Changed For The Better

TW: School day

Ryan's POV

I sat in our form room. Miss Martin wasn't there yet, and neither was Marie. I was starting to worry that she wouldn't show up. The room was really miserable. Jody and I, as well as everyone who had obviously walked, were sat uncomfortably sat dripping with water from the rain outside.

I hope that Marie didn't have to walk here. She would have had to go further and would be even worse than the rest of us. Oh no, maybe that's why she's late! I started to get worked on and pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialled Marie's number. I heard a familiar ringtone go off from the doorway of the classroom.

I looked up to see Marie walking in, getting her phone out of her pocket as she casually walked in. She looks, different. It's only been a couple of days, but already she looks...brighter, more awake...happier. She even has the front part of her hair twisted up out of her face. Maybe Agatha did it.

She smiled down at her phone before turning it off and continuing her walk to where we normally sit together at the back of the room.

"Calling me from across the room I see" she joked as she pulled out her chair to sit down.

"Sorry, I was thinking you were going to be late" I said as I watched her. She doesn't look like she's been walking. "You look different" I commented.

"Good different or bad different?"

"Good different. I like it. You look happy"

"I am, honestly. I never thought about how easy mornings would be when you aren't living with a load of other people. How is everyone?"

"Honestly, everyone seems a bit quiet since you left. I don't really know why. It just seems like everybody is sort of adjusting I guess"

"I didn't think I had that much of an impact on them"

"I don't think anyone did. But Luke said it's fine for me to go over to yours tonight, so now I'm really excited for it"

"Don't be too excited. It's not that exciting"

"Yeah but you have cupcakes"

"That's true" she said. Then there was a moment of silence before she said "do people know about what I did to Harley?"

"What do you mean? You didn't do anything to Harley" I said truthfully. She needs to stop thinking that what happened to Harley was her fault. Even if Harley said it was, he was just saying that to make her feel bad, as it was the last thing he would ever do.

"You know what Ryan" she sighed. "You need to stop pretending that nothing has happened. Harley died thanks to me but that isn't what I wanted to talk about right now. I just want to know if anybody else knows that it was because of me or not!"

Woah, okay I didn't mean to upset her like that. This is obviously a very sensitive subject still, and probably will be forever. I guess however she sees it, I should just go with that until she heals properly and comes to her senses about the whole situation.

"No Marie, nobody else knows about that as far as I know" I said as I rubbed her shoulder.

"Good" she said. "Can't imagine what would happen if that sort of information got out"

Just as she said that, Miss Martin came in and started to take the register so we had to be quiet. Surprisingly, we did. Normally, well Marie more than me, we get into trouble for talking or something. She seems a bit off, but a lot has gone on recently so I guess she just needs some time to find herself again.

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Morning lessons were really dull. I wasn't in Marie's class for either one, so I was alone the whole time. I sometimes regret not making friends, but then again, those friends can turn on you just like everyone at the dumping ground did to Marie. I saw how upset she got over that, even though she tried her best to hide it. I wouldn't want to risk going through all of that.

At lunch, we all arranged to meet at the usual spot on the bench outside. Since it was so wet though, we all had to lay out coats out to site on, so we all got very cold. But I would much rather be slightly chilly then get a cold and wet bum from sitting on the bench with nothing there.

It was me, Marie, Tyler, Sasha and Jody. Everyone else must be sat inside somewhere. Honestly, they have the right idea. We all opened up our identical packed lunches, apart from Marie. where we all had soggy sandwiches, Marie had a toasted bagel that was still warm.

She had one of the cupcakes that she and Agatha had made, as well as a load of other treats. Lucky. she only ate the bagel and cupcake though. She didn't seem interested in the rest of it, so she left it in the box and sat drinking her summer fruits juice. We all ad water.

I guess that's another example of an advantage of not living in the dumping ground. She gets spilt. Okay not spoilt, but she gets treated, whereas we have to fight just to get cookies after Kazima or Mai Lee has been baking. Mind you I'm hopefully going to get the chance to eat some of those cupcakes later!

Lunch was kind of awkward. Marie was sat on one side of me, with the others on my other wise. We were all together, but we weren't all talking together. I was just talking to Marie, and the others were only talking amongst themselves, as if we weren't even there in the first place.

"Don't worry, Agatha is lovely, I'm sure she'll love you Ryan"

"I hope so. I feel so nervous. This must be what all those people in films were on about when they were saying they were nervous to meet their girlfriend or boyfriend's parents. Not that they are you parents but...well you know what I mean"

"Yeah I get it. But seriously, you'll be fine. She's read my file, so I'm sure she loves you already"

"Wait I'm on your file?"

"Apparently. When we were baking the other day, I mentioned you and she said she already knew who you are and what you are to me"

"Well, at least we don't have the awkward job of breaking that news to her now"

"I guess" she replied. I don't think she understands how relieved that made me. What if Agatha doesn't like me and I'm not allowed to go over there again? Or if Marie isn't allowed to see me at all again? There's a lot resting on tonight. I just hope it all goes well.