Awoken - chapter one

Chapter eleven

Eleven

I took the container of Ibuprofen and the bottle of Evian out of my bag and fumbled with the childproof lid. The two tablets that looked more like horse tranquillisers than painkillers stuck in my throat and felt like razor blades as they coursed down my gullet. I guessed from the hushed gossip and obvious stares I was getting from the other students, that my 'accident' in the photography class was now on everyone's radar. One person whose radar I was desperate to stay clear of was Lucy Appleby. Luck definitely favoured someone else that day.

I passed the girl's toilets and out strolled Lucy, followed of course by her pack of loyal, skimpily dressed minions. 'Hey Grace, we heard about your little freak-out last night. You forget to take your crazy pills or something? What are these then?' Before I knew it Lucy had grabbed my bottle of Ibuprofen and emptied it onto the floor. 'Grace I am so sorry, complete butterfingers.' Her face said sincerity - her sarcastic tone said a buttery 'screw you'.

I had taken only a few steps inside when Mr Geddes approached me and all eyes in the room assessed me. 'Grace, can I have a word with you?' I nodded solemnly and followed him outside into the corridor. It was 9:45am and I was already regretting getting out of bed that morning. 'I heard about what happened last night.' He looked with genuine concern at the rim of the bandage edging out of my hat. 'Are you okay?'

'Yeah I'll live' I smiled uneasily. My hand instinctively flew to the cricket ball sized contusion still throbbing on the back of my head.

'I've been complaining for months about the wires and electricity problems we've been having here. Maybe now they will actually listen and do something about it.'

'Yes,' I agreed meekly. 'Do you want me to help clean up? From what I remember the darkroom was in a right mess last night?'

'No, no, don't be silly Grace. I think you've had enough to deal with in the darkroom.' His eyes were now on the red scrape on my forehead just above my eye. 'Are you sure you should be here today?'

'I'm fine, it looks worse than it feels' I lied.

'Are you sure?'

I turned to push open the classroom door. 'I'm sure Mr Geddes, thanks though, for your concern.'

As soon as I entered the classroom and walked towards my seat, I saw that Beau's seat was empty and a huge feeling of relief washed over me. He was the last person I wanted to see. Luckily for me I spent the rest of the day being quizzed at every break by Amelia, who seemed more concerned by the fashion faux-pa of my hat and finally took the diamante slide from her hair and clipped it onto my beanie. 'There' she said, looking gratified. 'Even a homeless man's hat can be dressed up. But you do look pale, Grace.' She reached into her bag. 'Here, have some of my lip-gloss.'

'No' I said irritably, 'I don't want any lip gloss, I'm fine.'

'No you are not fine' she insisted, 'you look half dead and you need a nice bit of slap on your face to liven you up. Don't forget you have a date tonight.'

Oh holy crap! I had completely forgotten.

~~~~

Once home, Mum removed the bandage and inspected my wound, decreeing that it was not too bad; not bad enough to need stitches anyway. She dabbed at it with antiseptic and shoved all her medical supplies back into the sink cupboard.

'What actually happened last night, Grace.'

'Mr Geddes said he's been complaining about the wiring and electric problems for months.' I used the lie even though the truth tugged uncomfortably at my lips.