Life's What You Make It

CHAPTER ONE

Jasmine's POV

"Earth to Jasmine...??" I heard as I sat with my friends in the school canteen, slowly coming back into reality. "You were away with the fairies there babe," one of my closest friends, Jordyn, said.

"Mm yeah, my bad, didn't get much sleep last night." I replied with a yawn, laughing it off. "What were youse saying?"

"What we're doing for my b-day," Mellisa said, "The plan is, weather providing, we're gonna go the beach, have a few drinks, and if you can get us some stuff, that'd be great!" She said referring to my job.

"OH, of course I can get stuff, but youse are gonna have to give me money; that shits expensive!" Only my close friends know about my little job, and I'd like to keep it that way, considering I am only 15. I mean, someone's gotta pay the bills and put food on the table, when your mum doesn't care and goes out drinking all day, every day, fucking different men. Her life.

Suddenly, the school bell went, signalling the start of next period. Which meant only one thing on a Thursday afternoon... double English, one period with Mrs Carter, and another with Mrs Maraj. We waited until the canteen was clear before moving, be assed with queues and crowds.

"When you gonna quit with this job then?" Jordyn questioned

"When mother dearest starts caring" I said shaking my head. "She's got a new man on the scene, not a fan,"

"Why, what's he like?"

"One word, vile," Nathan laughed next to me, "He's in his 50s, which wouldn't be so bad if my mum wasn't early 30s. He's vile though, really pervy," I said shuddering as we arrived at Mrs Carter's classroom.

"Oh, look who finally showed up" Mrs Carter said. I went to speak but was interrupted, "I don't wanna hear it, go sit down" she said sighing.

"Jasmine, final warning, another word from you and you're out!" Mrs Carter eyed me as I went to open my mouth, best keep it shut for now. I'd been cheeky all lesson, shouting out, being the class clown, but it was working, I was getting the laughs. About half way through the lesson, we were set off to do our own work. I rested my head on my hand and tried to focus on the work in front of me, but before I knew it my eyes were beginning to close and then I dozed off. It felt like an eternity, but was probably only about 10 minutes before I heard someone whispering my name.

"Jas... Jas... Jasmine!" I shot up, feeling something collide with the side of my leg.

"What Jordy?!" I whined

"You were napping!" she semi whispered. "Mrs Carter's coming round now, thought I'd save you before she caught you"

"How are you guys getting on?" Mrs Carter asked, coming to our table first. I looked down at my blank page then back up, then over to Nathan.

"Fine, it was a bit confusing at first, but then we all got the hang of it, didn't we?" I lied. Chat shit is my motto.

"Jasmine, you were only finding the words written on the board in the poem, and then highlighting them. Which bit of that is confusing?"

"Ah right, well you see" I began, "I thought that was a bit easy, so we were thinking it was some sort of trick question." I explained, the end of the sentence coming out more like a question.

"Well why have Jordyn and Nathan both managed it?"

"Busted..." Nathan mumbled

"You know what, you can do that for homework, I want it first thing tomorrow" she said, I sighed.

"whatever" I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

"Roll your eyes one more time, you will be out this classroom" she glared. "Now have you all got your assignments?" Shit. I watched as Nathan and Jordyn both pulled theirs out, and then looked at me. "Jasmine?" I opened my mouth to speak, "if this is an excuse, I'm not interested"