Family is Forever

Part 23 School (a week later)

It was the 3rd September and Ali's first day of 6th form. She still had to meet Zosia or Oli at the hospital for lunch. "Are you sure you don't want a lift?" Zosia asked her cousin
"For the 100th time- I'm fine, it's only a 10 minute walk, stop stressing!" Ali laughed at Zosia. She was pretending though. She was terrified. A new city, a new sixth form, a new family!
Ali really didn't want breakfast, all food turned to cardboard in her mouth, tasting of nothing and impossible to swallow. As Zosia left the room, satisfied that Ali would eat what was left of her toast, Ali spat it into a tissue and put the toast in the bin, under the empty strawberry punnet from last night. She was trying so hard but that voice in her head was getting stronger telling her how fat and disgusting she was. She was hiding her food; in the bin, in plastic bags under her bed, in the sink cabinet in her bathroom, flushed down the toilet. It hadn't been easy, Zosia and Ollie had been watching her like hawks. To the point Ali had had to throw up the food after eating too.
Zosia kissed the top of Ali's head before she left for school. "Actually wait Natalia' Zosia smiled "you look so smart in your sixth form uniform, I'll take a photo and we can send it to Babcia" Zosia pulled her phone out and snapped a photo. "I'll print it out at work and you can write back to Babcia"
"Cool" Ali smiled.
Zosia and Ali left the house at the same time. Zosia's shift started at 9 although she was working only 6 hours today as it was Ali's first day of school. "Powodzenia kochanie baw" good luck darling Zosia smiled "dziękuję będę" thank you I will Ali replied as she plugged her headphones into her new phone and started the walk to school.
There was a table set up in the school reception For new students, there were always quite a few in Year 12. Ali told the receptionist her name. The receptionist smiled at her. "Mrs Yates will be your form tutor, she's a language teacher second floor classroom F203 take that staircase then it's the second room on your right"
"Thanks," Ali smiled and made her way up to her form class room. She stepped in and saw a teacher who looked kind and friendly and 5 tables with a few pupils on each. Ali looked around "Hi," a tall blonde girl said "I'm Lexi, this is Sophie and Rosa she pointed at her friends." Sophie had lovely red hair down to her shoulders and Rosa has brown hair to her waist. "Come and sit with us!"
"Hi," Ali said quietly her heart was racing this was a new place for her "I I'm Ali' she stuttered. "Are you new?" Rosa asked " I don't recognise you ?" "Yes," Ali answered slightly more confidently the girls she was sat with seemed lovely. "Hello Form 12RY, I'm Mrs Yates, I will be your from tutor for this year, if you ever have any problems feel free to come to me and I can help you or point you in the right direction." Mrs Yates handed out homework planners and timetables then explained the buddy system. "So as you are Year 12 you will have Year 8 buddies" Mrs Yates passed out the names of the buddies Ali's said Hers was Evie Fletcher. "You will meet your buddies after assembly. Off you go to the hall." Mrs Yates dismissed her form and walked over to Ali "Natalia can you please stay behind one second."
"I'll save you a seat in assembly" Lexi smiled at Ali.
"Thanks Alexia" Mrs Yates smiled. "Take a seat Natalia" the teacher could sense how anxious Ali was so decided to engage her in some small talk "your last name is Polish isn't it?" The teacher asked Ali "yes, I was born there" Ali replied "really?" the teacher asked "me too, in Warszawa, it's a beautiful country. I moved here when I was 2 though, so I don't have an accent, but ja mówie po Polsku" Ali giggled "so if you ever want a chat in Polish I'm here." The teacher smiled "Now Natalia, your cousin has informed me that you have been diagnosed with Anorexia," Ali looked shocked. "Hey it's ok," the teacher soothed. "They had to tell me so we can help you, you remember I told you you aren't allowed to eat in the form room, if you want to that's fine so long as you clear up afterwards. And if you ever need to talk or validate that it's okay to eat I'm here. Or you can talk to the head of Year 12 Mr Edwardson or any of the other teachers, off to assembly now. I just wanted you to know I'm here. I'll usually be here or in the language office.
Ali only had two lessons psychology and French, with Mrs Yates again. Before she had to go to the hospital for Lunch and the afternoon where they were meeting Colette and little Ela at the airport. Ali signed out and made her way to the hospital.