There Will Be Lies || COMPLETED

08

I arrived at school, minutes away from being late. Blake and Aria, waved at me as I walked through the door but I ignored them, dumped my bag onto the ground and slumped into my seat.

Whatever you do, don't cry. I told myself again and again.

My first lesson was English with Miss Larsson.

"Alright students, today I will be assessing you on your presenting skills in front of the class," She said. "The topic has to be about your family, so you could include culture, food or where your family are from. I only want each presentation to be around three minutes long. I will give you half of the lesson to prepare what you are going to say and then we will hear some of these; the rest of the students will do their's next lesson."

I stared at my blank piece of paper.

What should I write?

Blake slid into the seat next to me and I saw that his paper was already half filled with things to say.

"Hey, you look troubled. What's up?"

"I just don't know what to write," I replied.

I looked at the time and realised that we only had five minutes left of the half an hour we were given to write.

How did time fly so quickly?

Blake looked at my empty sheet of paper, "Just—"

Miss Larsson quietened the class: "Okay guys, time is up! I hope you all have something to say."

Sweat dripped down my forehead, but I shivered.
I didn't feel too good...

"I will pick our first speaker from random... Who is it going to be?"

Not me.

Not me.

Not me.

Not me—

"Tessa!" Miss Larsson smiled. "Come up to the front please!"

I walked feebly to the front of the classroom, Blake patting my back in a gesture of comfort.

"Good luck!" - he mouthed.

I arrived at the front, looking at all of the faces that were staring back at me. Miss Larsson stood at the back of the class, red pen in hand, preparing to mark, "Whenever you're ready!"

I opened my mouth but it was suddenly dry. I swallowed the non-existent saliva that was in my mouth, "I—"

My gaze locked with Blake's eyes and he nodded in support.

"I l-live w-with my..."

The words that were zooming in my mind weren't cooperating with my mouth and forming sentences.

My head hurt.

Oh how my head hurts...

I rubbed the palms of my sweaty hands onto my trousers and held on to the back of a chair - the class around me looked as if it was spinning. I suddenly felt really dizzy and sick.

Echoes of the word "Tessa" reverberated through my skull.

"Tessa."
"Tessa!"
"Tesssssaaa, areee youuu okayy??"

I locked my gaze on Blake again but this time his face was almost a complete blur. I noticed his concerned expression and wondered what was wrong but it was only then, that I realised I was falling.

Falling deep down into an abyss of unconsciousness.

———

What do you think will happen next? 😬

~Debs