8

                                    

                                          
The day goes pretty smoothly, my lessons are actually interesting and after each one, I chat with the teachers to ask them what work I missed and how I was going to catch up. 
                          
My maths teacher tells me the chapters we were supposed to be doing when I was away and asks me how I'm doing. Which I'm not sure how to respond to because does that mean my teachers know then?
                          
But luckily he says I don't have to redo the test I missed as I've been doing well in class so he will just make an estimate from my previous assignments. Which is great. 
                          
My English teacher is less forgiving, she has set me a few essays to do over the next coming weeks. Saying that if I demonstrate I understand what the topic is about then she will let it slide that I haven't done the others. 
                          
Finally reaching lunchtime, I meet up with Jess and walk out onto the field where we sat yesterday. It is significantly more crowded than it was yesterday, but that's to be expected. Wherever we go, always seems to make others follow. 
                          
"So, I was telling Jayden that Ivy hasn't really said much and-" We overhear Nora say to Faye as we approach. I cringe at the thought of them all talking about what they think happened with Layton behind my back. Jess quickly interrupts their conversation, signalling to them that we're here. They're all looking at me to see if I was going to mention what they were talking about before Jess and I got there. I decided to ignore it, I didn't need to hear what was being said. 
                          
"What do you know about Jackson Richardson?" I ask all of them. Changing the subject but also the need to find answers about him overtaking and hesitation I had to bring him up.
                          
"Erm, he's part of the group. Why?" Nora answers. "He's chill."
                          
"He never really talked much when we were friends with him, did he?" Faye adds.
                          
"Nah, he's not much of a speaker. Apparently, he's proper fucked up, I think he's adopted as well. He's always in the counsellor's office." Jess tells us, and looks at me strangely "Why are you asking about him?"
                          
"Oh, nothing I was just curious."
                          
"Well, I don't blame you. He is so hot." Nora adds, but I cringe a little. Normally I would agree and obviously, Jackson has a certain jarring beauty to him, but the thought of being attracted to anyone is still pretty sickening. 
                          
I shrug and the girls start gossiping about how good looking Jackson is, about how they have never seen him even talk to a girl before let alone get with anyone. Which I silently disagree with, because I remember him getting off with girls at parties. I think. He's just subtle about it. 
                          
Actually, I don't think he attends parties anymore. He wasn't there that Friday anyway. 
                          
Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was supposed to check in with Mrs Granger. I wonder if it's true, the whole adoption thing, I mean I guess that would make sense. She is so young. 
                          
"I have to go and grab a textbook from science." I say.
                          
"Science? We have that after Lunch?" Nora challenges me.
                          
"I meant Maths, I'll catch up with you in science." I say to Nora and smile at the girls.
                          
"Let's all go." She says. "We'll walk-"
                          
"No." I snap. "You don't have to follow me everywhere."
                          
They all look at me surprised. 
                          
I wince. 
                          
"But I'm excited about tonight." I add gently and the girls look more confused, almost shocked and I feel that gross feeling again at the pit of my stomach as I remember how weird me being nice to them seems.