Sleeping on the Floor

5. Hey, schoolgirl

School is a drag. 

I have six classes out of eight in total with a Rigby. Two alone with John, three alone with Gem and one together. My schedule looks like this: 

1- Fine arts (with Gem) 

2- World History (with Joseph Mason) 

3- Physics

break

4- French (with Gem and John)

5- Phys-Ed (with John) 

6- Mathematics (with Joseph Mason) 

break

7- Philosophy (with John and Joseph) 

8- English (with Gem) 

In 7th period, I'm napping and by 8th period, I'm counting down every second until the day's over. Usually, school is nice. I have my friends that aren't actually friends except for the Rigby's. I'm known because I'm a Mendel but I don't put myself in the limelight like a Mason would, I'm not focused on but not ignored, I'm not favoured yet not discriminated against. School is usually good. Except now, because of my lack of a home, I'm the talk of the town and Toby's too young to bare the brunt so here I am. 

"You have this time now for quiet work." 

The instant Sir says that, Gemma turns to me and asks in a whispered tone, "What did Mason say to you in maths? I had a meeting at break, sorry I didn't catch you."

"He read the news out loud." 

"What did it say?" 

"Something along the lines of me purposely starting the fire and being an ungrateful brat toward the firefighters."

"Really?"

"No but that's what he made it seem like."

She scoffs. "He's something else." 

"Oh and get this - the main picture of the article is the firefighter and I. Mason made it seem like I was chatting him up, he was literally asking me if I was breathing."  

She shakes her head but laughs at the same time. "Here's an idea: head down to the fire department after school and give them a personal thanks from you directly. That's showing gratitude."

"Why are you making it sound like I'm going to go down there and smash every firefighter?" I laugh quietly. 

"Well I would, they're pretty hot. Especially the one you were chatting up." She smirks. 

"Gem!" We both start laughing. Some Bloomington Court girls throw dirty looks in our direction. Not like they are actually working. 

"But you know what I mean," she says softly as she finishes laughing. 

"Yeah but I'm not sure how to go about it." 

"We'll ask Jeffrey to drop you off after school." 

"What about tea?"

"Most people won't be there anyway, I'll just say you had an emergency meeting for the newspaper or something." 

"You crack me up." I giggle. 

*****

I ask Jeffrey to drop me a few blocks behind the station in a quiet road, I'm not exactly excited to make a scene about being from the Upper (even though I'm in school uniform). 

The streets are very quiet and then I remember they only leave school at 3 pm, 20 minutes from now. I walk into the front office of the fire station. It's messy. Papers and notes are strewn all of the front desk, so much so that I'm not even sure what colour the top is. The walls are covered in fire safety and missing persons posters - some date back to almost 3 years ago. The old carpet is stained and faded and the windows are streaky. Uppers would be appalled.