Page 11 (1/2)
But it changed in rass, and clouds were still there But I wasn’t alone, this tier, er, in that place
The horror of the first drea to disperse like s in the sky Yet it still feels so real; like I was there, watching, that day, when all those students died
Madness
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
My sto But Amy has my back
And there she is, in her usual seat: the Slater Hater who trippedout the atch her carefully as we go past She won’t catch ain
Amy follows my eyes ‘That the one?’ she whispers, but I don’t say anything
When I sit next to Ben at the back of the bus, his eyes widen ‘Poor you,’ he says, and touches ht touch around ht and looks worse today than yesterday ‘Does it hurt?’
‘Only if I smile,’ I say
He slipstoday, then,’ he says, sternly, and wipes his off
His face, serious for once, looks different The sameness – the happy expression all Slateds wear – is gone His eyes still s, one that says I know him and have always known him; that close to him, I am safe My sto for me at the Unit She takes one look at me, and frowns ‘What happened to your face?’
‘I fell on the bus’
‘Really’
‘Yes’
‘Listen toyou, tell me It will be dealt with What really happened?’
I look into her eyes, and see only concern But just when I think I , some voice inside says bad idea
‘I tripped, and fell’
She frowns ‘Well If you reot your test results A clever girl, you are: it is straight into mainstream classes from today Year 11, so you’re just a little older than the other students Not that anyone will know if you don’t tell them: most of them will be taller than you, anyhow’
She hands roup for citizenship, first Yours is in English block’
I open the ti y, study hall, general science, agriculture, and Unit three times a week, whatever that means It’s not there
‘But what about art?’
‘What’s that, Kyla?’
‘Art It isn’t on et to take an option like the other students We have to fit extra classes in at the Unit There’s no roo It is the only thing I actually want to take; part of the reason I wanted to come to school We even had art classes at the hospital
‘But…’
‘No buts; there’s no time You’ll be late for tutor If you have a problem with it, talk to Dr Winston,’ she says, and she sweeps out of the Unit I follow along, nuht Even Nurse Penny said I could take art, as long as they thought I was good enough, didn’t she? And that doctor had no interest in h There’d be no point talking to her
Mrs Ali dragsin all directions At the class she reminds me to swipe my card, then introduces me to Mr Goodlish teacher Other students begin to arrive, to take their seats And she leaves, saying she’ll be back to take me to my first class before tutor ends
I stand uncertainly by the desk at the front, not sure what to do
Mr Goodman smiles ‘Wait here with me for a moment, Kyla,’ he says
Other students come in, swipe their cards and sit down, one after another; the final bell goes One last girl coain, Phoebe?’
‘Sorry, Sir,’ she says, but she doesn’t look sorry She sits, at the last double desk, the only eirl who tripped me on the bus
She looks atWhispers start around the room Do they know?
‘Quiet now, 11C,’ he says ‘This is Kyla; she is joining our tutor group I want you to all make her feel welcome’
I stand next to him and look across a room full of eyes; someAt me, and at the Levo on my wrist
‘Have a seat there next to Phoebe,’ he says
I walk, eyes digging in and draggingit hard to move I pull the chair away from Phoebe as much as I can and still be at the desk, and sit He turns to write on the whiteboard Everyone watches Phoebe
My Levo vibrates I glance down: 44 Phoebe smirks; it vibrates harder 42
She raises her hand ‘Sir? I think our new student is about to blow up’
Everyone titters, and stares So many eyes; eyes everywhere
39…
I close reen trees blue sky white clouds…