8
1040 Words
12th September
Autumn met Connor and Dan on the bridge. “Everything okay babe?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“Come on, let’s meet the guys.”
He dropped his arm over her shoulders and the three friends walked to school.
“There you are.”
“Sorry guys, Autumn was a little late this morning.”
“Makes a change from being you two aye.”
They both pulled a sarcastic face at them and walking through the gates as the bell rang.
“Guess you’ve got Harding this morning.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll see you later babe.”
“Okay.”
“Later Autumn.”
“Later.”
They all walked away.
“So I see you didn’t take my advice after all.”
Autumn turned. “Miss.”
“So you chose to stay friends with Mr. Harborne.”
“Yes I did.”
“And I see Mr. Harrison is back with us, another no-hoper. They’ll drag you down, Miss. Cleveland to their level and once you’re there they’ll be no return.”
“Well I don’t think so, they’re my friends and I like them, okay.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts, shall we, when you start ending up in detention with them and all of your grades begin to drop. Your mother won’t be too pleased, will she?”
“My grades won’t drop, and I’ll prove to you they won’t.”
“I hope for your sake you do. And the piercings I want them gone.”
“Sure, may I go now?”
“You may.”
Autumn stormed off, vexed. How dare she tell her who to have as friends? How dare she!
“What time do we call this, Miss. Cleveland ?” He said, tapping his watch.
“Not now can we just get on with this.”
“Sure come in.”
She stormed passed him. Gee, she was in a bad mood today. He doubted he’d get anything done today. With the mood she was in, she’d almost knocked him off his feet.
She crashed down onto the sofa, her eyes cold and glazed as he closed the door.
He sat opposite her. “So who riled you this morning? Your eyes are like thunder?”
“That sour face bitch.”
“What’s she done to make you so angry again, Autumn?”
“Trying to tell me who I can have as my friends.”
“So she’s still on that one.”
“Yes she is.” She said angrily. “Connor was the only one who bothered with me on my first day. He introduced me to his friends. Now she’s not pleased because I’ve made friends with Dan.”
“Mr. Harrison?”
“Yeah, we met in class. Con introduced us. They’re the only friends I have. No one else chose to make friends with me but them.”
“Ignore them, Autumn, and ignore her, okay? Like I said before, you choose who you have as your friends and if you think Mr. Harborne and Mr. Harrison is good for you.”
“I do.”
“Well then, be friends with them. She can’t stop you, Autumn.”
The bell rang.
“I’ll see you Tuesday, okay.”
“Okay.”
She pulled herself up. Mathew opened the door. “Just remember Autumn, you know best, not her.”
“Thanks Matt.”
“My pleasure. I’ll see you next week.”
“Okay.”
She walked away to her next lesson.
She stood smoking. “Hey babe,” Connor said as Ashby, Dan, Harry and James approached her.
“Con, guys.”
“You okay Autumn? Your eyes are glazed like someone has pissed you off.”
“Yeah, really pissed you off.”
“They did.”
“Was it Harding?”
“No.”
“Who then?”
“Sour face bitch.”
“What does she have to say this time?”
“She’s still banging on that I’m still friends with you. She still reckons you will bring me down to your level. She’s not to pleased that I made friends with Dan either.”
“The b***h, I’m going to sort this.”
“No, Con, you’ll get in shit.”
“I don’t f*****g care. We’re friends. How dare she tell you who you can and can’t be friends with? Telling you can’t be friends with Dan now how dare she.”
“Chill Con.”
“No I f*****g won’t chill.”
“Autumn wouldn’t listen to her, you didn’t, did you?”
“No.”
“We’re still friends, aren’t we?”
“Yes we are. I choose my friends, not her, okay. I’ll decide if you're good for me or not.”
He smiled, pecking her on the cheek.
They had their cigarettes doubting them out before the bell rang, and they headed off for their final lesson before lunch.
“We’re still friends, aren’t we Autumn?”
She looked at Dan. “She’s not going to tell me who to have as friends. Dan. I like you, all of you.”
He smiled as they walked away.
Mathew stared at them as they sat down to eat. He had to get her away from them, especially Connor Harborne and now Daniel Harrison, but how?
They had a cigarette and went into registration before their last two lessons. Connor placed his arm around her, meeting their friends walking home. “We’ll see you tomorrow Con, Autumn.”
“Later Guys.”
“Yeah Later.”
They walked away. Connor and Autumn stood by the bridge alone after Daniel had said goodbye. “At least you don’t look as angry as you did this morning.”
“Neither do you.”
“I had a chance to calm down.”
“Me too.”
“I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
“It wasn’t your fault, it was that sour-faced b***h. I’m your friend Autumn and so are all the guys. I hope we will always be friends.”
“Me to.”
He smiled, kissing her softly. “I had best go, Autumn.”
- Writer
