Chapter 2 Week 1 pt 2

She smiled, walking into the half-full room as the door closed.

"Take a seat."

She walked to the back of the room, many of the pupils cutting their eyes at her as she walked passed, finding an empty seat at the back. "Right I see Mr. Harborne is still not with us, so I'll begin."

Mr. Greyson walked back into the office closing the door, looking directly at Mathew. "I'll take over from you on Thursday with Miss. Cleveland."

"Why?"

"I saw you. I said no closeness."

"There won't be, I promise."

"I can't take that chance."

"Please. We have a connection; I promise she'll open up to me. I need this for my final report. She's so different than the others. I can connect and get her to talk."

"Fine." He sighed. "But, no more Mathew."

"I won't I promise."

Autumn walked out of the classroom after her English lesson had finished. "I see you didn't take my advice."

She looked up straight at Miss. Strum.

"Well!"

"I was told to be myself."

"Who by?"

"My shrink."

"Mr. Greyson! Impossible!"

"No, Mathew Harding."

Her eyeballs gauged. "Excuse me!"

"Mathew Harding."

"Right." She snapped. "I'll see you tomorrow and no piercings."

"Sure."

The head mistress stormed angrily away.

"Well, it looks like you pissed her right off."

She turned to a sandy-haired boy who stood face to face with her wearing the same ridiculous uniform as her. "Yeah."

"Ignore her, we all do."

She looked at him to say "Who the hell are you?"

"Connor, Connor Harborne."

"So you finally show your face after bunking off?"

"I did."

"Is that wise? You'll have your balls strong up."

He laughed. 'I like you."

"Autumn."

"Well, Autumn, how's about we do lunch and we can hang?"

"Are you digging on me?"

"Maybe, guess you'll never know unless you hang with me."

"Fine." She sighed.

"Cool." He said, placing his arm over her shoulders.

She looked at him.

"Wha!"

"Nothing."

"Come on, lunch waits for no one."

They walked down the corridor.

Mr. Greyson opened his office door to an angry Miss Strum. "Mr. Grayson."

"Miss Strum, how can I help you?"

"A word."

"Sure."

"Mr. Harding."

"What about him?"

"Why is he taking Miss. Cleveland?"

"I thought it would be a good experience."

"No more."

"Why?"

"We all know his background."

"He's promised."

"Promises count for nothing in this world."

"He's a good kid. Give him a chance. He can get through to her, they connect."

"Fine." She sighed, defeated. "But, if he screws up."

"He won't."

"Make sure he doesn't." She said, storming off.

Autumn and Connor sat down after choosing their lunch, a pork roast which looked barely cooked. His friends sat opposite them, all shaggy haired and pierced. "Guys, this is Autumn, Autumn. These are my bros Ashby, Jae, and Harry."

She smiled.

"Hey."

"I said Autumn could hang with us, she's just joined us and needs to get in with it."

"What, are you desperate?"

"No. I can do this dump on my own."

"Gee girl your stroppy. You on a home game?"

"No, and wouldn't you be if you had to up and leave to come to this dump?"

"Hay, this is our dump and it aint that bad for your info."

"Sorry!" She said, sarcastically.

"Just ease up on her guys, okay, first days are tough. We've all been there. Make her feel welcome."

"Sure, my apologies."

"Mine too. Just every time I have friends I seem to lose them."

"You won't lose us, will she guys?" Connor said, looking at his friends for reassurance.

"Nope, unless we die or something."

She looked at them. Her completion paled, her eyes glazed.

"You okay Autumn?"

Her eyes retracted and she looked at Connor. "Yeah fine."

"You sure? You seemed a little phased out for a while there."

"Yeah I'm fine."

They ate their lunch in silence not to upset the new girl.

"Come on guys, let's have a smoke before lunch is over."

They all pulled themselves up. "You coming Autumn?"

"Yeah sure."

She pulled herself up, Connor placed his arm round her as they walked out of the dinner hall. Mathew walked into the dinner hall staring angrily as she caught his eye in Connor's company.

"So do you smoke?"

"Yeah."

"Here." He said, passing her a cigarette.

"Thanks." She said, taking it off him.

He lit a cigarette. They blew the smoke out.

"So where do you come from Autumn?'

"The city."

"Mmh, must've been a big leap coming somewhere so quiet."

"Yeah."

"So why did you leave the city?"

She looked at them and her expression changed.

"Okay, bad subject."

The bell rang.

"Great lunch is over. You coming Autumn?"

"Where to?"

"Lesson, of course. Geo right?"

"Yeah."

"Come on then." He said, grabbing her hand and pulling her away.

"I take it you just don't do English?"

"Don't like the teacher."

They walked across the meeting ground going into the building and up the stairs to their next lesson. He sat next to her with his arm strewn across the back of her seat. "We'll take a look at your timetable and sort something out okay."

She smiled.

They walked out of the class together at the end of the day. "Mr. Harborne!"

