George and Nicole Harper had never had an easy life. From one set of divorced parents to another, these half siblings have had it tough.
Ever since their mother, Naomi, split from George's father and forced them to move from England back to her hom...
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"Boys?" Came Mr Clarke's voice from around the corner.
George felt his muscles momentarily seize up then relax almost immediately as he jumped around and tried not to look suspicious. Everyone else had done the same, all except El who was looking around, bemused.
"The assembly's starting." He continued softly, like you do when you're more concerned with sussing something out. He was definitely on to them.
"Yeah, we know. We were just..." Mike fumbled, searching for an excuse. What was their excuse? Oh right, 'look sad.
"Upset." Lucas finished.
"Yeah, yeah definitely upset." Dustin agreed sounding more pleaded with himself than sad.
"Really upset." George stressed, looking at all of them individually. He saw a light behind theirs flicker on as they clocked what George was trying to say.
Everyone's face fell. George hung his head and made sniffling sounds every so often to sound even more convincing. George glanced up at the others. They weren't so convincing.
Dustin had frowned so hard that his entire face had creased and looked constipated rather than sad. Mike rubbed at his eyes as if he was crying but mainly looked tired. At least it wasn't as bad as Lucas. He'd simply stuck his bottom lip out and like a cartoon of a fussy baby. Great acting, George grumbled to himself.
"We need some alone time." Mike hinted but Mr Clarke didn't look too convinced. "To cry." Dustin added, as if specifics would change his mind.
Mr Clarke looked conflicted. He was George's favourite teacher and it was obvious he liked them too. George was sure they would eventually have him wrapped around their fingers.
George made direct eye contact with Mr Clarke, eyes wide and vulnerable. He hung his head and sniffed, then slowly and obviously he wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve.
"I get it, I do." Mr Clarke said at last, his voice breaking slightly like he too was going to cry. But he took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds and continued.
"I know how hard this is but let's just be there for Will, huh? Then," he reached into his pocket and tossed the keys to the AV room to Mike. "The Heathkit's all yours for the rest of the day. How about that?"
For a second it looked like their plan had worked. They'd successfully guilt tripped Mr Clarke into giving them the keys. Although he did expect them to go to the assembly but George had a plan for that. He'd just start fake crying again, say it was too much and ask to be excused.
Everything would have gone perfectly if Mr Clarke hadn't spotted El. He stared at her from where she was loitering behind the rest of the gang. Mike was in front and hid most of her. George shuffled closer to Mike to block her from Mr Clarke's sight but it was no use. He'd already seen her.
"I don't believe we've met, what's your name?" He asked, leaning forwards.
"Eleven." She whispered sheepishly.
George's heart sank. Eleven? How were they meant to pass her off as normal if she told everyone her name is a number?
"Eleanor!" Mike blurt, shouting over El's whisper, "She's just my..."
"Cousin." Lucas finished. Everyone nodded. A little too enthusiastically. It probably just looked manic, George thought but tried to push his doubts aside. They'd gotten this far after all.
"Second cousin." Dustin added, giving more details for believability.
"Twice removed..." George added and smiled after, trying to look convincing.
"She's here for Will's funeral." Mike explained, circling back to the funeral to earn the sympathy vote.
"Ah, well," Mr Clarke stammered uncomfortably, "Welcome to Hawkins Middle, Eleanor. I wish you were here in better circumstances.
"Thank you." Said El, nodding but it was clear from her furrowed brow that she had no idea what was going on.
"I have a lot of Swedish family." Mike tried to reason. Why would you have family in Sweden? George thought. Just why?!
"It's bad because..." George began, trying to think of a logical reason she'd think Sweden was a bad place, "It's cold, she hates the cold." He nodded, quite pleased with himself.
"Very cold." Lucas said, nodding in agreement.
"Sub zero..." Dustin trailed off, unsure whether he was actually helping.
Mr Clarke's mouth hung slightly open. He blinked hard and raised his eyebrows.
"Shall we?" He asked becoming down the hall that lead to the gym. He clearly wanted it to be over as much as they did.
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