Harley Walsh: Strained Sisters

2. School

September 2023
Harley POV-
Today it's school, first day back and I go into year 9. I hate school so much, all the bullies, all the teachers picking on me for nothing and I hate it more when I have English first, that wicked witch of the west she literally looks like Cruella, like honey why have you got black and white hair, she can't teach either and then she picks on me because she can't control the class and apparently that's my fault. There's two teachers in school that I like, I haven't told either of them my problems, I just can't. There both so caring and there the only ones who I can go to and have a laugh with, if I tell them my problems they'll think im a freak. Anyway, it's 7.30am school starts at 8.25 so I leave my house about 8. My parents aren't speaking to me properly they haven't ever since I laid hands on there pretty perfect princess Keira. They don't even know im being bullied. I pack my bag and do my hair before walking down the stairs in my slightly scruffy uniform, they believe I'm old enough to look after myself now.
Harley-"im going now" I call out to the house
Tracy-"ok bye" the cold answers hurt. They hurt the worst, it's like they couldn't care less if I was there or not, I start the long walk to school, it's quite cold today so I put my coat on, ill definitely get told to take that off but you know. I see the school gates and everyone around them, my eyes blur and my chest tightens, i look around looking for someone I could call a friend, but there's no one, no one there for me. I take a deep breath walking past everyone through the school gates heading to form not wanting to bump into anyone, I find my form door and walk into my seat at the back of the room, I throw my bag onto the table before I leave again and start my laps around the building before form starts. I walk past the main office and see my head of year. I scramble to take my coat off not wanting to be caught already but she turns as I'm only halfway taking it off
Miss Mac Donagh-"morning Harley, coat"
Harley-"h...hi"
Miss Mac Donagh-"you okay?"
I nod, when there's something wrong with me, I don't know what it is, when she speaks to me it's like she just gets through to me and normally causes me to go into tears. I take my other arm out of my coat walking away from her heading to form. My form tutors a dickhead, he's always shouting for no reason, makes us sit there in silence and his name Mr Brick. I call him Mr Prick, not my fault I can't hear properly, he shouldn't have a stupid name, I sit down in form, looking at the floor, luckily not of the girls that bully me are here in my form but there in my English, and I have to sit in there for 2 hours. Form finally finishes and I pick my bag up heading to English
Miss Mac Donagh-"harley! Wait up a second, let me walk you to English"
Harley-"why"
Miss Mac Donagh-"your not okay harls, talk to me" oh yeah, she has a nickname for me. Only she can call me 'Harls'. That's her name for me, the other teacher I like. Miss McCabe: she calls me 'H'. That's it, just H.
Miss Mac Donagh-"what are you thinking"
Harley-"I cant do English miss, she hates me"
Miss Mac Donagh-"harley, she doesn't hate you"
Harley-"she does"
Miss Mac Donagh-"maybe harls, if you wasn't wearing your coat, you'd be alright"
Harley-"that's why you don't like me"
Miss Mac Donagh-"seriously harls"
Harley-"what? You dont"
Miss Mac Donagh-"of course I do, you just lets say get on my nerves when you've got that one"
I smile as I walk up the stairs "you gonna go in?"
Harley-"ill wait until everyone goes in"
Miss O'Mahony-"WHERE IS HARLEY! HARLEY GET HE- oh hi Miss Mac Donagh is everything okay?"
Miss Mac Donagh-"yes was just coming to tell you, Harley will be in my English today"
Miss O'Mahony-"what why"
Miss Mac Donagh-"because I'm her head of year and I'm taking her into mine"
Miss O'Mahony-"oh uhm okay"
Caitlin-"bye fattie! No one wanted you here anyway" I turn around following her down the stairs
Harley-"why did you move me?"
Miss Mac Donagh-"she won't be shouting at you like that" I smile as I follow her into her classroom and she sits me on the desk right infront of her although I'm not complaining. She starts saying things but I just zone out of it, I can hear her but I cant if that makes sense, I feel her kneel infromt of the table
Miss Mac Donagh-"harley?"
Harley-"huh? What?"
Miss Mac Donagh-"can you read some of the poem please?"
Reading. I hate reading. I'm such a slow reader, everyone laughs
Harley-"I.. er-"
Jordan-"can bro not read" everyone laughs
Miss Mac Donagh-"harls go outside" I stand up tears filling my eyes and go stand outside the room, punching some of the lockers. I domt even hear the door open let alone hear her calling me, she grabs my arms holding me back away from the lockers
Miss Mac Donagh-"breathe harls, breathe"
Harley-"everyone hates me" I start to cry
Miss Mac Donagh-"im sure they dont harls"
Harley-"did you not hear them miss!"
Miss Mac Donagh-"dont shout please, sit out here for 5 minutes, deep breaths"
Harley-"can i go see Miss McCabe please"
Miss Mac Donagh-"if she's not teaching of course, go on"
I smile and stand up going to find McCabe. Finally as I turn the corner she pops round the other side
Harley-"Miss McCabe!"
Miss McCabe-"H! How are you? Why aren't you in English"
Harley-"she shouted at me and Miss Mac Donagh let me leave and then she said I could see you if you weren't teaching"
Miss McCabe-"is everything okay munchkin"
Harley-"everyone hates me"
Miss McCabe-"no they don't munchkin, how long of English is left?"
Harley-"an hour and 20 minutes"
Miss McCabe-"double lesson" I nod "well im teaching in 20 so can you sit quietly in the back of my lesson"
Harley-"really?" I smile and she nods,
Miss McCabe-"let me just go tell miss mac Donagh" I nod as I follow her back to miss Mac Donaghs class, thru both speak
Miss Mac Donagh-"be good please harls"