Changed For The Better

Series of unfortunate events

Oh, shit. I was supposed to be meeting Harley and the others! Harley is going to go up to the bench and just get turned away because I'm not there, but I haven't been able to text anyone so they won't even know where I am or have an explanation! 

Hes going to hate me now. I was trying to be nice to him and trying to help him, but it will just looked like Ive tried to make a fool of him. This really isnt helping. But what can I do? The others dont know Im in maths so they cant tell him, and Im in detention so I cant just text them to tell them whats going on.

Maybe theyll put two and two together and it will be fine, but I doubt it. I know if I were in Harleys situation I would never speak to me again. And I know how lonely that is and how much it hurts to feel forced to push the people who care about you away.

I sat twiddling my pencil as I watched Mr Bawing. It was a gross sight and I wanted to stop watching, but I just couldnt. It was the worst thing ever. 

I think I was meant to be doing the work or at least doing something, but I was way too distracted by the guilt that was slowly eating me up. And the fact that the smell of raw fish was making me feel sick.

I didnt eat any of my lunch, I couldnt bring myself too. I thought that I might actually be sick if I did. I cant stand fish on a good day, but its even worse when youre watching your angry maths teacher scoff them down whole while they still have eyes and stuff. Yeah it was gross.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket a couple of times. No doubt it was either Ryan or Harley asking where I am. If I get caught with my phone out mind Ill just get told off and probably given an after school detention as well. Definitely dont need that on the first day.

The bell finally went so I rushed away to chemistry. Feeling s combination of sick and hungry and also tired because chemistry was on the other side of the school so I had to run to get there on time which is just my luck.

I stumbled through the door just in time as the bell rang again. Everyone looked at me since I had just burnt through the door then stood panting in the doorway. We had another new teacher and everyone else was just stood at the back of the room waiting to be told where to sit.

Name demanded the teacher.

Marie I painted. Riley I continued, remembering this is a formal environment or whatever.

Troublemaker. Note taken was all he responded with. Why are all the chemistry teachers in this school so weird?

I joined the others at the back. Ryan looked confused and a little parred off, but that was nothing in comparison to what Harley looked like. His eyes were burning a hole through my skin. I feel terrible.

We were placed in our seats and I was next to some girl I had never met before. Jody was on the other side of this girl, and of course, since the universe hates me so much, Ryan and Harley were sat right next to each other, st the back, on the other side of the room.

Thats just another thing I have to worry about. Hopefully today will be one of those lessons where you have to work in silence so they wont make any conversation. I need to speak to them both as soon as possible so I can set everything straight and explain what happened.

However, this is a double lesson and something is acting against me today. No doubt they will have to talk to each other at some point and no doubt Ill come up in conversation. And not in a good way.

—

Chemistry finally finished. Again I didnt do much work and Im surprised I didnt get into trouble again, but I was too preoccupied thinking about Harley and Ryan. 

Id seen them talking to each other but I couldnt read their lips or make out what they were saying. Neither of them seemed angry, or happy, and I just hate the not knowing.

The bell went for the end of the day. Honestly it feels like Ive been here for a year already, and its only the first day. We all packed up and left, so I waited outside the room for Ryan to come out.

Sadly, Harley came out first, and it didnt even take a second for him to start having a go at me...in front of everyone.

What was that then?! He yelled. Why did you promise to meet me at lunch then leave me with your friends? Why didnt you show up? Why did you have to ditch me like that? I fully trusted you and everything he almost seemed frustrated with himself.

Im sorry. I had maths with Mr Bawing and he kept me in all of lunch...

Why didnt you answer your phone?

I couldnt! Mr Bawing would have seen me and probably killed me he didnt seem to be taking it well. I dont blame him. Look, Ill make it up to you somehow. I promise you that

Yeah you promised you would meet me at lunch as well and that never happened

Dont be difficult. Why dont we meet up sometime? Like outside of school where the teachers arent a problem

Ill think about it was all he said before he walked away.

Hes definitely damaged. Before this whole thing he would have jumped at the chance to meet me after school, not to brag. He probably also would have if I offered this morning. Honestly, I tried, and it seems I can only do more harm than good.

Whats wrong? I snapped back into reality and Ryan was stood in front of me, waiting to leave.

Oh just thinking about how I tried to help someone today and tried to be nice and instead I just made things a million times worse

Yeah what happened? Because he came to our bench at lunch as was asking where you were. Apparently you said youd meet him?

I did. I said he could have lunch with all of us so that he wouldnt be lonely, but then I got stuck in a detention with Mr Bawing so I couldnt go

What did you do?

I just didnt get it but you know what hes like

What are you going to do about Harley?

Honestly, I have no idea. I asked if he wanted to meet up with us sometime but he said hell think about it

Well youve done all you can. Try not to blame yourself for this

It is kind of my fault though

Not really. He might never have met Mr Bawing so he might not know what hes like. But either way youve offered to make things good again. Its up to him to help himself now

Yeah I sighed, but I wasnt convinced. Ryan forgets that Ive been in Harleys shoes before. It doesnt feel that way from his point of view. He might just be walking away to see if anyone cares enough to run after him, so I guess thats what I need to do.