"Shit." He looked at Autumn. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled.

"He's in shit."

"She always cop him?"

"Nine times out of ten. We'll walk with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah sure."

They all walked out of the high school laughing and joking. Autumn tried to join in but found it hard to. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"You live by the river?"

"Close."

"You're lucky."

"I guess."

"We'll see you tomoz."

"Okay."

"Bye Autumn."

"Bye guys."

They all parted company, going their separate ways.

4th September

Connor met Autumn by the bridge. "So how are we ready to go?"

'"Yeah."

He placed his arm around her as they walked away.

"Hey Con, Autumn."

"Guys."

They walked over to them. "On time. I'm impressed Con get you out of bed?"

"No, my mom."

"Ooh, that told you, Jay."

Connor laughed.

"Come on let's go."

They walked into school as the bell rang. They went into registration.

"I'll see you in an hour okay."

"Okay."

Connor kissed her cheek. "Bye Autumn."

"Con."

He walked away. Autumn went into her first lesson sitting down. The Latino boy looked at her and smiled. She shot a short smile back.

"Right class I'd like you to pair for the next few weeks. So, Jarrod, I'd like you to pair with the new pupil Miss. Cleveland."

"Sure sir."

Stenton sunk into his chair why couldn't he have paired them?

"Hi, I'm Jarrod."

"Autumn."

He smiled.

The bell rang after the lesson and they walked out of the classroom. "It was good working with you Autumn. You're clever for a chick."

She looked at him.

"No offence."

"None taken."

"Just most girls around here are dumb and prefer to look pretty and are never off their mobiles, thinking of themselves. Not you."

"I prefer to get good grades."

He smiled.

"I have to get going."

"I'll see you next lesson."

"You will. Later Autumn."

"Later Jarrod."

He smiled as she walked away had he finally met a girl with the same intelligence as him?

She walked into her next lesson sitting next to Ash. "So how did your first science lesson go?'

"Good. I met Jarrod.'

"Oh."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He's a loner Autumn he ain't got many friends he's a square."

"I like him."

"Keep that to yourself."

Autumn hadn't seen Connor this morning. Maybe, he was in a different class from her.

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."

"Where you been? I've been looking all over for you."

"In lesson."

"Must've missed you." He said, walking over to her taking the cigarette off her taking the last few drags, blowing it out, doubting it out with his foot. "I'm sorry about yesterday."

"What happened?"

"Detention, bitch."

"Shouldn't wag."

"Maybe you should join me."

"I don't think so."

"Why not? It'll be fun."

"Your fun ain't mine."

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

He edged closer. She stood nervously. "Why are you so nervous? We're friends aren't we?"

"I guess."

"Good."

He pressed his lips on hers kissing her, she foolishly returned his kiss, and he slipped his tongue in kissing her harder and harder, and tears slipped down her cheek. He moved away looking at her concerned. "What's wrong?"

"I...I"

"Why are you crying Autumn, it wasn't that bad was it?"

"No, it's not that."

"So, what is it then?"

"I... I don't want you to die."

'I won't. I ain't going anywhere, I ain't going to die. Not today anyway!" He cracked

She looked unimpressed. "I'm sorry I can't." She turned walking briskly away, tears rolling down her face.

"What's the wrong Autumn?"

She turned looking dead at him. "You wouldn't understand."

"Talk to me then."

"I have a shrink for that, a good one. Mathew Harding."

"Harding! You are joking right?"

"No."

"He's a prick Autumn. He'll just listen to get inside you."

"And you won't?"

"No. I'm your friend. I'd like more, but I ain't gonna get it."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I can't take that chance again."

"What happened at your old school? And don't say fuck all, cause clearly, a heap of shit did."

"I can't it hurts too much."

"You talk to him."

"It's his job, not yours."

"I'm your friend you can talk to me."

"Maybe one day."

"Why not now?"

"I can't." She cried.

He pulled her close, placing his arms around her and comforting her. "I'm here for you okay? Any time you need to talk I'm here."

She cried onto his shirt, she couldn't deal with anything heavy right now. He moved away looking at her. "It'll be okay Autumn."

"It will never be okay."

"I like you, take all the time you need okay."

She smiled briefly.

"Come on we've got an hour to kill before lunch we'll take a look at that timetable of yours."

"Okay."

His arm draped over her shoulder as they walked up the playing field sitting down. They looked through her timetable till lunch. "Right, so we're all settled we've only got a few lessons without each other. Do you think you can handle that?"

"Yeah."

He leaned forward. "We can hang out after school and at weekends if you like?"

"That would be nice."

"Cool." He pressed his lips on hers kissing her. He moved away. "Come on let's grab us a bite to eat. I'm starving."

They pulled themselves up, he draped his arm over her shoulders and they walked into the school and the cafeteria to choose barley-cooked jacket potatoes and dressing, choosing their drinks. "Hey over here."