Changed For The Better

The Almost

We were sitting in form and Miss Martin was drowning on and on about something. I wasn't listening. Ryan and I, were playing a game of naughts and crosses on the back of my planner. Every time Miss Martin turned her back, we would make our move. It was a lot of fun actually. Not the game, but trying to do it without getting caught.

Harley was late, so I still had his coat in my bag. I'm not carting it round all day, so he can take it from me at the end of form if he wants it, otherwise it's staying here all day. It isn't my problem. I didn't ask to use it. There was one thing still on my mind, looking at that graffiti that Jody did at the first chance I have.

I didn't have enough time before school, but I should be able to go at break if lessons go alright. I stood up for Jody in front of everyone, despite what she has put me through recently, so I better be right. I better have had the reason to stick up for her against everyone else.

I watched as Ryan drew a cross then joined three up. He smiled t me triumphantly, and I couldn't help but laugh at how goofy he was being. Luckily, nobody noticed apart from Ryan, who just put his finger to his lips to tell me to shut up before we get into trouble. Which again, we didn't. Nobody noticed.

----------

It was lunchtime. I had managed to give Harley his coat back this morning, and for some reason he was sitting with us again. I didn't ask or invite him to, but here he is. The others weren't enjoying his presence, neither was I really. I was hoping after I met with him yesterday, we wouldn't necessarily be friends, but he wouldn't hate me either.

Instead it seems he got the wrong end of the stick and now thinks we are best friends or something, which isn't true. I know I need to tell him, like he needs to know that we aren't friends and he needs to make friends by himself. God it sounds like he's a little child or something ugh.

"So..." I started awkwardly. Nobody has really said anything, we don't like talking around Harley because he doesn't fit in with us. He doesn't go through the same things as we do back at home, so he just wouldn't understand out point of view.

"So, what's everyone up to later?" Ryan said, asking the most awkward and boring question since everyone here apart from Harley wold be going to the same place and doing the same thing.

"Not much" replied Harley, nobody else said anything. We all remained silent as we ate our identical packed lunches. I hate this. I need to get rid of Harley.

"Harley have you done the biology homework?" I asked him, hoping that he hadn't.

"Yeah I did it ages ago. I'll help you if you want"

"No, no I've done it too. I was just checking to see if you had"

Ryan gave me a look. I was trying to get rid of him. I thought if he hadn't done the homework then he would go to the library and do it now. I didn't think he would actually have done it already. And yeah, I haven't actually done it so I guess that's what my plans are for later.

I looked around at everyone again. Nobody is happy. They all just want Harley to die or leave or both. They don't want him here, and he's only here because of me. I have to do something about this. I caught Ryan's glare to let him know what I'm doing. Don't want him getting the same impression as well. He looked confused for a second, then nodded at me, so I think we are on the same page.

"Hey Harley?" I asked to get his attention.

"Yeah?" He looked hopeful.

"Can you come with me?" I said as I put my things away in my bag.