When The School Bell Rings

• CHAPTER • FOUR •

I look at my face in the mirror of my bathroom. Shit. My eyes are red and I have dark circles prominently showing on my face. Fuck. 

I'm too tired to even cover it up.

I throw on some pink joggers and a matching pink cropped sweatshirt before scraping my hair into a messy ponytail. I look like shit but I couldn't care less right now.

As I walk down the stairs, I notice the house is eerily silent. I walk into the kitchen and my heart drops as I see the boys have taken the last of the milk and bread, meaning there is nothing for me for breakfast. I also notice a note from them, saying 'you were too slow so we left without you x' 

Brilliant. I bring out my phone, which I forgot to charge and dial Zoe's number. Luckily she picks up my call.

"Zoeeeeee," I whine. 

She sighs. "Coming."

I hang up and smile at the blessing that is my best friend's ability to drive. Real lifesaver, I tell ya.

She pulls up outside my house after five minutes and I run out, getting into the passenger seat quickly.

"Jesus, girl. You look like shit," she compliments me.

"Zoe, stop flirting with me and drive," I roll my eyes at her. We are so late!

By the time we reach school, first period has begun. Shit. I'm late for English.

I practically run into the class and flush as the whole class look at me. I put my head down and go to my seat, only to be greeted by Mr Hart staring at me with a confused look on my face. I press my lips into a fine line, as if saying I couldn't help being late (which is true), and get my Scarlet Letter copy out.

I spend the day pretty much silent, only really butting in when needed during lunch with Zoe. I was far too exhausted to communicate with anyone and I was absolutely starving. 

By the time I reach last period, I am seriously struggling to keep my eyes open. I take my seat in Mr Whitlock's class but my eyes are blurry and I feel a migraine growing. 

Someone says something next to me and I turn my head to see them but wince at the pain. I turn  back to the front of the class and see Mr Whitlock staring at me, deep in thought. He then grabs his phone and types something. 

"Right class, I'm going to put this movie on about the Civil War. Please no talking and make detailed notes on the accuracies and inaccuracies."

I blow my cheeks out as my eyes widen. How on earth am I going to stay awake if he puts the lights out? The film starts playing and I feel my eyelids droop.

"Camille." I jump as mr Whitlock is crouched by my desk whispering to me. 

"S...sir. I wasn't asle-" I start to excuse myself.

"Can you go to the copy room and make me 30 copies of this sheet please?"

I look at him confused but do as he says and stand from my seat. As I walk to the copy room, my vision becomes blurrier and I struggle to walk straight. 

I stumble through the door and lose my footing but someone catches me before I fall. I look at whose strong arms are holding me up and blush when I see I have just fallen into Mr Laurent.

"I'm sorry, sir," I stammer.

"Mon dieu, you're so tired," he says to me as he steadies me on my feet. I walk over to the copier and put the sheet into it but am stopped by another hand. I turn around to see Mr Hart staring at me with concern in his eyes. 

"Josh-Mr Whitlock texted us and told us you were falling asleep in his class," he says to me and I look away in embarrassment. He continues. "Mr Laurent here is going to go and grab your bag from class and I am going to drive you home so you can sleep before your shift. We are also going to give you extensions on all your homework from us."

"How did you know I would be in here," I ask in confusion.

"Mr Whitlock told us he would send you out to copy something." Mr Laurent answers me and I turn to look at him. God they had a real plan, didn't they.

"Look I'm too tired to argue, so fine." I agree and Mr Hart starts directing me outside whilst Mr Laurent goes to get my bag. 

I close my eyes instinctively as the bright light of outside hits me. My head is pounding more than ever now. When I open my eyes, I see Mr Hart still looking at me with deep concern. 

He guides me to a black ford mustang and I blink in shock. Wow, he has taste! He opens the passenger door for me and I slide in as Mr Laurent walks over. He hands Mr Hart my bag before telling him something, to which Mr Hart nods and walks over to the drivers side. 

"Here's your bag," he says as he hands it to me. He begins driving and I look out the window as trees and houses go past in a blur. We both are silent for a couple of minutes and it is honestly so awkward until I decide I can't handle it anymore and break it. 

"Do you think we will get in trouble for you driving me home," I look over to Mr Hart.

He smirks at me before looking at the road to answer. "I didn't know you were cared about not getting into trouble, Miss Owens."

I roll my eyes. "I just wondered." I mutter under my breath and bite my lip before looking out the window again.

"Don't bite your lip," he says to me in a deep voice. 

"Why not," I ask innocently.

He ignores me. "To answer your previous question, no we won't get into trouble. As you know, the new principal is leaving as of tomorrow and I have already cleared this with the new principal." 

I nod in acceptance of his answer and it's not long until he pulls up to my house. 

"Get some sleep, darl-Camille" he corrects himself, making my eyebrows furrow. I nod at him and exit the car, throwing my bag on my shoulder. He watches until I'm in the house and then I hear his engine drive off. 

I sigh in confusion. Why are my teachers being nice to me all of a sudden?

As I walk to my room, I decide to peek through my dad's door and see him passed out on his bed, star fishing and surrounded by beer bottles. I roll my eyes and close the door. 

I walk into my room and set an alarm for an hour before work. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall asleep.