alarm on your phone?”
“It’s not loud enough.”
He coughed. “So what was really wrong with you at break red? We all know Stenton.”
“Nothing he...”
He looked at her. “Yes.”
“Just asked me to go round his Saturday.”
“Tell him you’re going out with me.”
She looked at him, he smiled.
“Right class settle down.”
The bell rang, they all pulled themselves up.
“Don’t tell Con Dan he will flip.”
“I won’t, but my offer still stands.”
“I don’t know Dan, Con..”
“We’re friends.”
“I know..”
“Miss Cleveland, Mr Harrison.”
“Sir.”
“I’d like the two of you to pair up for this assignment. Your grades are slipping, Mr Harrison, so I’d like Miss Cleveland to help you to get them back up.”
“Sir.”
“Is that okay with you, Miss Cleveland?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Good you may go.”
Daniel smiled as they walked away. “So Saturday it is.”
“I guess.”
“I’ll be good, Red, I promise.”
Connor dropped his arm over her, kissing her cheek. “Are you okay babe?”
“Yeah.”
“So what’s with the face?”
“Simmons paired us. He seems to think I need help.”
“Oh.”
“You don’t mind, do you?”
“Not at all.”
“Good, cause I’m gonna need Autumn a few hours this weekend.”
“Sure.”
They all walked down the corridor, meeting their friends at the gates, and they all walked home.
“I’ll see you two tomorrow.”
“Later Dan.”
“Yeah later.”
Dan walked away. Autumn looked at Connor. “Are you sure that you’re okay with me and Dan doing our work together?”
“I guess.”
“We’ll meet up after.”
He smiled.
He leaned forward. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay.”
He pressed his lips on hers, kissing her hungrily.
He moved away. “Night babe.”
“Yeah later Con.”
She walked away as he turned and walked away.
- Writer
