In case you haven't heard, the Australian people have spoken and have voted yes for gay marriage. I'm incredibly happy and proud of what we have been able to do as an Australian citizen and queer woman. Remember, that wherever you are, whatever you believe in, we are all the same.
"What happen to your leg, 007?" Miss Winnett asks me in advanced math class.
Once again I'm not doing my work, but staring out the window and not for attention but because I just can't be bothered. If each time I don't do my work she sits beside me, I will start working right now. She leans back on her chair so she can see under the table, I move my leg so she can't see it.
"Top secret, sorry," I reply effortlessly.
She smiles. "You must be super busy with your spy work that you can't even open up your book in the 30 minutes we've been here."
I look out the window again and shrug, she is so close to me and even though I have talked myself out of her, I can't help but feel a tad happy. I watch the birds flying around the base of the tree.
"So?" She nudges my knee with her's.
"I tripped." I respond, not nudging back. I usually would, but not anymore, not when I'm trying desperately to get over her. Carol and Emma always say that I would flirt with a tree because it is my 'instinct' and I suppose it is true, I do flirt a lot.
"What doing?"
"Running." I can feel her eyes boring into the side of my head.
"How far did you run?"
I turn back around and she quickly diverts her eye contact down so it looks like she wasn't staring at me.
"6 kilometres, til it happened."
She raises her eyebrows. "You can just run that straight?" She asks amazed.
"Well, Natalie, I run when I need to sort shit out." I say coldly. I pick up my pencil and open my book, looking at the questions. "Just question 1-7?" I ask, ending the conversation.
She gets up. "Yes, that is all." She says, obviously seeing the meaning behind my words and attitude towards her.
The rest of the week passes smoothly enough, although on Thursday the amount of people coming up to me made me want to cancel the whole thing.
"I swear to God, if one more person comes up to me, it is all over." I threaten as Jake walks away after making a smart remark and winking at Emma.
"Fucking Jake," Emma mutters.
"I'm not coming tomorrow," I remind them.
"Yeah, you haven't been to a Friday nearly all year," Carol says.
"Not called the best day of the week for nothing," I say.
"We'll still come to your's on Friday night, though?" Emma asks.
"Yeah, I'll come back from the horse and then we'll go to mine."
They nod.
Miss Winnett crosses the yard with the duty clipboard.
"The Bitch," Carol says, following my eyes.
"Yeah," I say non committal.
She is about to pass us, so I turn my back to her and start a fake conversation with Emma.
"Hey, Emma," I start, but my conversation is interrupted.
"Miss Rayford." Miss Winnett has stopped a couple of metres away from our picnic table and I can feel her staring at me.
Carol joins us at the table and with my back to Miss Winnett, I roll my eyes and walk over to her.
"Yes, Miss Winnett?"
"Your top button." she says coldly, looking at my top button which went missing ages ago.
"It appears to have grown legs and walked off," I say smartly.
I can tell Emma and Carol are excited for the outcome of talking back to a teacher.
Miss Winnett narrows her eyes at me. "Don't be smart. You'll receive a slip and I believe you already have the amount for a letter home." She turns and walks away.
"Bitch," I mutter under my breath.
She turn abruptly and I look at her innocently.
"You will receive another slip for talking inappropriately to a teacher," she says smugly.
I gape. "I did not!"
"Don't pretend that you didn't just call me a bitch."
"I didn't," I lie.
"You did and don't lie. You will get two slips and your Dad will be contacted."
"Are you picking on me or something?" I ask defensively.
She blushes, but holds her composure. "No, I'm not. I'm just sick of your attitude and thinking you can say anything to anyone."
"If that is your opinion, write me up." I say calmly and turn back to Carol and Emma who are looking at me in shock.
Miss Winnett walks away looking a little hurt and furious and Carol high fives me.
"Ange! You can't talk back to her!" Emma lectures.
"I'm so sick of her," I say angrily.
The bell goes and I can't help but feel bad about what went down between Miss Winnett, luckily tomorrow I will be able to clarify it.
Dad drives off around the corner and I head to Avery, excited and a little nervous to see Miss Winnett after yesterday. I pull my jumper over my head to stop the rain and so I'm not seen by a teacher. I walk up the path beside her house making as much noise as possible, but if she is here, she doesn't call out to me. I get to the gate paddock and hold out a carrot for Avery, who eats it in one gulp. I glance up to the house, she isn't here and my heart sinks. I lead Avery to the shed and throw on the saddle and then the bridle, she seems happy as I throw my leg over and land in the saddle, I smile to myself and feel her relax even more underneath me.
At lunch the sun has come out and the sky is completely clear, I wish it to stay like this for my party. I make my way back through the bush where I am riding and to Miss Winnett's house, where I'll wait til it is 3 o'clock, just for a chance to see her.
I sink my teeth into my roll and lean back against the tree, looking over the mountain and Avery wandering around in the paddock. It takes me eating to realise just how hungry I am after all the riding this morning. I'm disappointed that Miss Winnett isn't here to see the amount of progress I've made and that I won't get a chance to apologise. I reach into my bag and get an apple out, hurling it into the paddock for Avery, my hand brushes against the outside of a joint, I think the better of smoking here after all the new drama. I pull out my book and start to read it, but I can't focus because tomorrow I'll be 18 and I really want to speak to Miss Winnett. After an hour, I decide to leave as I get to my feet I look around and realise that this will probably be the last time I'm here, I need to get over her and move on. I pull out a piece of paper and scribble down a note.
Nat,
Avery is completely finished and rideable. Do whatever with her.
Ange, x.
The 'x' is hesitant but I put it there for a goodbye kiss. I stick the note on her back door and walk back to the school, wiping away a tear as I go.
YOU ARE READING
Ange (girlxgirl)
Teen FictionUntil one morning, Ange was avoiding school and struggling, but after striking a deal with her step mother, she returns to school on a regular basis and meets her new teacher, Miss Winnett, and Ange realises that maybe school isn't that bad after a...
