Chapter 11
I hadn’t seen Cam in nearly a month… I’d been avoiding Fay. I didn’t want to answer her if she asked, “Why are you not living with us?” because she would ask, and I wouldn’t know how to answer.
It was weird living at Ryan’s too, not having a little girl to pick up from school or babysit. On the plus side, I had so much more freedom. Jordan’s quite protective of me, which is nice because it showed he cared, but on the whole we could do what we like.
I must admit, I struggled at first to come to grips with what had happened; things got easier over time. I fitted in here so much more than I did at Cam’s. I didn’t feel like I had to hide anything from Ryan or Jordan. I was Jordan’s little sister now.
I looked out the window, and seeing what a dull morning it was, I groaned. I had a stomach ache and felt pretty sick.
“Wakey wakey!” Ryan shouted from upstairs, obviously looking for me.
“I’m already up, I’m downstairs.” I called up to him.
Ryan trudged down the stairs and into the kitchen, where I was making myself some breakfast. He got the milk out of the fridge and poured some over my cereal.
“Thanks.” I responded.
“It’s fine, you look rough.” He told me.
“Oh cheers,” I said, “ I feel rough too.”
“Go back to bed.” Ryan instructed.
“Can’t. I’ve got an English assessment today.” And with that, I left the kitchen, munching on my bowl of cereal.
Today’s choice of clothing, I decided, was going to be some opaque black tights, so that no one could see the state my legs were in, and a pair of dark, denim shorts, along with biker boots and a navy hoodie. Since I left my school bag at Cam’s, I had to use one of Ryan’s small rucksacks. I straightened my hair for a change and left the house.
The day wasn’t going well. Talia had started up her “let’s take the piss out of Ingrid” club, again. On top of that I still felt really ill, but I think my English assessment had gone okay. I was sat in the dining hall with Ryan and a couple of his friends at lunch. I ate an apple but I wasn’t really hungry. When they’d finished their food, we left to go and get some work done in the school library. I logged onto a computer and opened up my history homework, which was due next lesson. It was nearly finished, I just had to add a couple of sentences on about how the army made up some shit, about how good it was to be a soldier, to try and get people to join.
The bell went and I just got my work printed in time. I knew Mr Faulger would be waiting, he always was. He was a strict teacher, but his methods worked. In that lesson, we learnt about 9/11. I thought the people involved were all rather stupid really. Ryan came to the conclusion that they were a few sandwiches short of a picnic. I can understand why.
We didn’t get set any homework from that lesson. I was surprised.
Back at Ryan’s, two hours later, I was sat on the sofa looking through a photo album with him from when he was little. He was such an adorable little boy, but there was something wrong with all the photos- in not one of them was Ryan smiling. Out of the blue his mobile rang and he got up to answer it, finding out that it was Jordan who had got on a train to a job interview in Peterborough, and had forgotten his presentation notes.
“Would you be able to run my presentation notes to me on the Harley?” Jordan asked.
“Sure. I’ll be there in an hour.” Replied Ryan and hung up.
Ryan hurried up to study where Jordan had left his folder. It was a good job that Jordan’s interview wasn’t until half past five otherwise he wouldn’t have had the time for Ryan to take them.
“I’m really sorry Ingrid.” Ryan apologised. “I’ll be home before seven, it’s only an hour each way but I’ll stop in Tesco on the way back and get us some food. Don’t worry about cooking. Typical Jordan.”
I told Ryan that I didn’t mind and that I’d just watch a film until he got home. Soon after, I heard the Harley’s engine start up and pull away down the road.
The house was cosy and at that moment, peaceful. I settled down to watch ‘The Notebook”.
