Changed For The Better

Cotton-eyed Marie

Despite my reasonably positive start to day, which was corrupted by a few negative thoughts, my start to the school day couldn't have gone much worse. Firstly, we were supposed to be catching a lift from Luke since it was completely tipping it down outside. Like seriously I thought we were coming close to a flood.

We were maybe a third of the way there, when the minibus broke down. We didn't have much time to wait for a repair or for Mai Lee to come and pick us up so we had to walk. And since we thought we were getting a lift, none of us brought any coats or umbrellas.

Without the time to go home to get one, and with pretty much no time to get to school we had no choice but to run the rest of the way to school, with our heavy bags, otherwise we would be in detention tonight.

I can't let Harley down again. And I really didn't want a detention. So, with heavy bags on our backs and rain beating down all over us, we just ran. We didn't have a choice. But the problem was the rain was so heavy it actually made it quite hard for us to see what was in front of us.

I don't know how many people saw me, but we ran around a corner and the rain clouding my vision mixed with me being clumsy anyway, I managed to lose my footing off the edge of the curb and fell onto the road.

I'm just thankful that I didn't get hit by a car, but there weren't any coming which is good and amazingly lucky. It probably had something to do with the bad weather. Anyway, I fell right onto the road and before I knew what was happening, I had Ryan helping me up and a pain on my forehead and my left knee and elbow.

I could see a look of concern on Ryan's face but I ignored it and made sure we kept running because I really don't want that detention. We made it the res of the way to school without any more injuries but we were late.

Ryan told me to go straight to first aid to get myself sorted out. That way I could also pretend we were both here on time, so I did what he said in hope of avoiding any punishments. Ryan went straight to form as everyone else did, and I made my way to first aid.

It doesn't feel as bad as Ryan seems to think. It hurts a bit, but because of the water that is now dripping off my skin and my clothes, there was water in it straight away so I'm doing fine. I have a scrape on my knee and elbow, and something bleeding on my forehead, but I think and hope it's nothing major. As much as I would like to miss lessons.

The nurse didn't look to happy to see me. I don't know if that's because it's so early and she probably doesn't normally get people coming in at half eight in the morning. Or whether it was because I was so soaking wet that small puddles of water formed wherever I stood after just a matter of seconds.

Either way, she cleaned up the blood from my elbow and put a plaster on my knee. She did the same thing on my forehead using those really thin wiped that sting when they touch your wound. Then she used this weird tape to stick some cotton wool over it, I can only assume it was still bleeding but it was just above my left eye so I can't see it.

She then wrote me a note to say where I have been so I don't get in trouble, and I'm sure Ryan has also explained it all on his end. Nobody needs to know we weren't here when the bell went. They just need to know that we are here now and we all got here safely, well, mainly.

By the time I was done with the nurse the bell had already gone for first lesson so I made my way to physics. Literally nobody understands physics. Like it isn't just me who is struggling, it's the whole class. This means only a few things: firstly, we will all fail our exams, secondly, I can't just ask Ryan or someone else to help me when I don't get it, because nobody else gets it either. But then I suppose at least we are all in the same boat, and nobody will be judging me for being bad at it.

The only subjects I can't really do are maths and physics, which kind of makes sense as they go hand in hand most of the time. That isn't good news for me. At least most people can do the equations and stuff, so they'll at least get some marks in the test, whereas I'll probably get zero.

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At lunch I headed by myself to the bench where we normally sat. Physics was a drag and I didn't really know anyone in my other classes, hence why I was walking to the bench on my own. I forgot Harley was meeting us there, so I was kind of confused for a second when I saw him sitting there. He was the first to arrive. Luckily, I remembered before I started talking to him. That could have been really awkward.

"Hey" I greeted as I sat down beside him on the bench, not too close. There was space for another person between us, which wasn't gonna happen since I was the only person who was somewhat happy for him to be there with us.

"Hey. You still on for after school?"

"Course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know. i thought you might have had second thoughts"

"No you're good. Besides, it's just a quick meet up between friends. Nothing major"

"Yeah, between friends"

"And anyway, Luke said I have to be back by half five anyway"

"Why so early? And who is Luke?"

"I've just got stuff to do, and he's the new head care worker"

"Oh right. What stuff? Like what are you up to after?" He asked, he definitely didn't believe me.

"Just some stuff at home. Nothing exciting really"

"Then why not just blow it off? Stay out longer"

"Because I'll get grounded and then I won't be able to go to Molly's party"

"You were invited to Molly's party?!" He asked in shock.

"YES, god why is that so hard to believe?" I asked as I began to wonder where all the others were and why they weren't here to get me out of this situation.

"Cool. Who are you going with?"

"I asked Molly if I could bring Ryan as my plus one. So, I'm bringing Ryan"

"Why are you always with him? Like, I know you guys live together in the care home and stuff, but you spend literally all your time with him. Why is that?"

I contemplated telling Harley the truth, but then we agreed that we didn't want people knowing. And I don't want Harley to think I've been leading him on. Not that I have, but I get worried that he has the wrong idea. I'm not lying, I'll just avoid the truth.

"We just get on really well. Nobody else at the care home likes me much"

"Well then they're idiots. If they can't see the good in you then they must be blind"

"Thanks" I said awkwardly as I looked away and saw the others coming. Well, Ryan and Tyler. They didn't look very happy.

"Where have you been?" I asked as they sat down with us.

"We were held back in textiles"

"What for?"

"Somebody left some fabric at the sewing machine so Mrs Tesi decided to keep the whole class in until somebody owned up. Stupid I know" replied Tyler

"Where's Jody?" I asked.

"I don't know" replied Tyler. "Last I heard she was in the head's office with Miss Barmes"

"What? Why?"

"She was caught writing on the walls in the girls toilets"

"What did she write?" I asked with interest, this is amazing!

"I'm not sure. You would have to go see for yourself. It's hardly like any of us can go in there" he replied, gesturing to himself, Ryan and Harley.

"Remind me to do that at the end of lunch" I said with a laugh. This is so funny. I'm glad Jody is the one to get in trouble and not me. I just got an injury instead. Honestly I don't know which I would prefer.