FIRST IMPRESSIONS

how much did he hear?

“Knock knock.” my Dad smiled from the door.

“Come in!” I yelled out, falling backwards onto my bed.

My Dad swung the door open and perched on the end of my bed. I pulled myself up into a sitting position, and turned to face him with a smile on my face.

“What’s up, Dad?” I asked, wondering why he’d come into my room.

“Well sweetie, I wanted to talk to you about school.”

A frown instantly plastered itself onto my face.

Dan smiled back apologetically, continuing; “I’ve put you into a Performing Art’s school. You’ll be in the same year as Harry and Niall, and the other 3 are in the year above you.”

I smiled at this; at least I’d have some friends.

“Now, I know you had your…troubles back home. But here it’s going to have to change, ok? That means no swearing at teachers, no leaving class half way through the lesson,  no egging cars...”

“No fun, basically.” I grumbled.

“This school’s different. And anyway, you won’t have your mother there to distract you. Can you just try, for me, to forget about before?” he begged.

I stood up. “Dad, you haven’t seen what Mum’s like now, or all the shit I had to deal with. I can’t just ‘forget’. It’s not that easy. Maybe for you, but I can’t…okay? I’ll try my hardest to be good, or whatever at school. But you should know: I don’t take shit from anyone anymore. That’s what happens when you have to fend for yourself for four years. I can’t help it if I go back to old habits.” I shouted, disintegrating in to tears towards the end of my little speech. Dad pulled me into a tight hug.

“I know, sweetie, and I am so, so sorry.”

 I looked up to see Harry standing in my doorway, gawking.

Shit… how much did he hear?

I didn’t need him repeating everything he heard to the boys, I didn’t want sympathy. I had gotten this far without it, and I didn’t need it now.

 “Bye Dad, good chat. Don’t worry, I’ll be little Miss Perfect, or whatever.” I said in a monotone as I pushed past Harry. I sprinted out the front door and didn’t stop until I had reached the park from last night.