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1639 Words
“So you’re bunking too?”
She looked at his ice blue eyes. “Stenton.”
“That’s my name.” He cracked, smiling.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Bunking off, you?”
“I needed air.”
“So how’s that eye?”
“Healing.”
“Lucky you didn’t lose it .”
“Mmm.”
He stood inches away from her. Looking at her. “Why are you covering for your him babe?”
“Who?”
“Jae. We all know he did it. I would’ve floored him, but Con’s already done that.”
She looked at him.
“His face babe. Word is he was in intensive care for the five weeks that we had off.”
“Oh.”
“Dan called out to you both to duck, guess you never heard him.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Sour face is making sure that this never happens again. Everyone’s to go straight inside when it’s snowing.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It ain’t your fault, babe.”
“It is, it hit me.”
“It could’ve hit anyone babe, trust me to guess sour face had had enough of giving warnings out.”
Tears slipped off her face.
“Don’t cry babe. We all get carried away when it comes to snow.”
“I guess?”
He wiped her tears away. “Can’t let people see you crying can we it’s The first sign of defeat.”
He pulled her close hugging her. “You’ve got good friends babe, even though they are dumbasses.”
Tears fell onto his blazer.
“Hey, I thought I said no tears.”
“Sorry I ..”
“It’s cool Red, just don’t tell anyone I said it okay.”
She laughed slightly. “Okay.”
He smiled. “You’re a bright girl Red, you know what’s right in your own heart.”He pulled away taking his arm from around her and wiping her tears away.
“Miss. Cleveland Mr Stenton.”
They turned to look at the eldest male. “Sir.”
“You best be getting to lesson Mr Stenton, your father won’t be too pleased if he has a bad report will he?”
“No sir.”
“Come to my office Miss. Cleveland we need to talk.”
“Sir.”
The two looked at each other. Stenton walked into the A block.
“Come on we’ll chat a while.”
Autumn followed Mr Grayson from the school to his office.
She stared blankly at him.
“I’m sorry Autumn, every kid does it no matter how many warnings we get. Guess we should know better we were all in quarantine last winter sour face b***h reckoned we’d hurt someone daint believe her thou to till now anyway. I had no idea there was ice in it babe or I would never have thrown it.”
“I guess.”
“Why didn’t you tell them, Autumn?”
“You could’ve.”
“I tried. I was told to keep my trap shut.”
“Who by?”
“I can’t tell you. But I paid for it, Con was pissed. I’ve never seen him so pissed. It’s just lucky he doesn’t know who told me to keep my trap shut.”
“Didn’t they all keep it shut?”
“Look Autumn, Con dealt with it in his way. Dan will Dan Ash and Hazza just blanked me. You I was surprised at.”
“I can’t remember anything, Jae. Let alone you throwing it.”
“I’m sorry, Autumn.”
She looked at him could she believe him? He had the biggest mouth of them all how many more apologies could she take off him?
She smiled briefly.
“It won’t happen again I promise.”
“No, it won’t. I’ll make sure of it.”
They looked up. “Con.”
“I-I best be going.”
“Yeah, you best.”
“Later Autumn.” Jae said, pulling himself up and walking briskly away.
Connor sat next to Autumn. “I missed you in class.”
“Grayson gave me time out.”
“Why was Jae here?”
“Apologising.”
“Oh.”
“Why didn’t you say anything Con? You knew all along and you never said anything.”
“They’d never believe me, Autumn, come to think of it they’d never believe any of us.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you knew.”
“I thought he may have done it I wasn’t sure. It was just the way he looked at me when I came round.”
“You kept it to yourself cause you weren’t sure?”
“I guess.”
“So now you know what are you going to do?”
”Nothing. You’ve already done it.”
“So you’re not going to go to Harding or anyone else?”
“No. Do you think I should?”
“We all stick together babe no matter what. They’ll get bored eventually and give up trying to find out trust me.”
She looked at him. He pressed his lips on her kissing her. He moved away. “Come on let’s go to lunch.”
They pulled themselves up going into the lunch hall the air was intense between the friends as they ate. They smoked in silence going into their tutor groups before their final lesson. Daniel sat next to Autumn. “So word is Stenton pulled the plug.”
“Guess so.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
She opened her mouth.
“Right class settle down.”
Daniel looked at her. “We’ll talk later.”
They all walked out of the class before Dan had a chance to talk to her Con slipped his arm around her. “So are we ready to go?”
“What you do run down the hall?”
“Nope Mr Dean let us out early seen as everything was up to date.”
“He’s getting generous.”
“Sure is.”
“So we’re not waiting for the guys?”
“Nope.”
“Oh okay.”
They all walked out of school saying their goodbyes. Connor looked at Autumn. “You okay babe?”
“Yeah. Con.”
“Yeah, babe.”
“Why didn’t we wait for the guys?”
“Just didn’t.”
She looked at him.
“Just say there’s a lot of friction babe.”
“Cause of Jae?”
“That and other stuff. It doesn’t concern you babe okay.”
“Okay.”
“Same time tomorrow, okay.”
“Okay.”
“It will all blow over babe.” He said, quickly kissing her. “Night babe.”
“Night Con.”
He turned walking away. She stared over the lake, the melting. ‘Thought you’d be long gone.’
She turned his green eyes glistened in the winter sun.his Mohawk fell over his face. “Dan.”
“I was going to talk to you after class didn’t expect Con to be early.”
She looked at him.
“So are you going to sour face?”
“What for?”
“To grass on Jae.”
“No.”
He looked surprised at her. “Oh okay. May I ask why.”
“If I tell them who it was it won’t only be him getting in s**t it will be all of you and that’s not fair. He’s apologised and I’m cool with it he just wants to forget about it.”
“Even when that’s taken off? I don’t think you will.”
“Maybe, but I’ll have to live with it.”
“You’re a good friend Red.”
“A stupid one my mom would say.”
“She’s right.”
“Maybe, but I ain’t no grass.”
“Even if you lost your sight.”
“Yeah.”
He pulled her close. “I just wish I'd done more.”
“Maybe if I hadn’t turned.”
“It’s all that ifs Red, we just have to learn by our mistakes.”
“Yeah, I guess we do.”
He kissed her brow. “I best be getting off.” He dropped his arms from around her.
“Tell the guys they’ve got Nothing to worry about okay I won’t say nought.”
“Sure.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”
“Sure.”
He walked away.
“So keeping your friend's secrets?”
She jumped and turned. “Matt, what are you doing here?”
“I thought that your friends would fold and help you fill in the missing pieces.”
“They haven’t said nought.”
“You can’t lie to my Autumn.”
“Please don’t say anything Matt this is my choice and mine alone.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“I’m no grass Matt that’s how you lose friends.”
“You’re too loyal Autumn.’
“Maybe, please don’t say anything.”
“I won’t.” He looked at her. “As long as we can meet up this Saturday, here.”
“I-I.”
“That’s the deal Autumn or I tell them everything. Do we have a deal?”
“I guess.”
“Good. We’ll talk more Thursday.” He said, pecking her on the cheek. “If you back out I will tell Mr Grayson the truth.”
“I won’t.”
“Good. Goodnight Autumn.”
“Whatever.”
He walked away tears slipped off her face how the hell was she going to get out of it?
- Writer
