Chapter 18- First Late

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Y/N-----

My first late of year 11 went like this. Yesterday evening:

Mother came home absurdly late. When my Szarlotka slices had just been set into the fridge, so some time after 11 pm. I was in a delighted mood, looking forward to enjoying my pie at school tomorrow. I asked her how her going out went and she said when her and her friends walked past a certain café they overheard a man angrily explaining to another how teenagers needed to 'be more careful' when crossing the road, because his brother almost crashed into two at once!

Totally crazy.

Thank goodness she didn't notice my cheeks redden.

According to Mother they also went for some drinks- too much at that. Well not that she said it directly- it was her flushed face, strange acquired smell and how she had fumbled suspiciously with the keys for long before opening the front door that had brought back my memory of a behaviour I had thought was left behind.

How I despise alcohol. And 'cheeky nights out'. Which she had tried to cover up as a casual walk around town.

So instead of showing her my most recent baking masterpiece, the family roles were swapped and I had to make sure she didn't knock anything off the shelves, spend three minutes searching for a light switch, or forget to brush her teeth. Great.

All that reverse parenting led me to finally lay on my mattress at 23:42. I usually start sleeping at 11, so I knew I'd be slightly delayed when I stared baking but not by this much.

But from what I could hear through the wall, after I had left Mother in her bedroom, she fell off the side of her bed (I forced myself not to laugh), grabbed her phone and started calling one of the friends she was just with. About someone she'd met at the pub. A middle aged guy she forgot the name of and wanted to know more about.

I was rather intrigued. But I also have a more reasonable excuse to eavesdrop. When she acts stupid, I like to sort things out.

He was tall and wore glasses. His hair was a 'strong coffee brown' and he drove a motorcycle, she said. He was 'handsome'.

Don't tell me my mother has found a love interest...

I mean- it's not like she's not allowed to because she's a widow. She's been single for long now, and has intentionally/unintentionally had a long break from men since then. But I feel it's just.. weird? I don't quite know how to word it.

Plus a potential love interest, if the fire is somehow kept burning, could lead to a boyfriend, which could lead to..

A new father figure. Wow.

I continued listening in on her honeyed conversation, which changed topics quicker than I go through store-bought ground cinnamon. I checked the time on my phone and almost threw it off my bed.

I should've gone to sleep ages ago.

So I tried. And incase you can't guess what happened in the morning..

I woke up late. Regretfully late.

My school clothes were frantically put on against the race of time and Mother was given paracetamol with a jug of water beside her bed table, for when she had enough of sleeping the alcohol away. I shoved my brush, pre packed lunchbox and a few snacks inside my bag- breakfast and hair brushing would have to be done on the bus.

I almost didn't lock the front door properly. I hate being late. And so much for having a clean streak for the start of this year. "Just a casual walk with friends" she said.

When the second bus of the route I take to school arrived, I felt ashamed to realise all the early/normal-time people had already gone and now I was with the lates. That bus ride, I tried to breathe deeply and forget Mother's stupid call about that 'handsome' guy. At least my hair felt kind to me- it wasn't a great pain to brush.

I knew by the deserted front school gates no running could change the fact that I wasn't on time- but I thought that if I walked briskly with a distressed expression, the receptionist could notice, pity me and not give me a detention. Incase my fairly clean record and polished reputation isn't enough.

"Gosh Y/N I was wondering where you were 25 minutes ago!" Miss Rorist gasped dramatically, looking up from her (untidy) reception desk.

"Haha, I know, it wasn't my fault, see there was a complication with- wait, 25 minutes?"

"Yes, registration has almost ended! This is a one off obviously since you're a great student and all so no detention. Just try to make this the last of this year with you being in year 11 and what not. Oh I remember when I was your age.."

My panic worsens like a winter fever. "Oh my- Thank you Miss, have a good day!" Fuck.

I dashed to form, which was easy because no one was around in the corridor at this time, dawdling stupidly and blocking my way.

And that's how I got to here- Bursting the door open just a few minutes before period one started.

"Sorry I'm late Mrs Szymańska!"

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⏰ Last updated: Oct 24 ⏰

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