Resilience - Ackley Bridge Fic

Chapter 6

Monday morning crept in, casting an unforgiving light on the aftermath of the previous Thursday. Dyln studied her reflection in the mirror, moving cautiously as if time had decided to slow down just for her. 

Her fingers traced over the scabbing cut on her lip lightly. A fading bruise near her right eye served as a visible mark of the struggle she had endured, etched into her skin by her uncle's anger.

As she tugged on her white shirt, a Nike hoodie, and her blazer, a soft groan escaped Dyln's lips, her face contorted with discomfort and determination. Every shift and adjustment of her clothing sent a pang of ache through her body. 

Her usually olive skin appeared paler against the healing bruises, yet her unwavering determination remained her guiding force.

With each laboured breath, Dyln pushed herself through the motions of getting ready, knowing she couldn't let her guard down. 

At school, she aimed to keep a low profile, navigating the hallways with her gaze lowered. Each step sent a twinge of discomfort through her body, her ribs still aching slightly with every twist of her top half and every inhale. She caught fleeting glances and whispered conversations, but she brushed them aside, resolute in her determination not to show any weakness.

• • •

The school canteen buzzed with the lunchtime rush, students chattering and clinking trays as they navigated the chaos to grab their meals. Among them, Jordan found himself inadvertently caught in a whirlwind of events.

"Get out the way!" Mo's voice sliced through the commotion, followed closely by Zain's as they yelled at Jordan, who had been pushed in front of them as he reached for a muffin.

"What's the matter with you? I'll bang your bloody heads together!" Mrs Paracha, a stern canteen lady, roared over the noise. The commotion had shattered her usually calm demeanour.

"He pushed in!" Mo protested, gesturing to Jordan with exasperation.

"White privilege, innit?" Zain added, his frustration evident.

Ms Shariff, a teacher who had witnessed the entire scene, stepped in to defuse the situation. "Hey! Get a grip. This is Ackley Bridge, not South LA," she admonished her voice firm yet laced with a hint of humour.

Mo and Zain exchanged a begrudging glance before obeying Ms Shariff's command, retreating to the back of the queue with a grumble.

"You listen to her and get to the back," Mrs Paracha's voice was firm as she pointed at Jordan, instructing him to move to the end of the queue.

"Get to the back! Go!" Mrs Paracha's words echoed, and with a defeated sigh, Jordan made his way to the rear of the line.

"I was only getting a muffin for Dyl," Jordan muttered under his breath, a huff of frustration escaping him.

However, the incident had garnered attention, including Chloe's watchful gaze. She couldn't resist injecting her own brand of commentary. "You should go on, Jeremy Kyle. You'd be perfect for that show," she quipped, her words laced with a mix of jealousy and insecurity.

Jordan's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise as he met Chloe's eyes. The flirtatious undertone in her comment was unmistakable, a revelation that caught him off guard. It was no secret that Chloe harboured a sense of jealousy towards Dylan's friendship with him, but her attempt to gain his attention was a twist he hadn't anticipated.

"No, you should. Episode could be called, 'My mother abandoned me as a child'," Jordan countered, his retort delivered with playful confidence.

A beat of silence followed, and then Chloe's lips curved into a begrudging smile. "Touché," she replied, her jealousy masked beneath a veneer of flirtatious banter.