Life's Never Simple • SIDEMEN

• ONE •

Friday, 5th October

• Harry •

"Sup dickheads!" Shouts JJ, from where he's leant leisurely against the wall. The other four boys all turn their heads to where Vikk and I are approaching, their eyes lighting up.

"Harold!" An excited, Scottish accent tinged voice pipes up from his seat next to Josh on one of the long wooden benches. I sigh, and sit down to the right of the lanky boy.

"I told you to stop calling me that, Callum," I huff, taking off my backpack and placing it between my feet. Vikk sits down on my other side, pulling his sandwich from his pocket.

"And I told you not to call me Callum," the taller retorts smugly. "Checkmate, bitch." With that, he buries his elbow into my ribs. I scowl at him, and push his long arm away, more forcefully than needed.

"Stop flirting you two," jokes Josh, playfully nudging Callum's shoulder. Callum lets out an awkward laugh, trying to just brush off the comment. I scoff quietly, and reach into my bag, trying to find my lunch within the rest of its messy contents.

"How come you two were late anyway?" Asks Simon, from his spot next to JJ. He's practically leaning up against the other boy, as usual, but nobody else appears to of noticed it. Or they're just ignoring it.

"Harry got kept behind in Bio, and I was getting food," says Vikk, gesturing to one of his half eaten sandwiches.

"What did you do this time Bog?" Laughs Ethan, and I pout at him.

"Nothin' mate! I swear, she just hates me," I complain, leaning back against the cold brick wall that's behind me. Callum pats my shoulder sympathetically, and seems surprised when I don't shrug off his touch.

"Well, that's not entirely true Harry," pipes up Vikk, glancing at me slyly, and then the others. "Someone hasn't been doing his work." I elbow Vikk harshly in the side.

"It's not my fault if I don't understand the work," I retort, dragging my fingers roughly through my hair.

"It's your fault for not getting help though Haz. These are our GCSEs, it's not a game," Vikk shoots back. I sigh, feeling defeated. Sure, Vikk has a point. But it's not like I want to admit that I suddenly need help.

"Hey, maybe I could help," Callum chimes in, looking at me enthusiastically.

"How Callum?" I ask, past the point of really caring.

"Well, I've just started tutoring Maths and Biology this year, to help me revise, and earn some extra cash," he explains. "I could tutor you?"

As soon as the suggestion leaves him, my stomach knots uncomfortably. For more than one reason.

One being, my family doesn't really have the money to pay for me to be tutored. We've been tight on cash for a while now, and racked up a staggering amount of debt in the process. Even with my Mum working three different jobs, and my Dad working nearly ten hour days five days a week, we only just have enough for the monthly expenses.

Two, I don't like people from school knowing where I live. It's not that I'm ashamed of my home or anything. I love my house, even if it's got mismatched furniture, an ever-present clutter that you learn to step over, and a constantly lingering smell of incense. But it's a very private place for me. I like to keep my home life, and school life completely separate. There's only two people from school who have been to my house so far. Vikk, and Katie.

And three, as nice as he is, I don't think I could stand being taught things that I already don't understand by Callum.

"Umm, I think I'll pass," I say, as politely as I can. "Thanks for the offer though."