Trouble Times Two

Chapter Thirty-Five

Thursday

I wake up with a splitting headache, from crying. I wipe my face with a wet wipe so Donovan doesn't see the crusty tears on my face.

It's still dark outside, which was a small joy.

I jump into the shower and then get into my workout clothes because we've got strength training in the morning and the afternoon.

Even though I shouldn't, I put makeup on. It was just second nature at this point.

I pack my bag and try to eat breakfast but cereal will actually make me sick and bread is just unappealing.

So I eat a cereal bar which isn't enough, but the only thing I can physically manage.

I try to wake up Donovan but he just tells me to go away and so I leave the apartment. I walk all the way to school at 6, all alone, by myself, in the dark.

I know I'd be fine but the dark scared me. Yes, scary old me was scared of the dark.

Everyone is gathered near the school and I join the group. They call our names out and we all respond, apart from Donovan.

"Where's Donovan?" Female coach Renata, as they were siblings, and ergo were both Coach Renata, asks me. I shrug.

"I have no clue." I tie my laces into a double knot and then put my hair up.

"He's your exchange partner and you have to work with him." The male coach Renata says.

"Did you not see what happened in your class? Were you not there? We clearly don't get along. He'll be here soon and if not, I'll get Arthur to wake him up and make sure he gets here." I say as I walk away, annoyed with myself for not trying harder to wake him up. Mainly so I could avoid Donovan discourse so early on in the day.

"Don't bother. Here he is now." Female coach Renata says.

I watch as Donovan runs over and runs at me. He stops just before he bumps into me, probably thought he'd scare me from the dumb look on his dumb face.

"Took you long enough." I said and we all walk into the gym which is super decked out.

I actually enjoy the strength training until we have to try and carry our partners and mine is obviously Donovan because of our punishment.

Donovan carries me easily.

"Why are you so light?" He asks and I just shush him.

He can obviously carry me on his back, he can curl me, with some difficulty, and he can lift me up from my shoulders with ease.

Then it's time for me to try lifting him.

When he gets onto my back, he's heavy and his feet are barely off the ground.

I put him down and he laughs.

"You are 6'3" and I am 5'5", our average weights are gonna be so different so hush." I say as I start packing up.

"No your weight is not average, you're super light. It's..." I don't quite catch the last part of what he says. I already know I don't care to hear.

We go for a drink break and I grab a sandwich from Courtney who was at school with a mission to protect me so as I change, she waits outside. When I come out she's still there waiting, almost like a bodyguard and I laugh.

We walk to class and Lola joins us as we talk about this class we have, home economics, something we never had at our real school.

We walk in and sit down in the seating plan set for us and I'm obviously next to Donavan..

When the teacher introduces the topic, I want to cry because we're doing that cursed baby project.

Which I'll have to work with Donovan on because we're not allowed to choose partners for any class we're in together, which is all of them.

We get introduced to our babies which cry, and simulate shitting and all of that, well shit.

I cannot stand this project already, to be frank.

"What should we name our baby?" Donovan asks and I shrug.

"It's up to you." I respond.

"We should name her Donut." He says and I look at him.

"We'll get marked down for that." I point to the first point of the requirements which I could barely read. The teachers at this school weren't quick enough with their dyslexia resources or as accommodating, and that caused me more stress.

"Name him Donny Jr." I point to his information which says male baby.

"Let me read that." He snatches it from me.

"Read it out to me."

He doesn't and then hands it backs to me. "Read it yourself."

I grab a baby bag from the front of the class and anything else we might need.

I hold the baby with one arm and try to read the grade requirements, while my knee shakes like crazy.

Donovan just plays with the baby bag and looks at all the crazy features, which aren't that cool, he's just a child.

I keep on starting again because I first cannot focus, my mind is far too occupied with everything and anything, and secondly, it's just hard for me to read this.

I get up and go with the baby to the front of class and ask for the grade requirements to be sent to me. The teacher refuses.

"Why not?" I ask.

"You can just read that. You have it in front of you." She responds.

"I need a copy emailed to me please. I can't really read this." I explain and she just laughs. What an awful woman.

"No. For your impatience, you can just wait until the end of the week." I can feel my anger rising. My cheeks flaming red.

"You're not even the real teacher so I don't understand why you're on such a fucking power trip." I go back to my seat, grab my stuff including the baby, the baby gear and leave the class.

I go to Howlett's office and wait for the session to be done, then go inside and explain what's happened.

I just needed the whole thing explained to me and he does it gladly.

I message Donovan and tell him when and where to collect the baby after training.

He never shows up.

I'm not surprised.