Trapped In Lace

Sixteen

I sit in Lydias room and she smiles at me, "thank you so so so much! You've literally saved me from getting a fail"

For the last hour I've helped her with her Bangladesh homework and it's been great. I've given her pictures of citizens that I met and what the conditions were like. I've told her stories about children and what people are going through so I hope that she gets a good grade.

"It's no problem! I love this kind of work!" I say smiling

"Izzy said you have a job" she says

"Yeah it's a little cafe" i say

"That's great! I couldn't imagine myself working at a cafe, I'll just end up spilling and ruining everything" she says and i laugh

"Can I ask you something?" She asks me and i nod

"So Leo and I have been texting" she says and i smile

"I don't know if I should break up with Luke. I know I've just been texting Leo but I really like him and I don't know what to do. I don't even know if he likes me back! What if I'm just building this all up in my head?" He asks me nervously

"Lydia, if overall your not happy with Luke just end it. There's no point in just dragging it along" I say and she nods, "and with Leo, he's never ever been in what you all 'the talking stage' with a girl before because he's never actually liked them enough. If it means that much, I'll ring him tomorrow and see where his head is at"

"You'll really do that?" She asks me and i nod

"Yes" I say

"Thank you Lily" she says

"It's no problem, now I've got to go. I have a bed that is just calling my name" I say and she laugh

"Night" she says

"Night"

•

•

I stand in front of Miss Wilson's room.

It's now lunch time and I'm meant to be in this meeting.

I push the door open and walk inside, every head turning towards me.

Three teachers stand at the front of the class, Mr Martin including. The room is filled with about ten students, most look like they are in the lower school.

I look at them all and I double take at Alex, "what are you doing here my cranky artwork teacher?"

"I was threatened to be kicked off the football team points system" he says and i smile biting my lip slightly

"Ella, take a seat" Mr Martin says and I make my way over and sit next to Alex

"So why are you here?" He asks me

"The real question is why it's so quiet in here? It's like it's some sort of silent game. Are we playing a game? Have I just lost?" I ramble

He smiles, "no it's not a game"

"One more point" I whisper

In the next ten minutes a few more students come into the classroom and i just fidget with my hair.

"Is your hair really that long?" Alex asks me

"No, it's extensions" i say, it's kinda true cause it's a wig but eh... it's a wig.

"What the fuck is that?" He asks

"Hair extensions they make your hair longer" i say slowly

He scoffs, "yeah, I knew that"

I smile and look down at me lap before looking up.

"Why is it so quiet in here?" I ask Mr Martin

"Because... well... I don't know" he says and i laugh

"I walked in and I thought I was in trouble" i say and the other teachers smile

"Oh that reminds me" I say picking up my bag and I get out my speech which is in a plastic wallet.

"I was going to wait to see what everyone else's speeches were but I got bored last night so I've done my speech" i say holding it in my hands, "if you don't like I can write a new one"

"And if other people have done the same I can also do a new one. I don't mind, honestly. And I think I've gone into too much detail and I don't know I've made it dramatic enough. You know, it's very complex and maybe it will just confuse people" i ramble, "you know what, I'll write a new one"

All of a sudden Alex takes my speech and hands it to Mr Martin.

"Ella please, I'm begging you. Shut the fuck up" Alex says and i cross my arms and glare at him

"That's just rude Alex" i say

"And does it look like I care? No! So please shush, I can't deal with this at work as well" he says

"Your working tonight?" I ask him

"Yes unfortunately" he says and the teachers at the front laugh

"It's not funny, he's an awful teacher" i tell them

"That's because you don't listen" he says

"Yeah well who needs artwork in coffee anyway?" I ask

"It's nice to look at! Plus it was only a smiley face!" He says

"I did the smiley face and they you was like" I begin before going into a deep voice, "oh yeah now try the flower"

"Well if you weren't so" he begins before going into a high pitch voice, "I need someone to do this for me! My tiny hands can't deal with the excessive movement! Who needs it anyway, they are just going to drink it. It's so pointless"

I just stare at him unamused and he laughs at me.

"Mr Martin, can we kick him out of this... uh organisation?" I ask and he laughs

"No we can't, plus he's going to be helping in the tech room so be nice cause he might blind you with the lights" Mr Martin tells me

"Oh great!" I say sarcastically

"Come on Ella, you love me" he says

"In your dreams" i say

"I heard that you called me a Greek god" he says and my head snaps towards him

"Who told you that?" I ask

"A little birdie" he says

"0h yeah, everyone" i say looking around the room, "he has third nipple"

"I do not!" He exclaims

"Prove it" i say and he smirks at me

"You just want to see my Greek godness" he says

"I think someone is telling porkies" I say

He pulls at face at me, "can I get a translation please?"

"Wait you don't say that here?" I ask

"No one in this room has a clue what you just said" Mr Martin tells me

"Like someone's telling porky pies, you know telling lies" i say

"Weird" Alex says and I glare at him

"So when is this speech?" I ask changing the subject

"Two weeks on Friday" Miss Wilson says

I nod, "okay, so I'll write a new speech then"

"No need" the other teacher says, "Ella this is brilliant. It's heartfelt, it's powerful, it's about to get us first place"

"Well you know it's meant to inspire people to make a change" i begin

"Yeah yeah but if we get first place, I can leave this in Ellas words 'organisation' so well done" Alex says and I glare at him

"Woah, what's with the daggers?" He asks

"Fuck off" i say and he laughs and I stare at the front of the class