Week 8 - pt 1
21st October
Connor met Autumn on the bridge he kissed her cheek. ‘So did you get into any
trouble last night.’
‘No.’
‘That’s a first.’
‘Mom likes you. She thinks your good for me. She just thought I wight be hungry.’
‘And were you?’
‘Not really.’
‘Come on let’s meet the guys.’
‘Okay.’
‘It’s okay babe we won’t get thrown out.’
They walked into town meeting up with their friends. ‘So how did the date go?’
‘You told them!’
‘No.’
‘I did sorry they pinned me.’
‘So how did it go?’
‘Okay.’
‘Will there be another?’
‘No.’ They chimed.
‘That bad hugh?’
‘It’s just best for us to be friends.’
‘So have you got an outfit for Halloween?’
‘No not yet.’
‘Autumn?’
‘No.’
‘You are coming to the party at Stentons’ with us aren’t you?’
‘Yeah he invited me.’
‘Cool. You best sort something quick Con.’
‘We’re going after school Thursday.’
They smiled. ‘Sweet come on we best be getting in before the movie starts.’
They went into the cinema and watched the worst action movie ever. Then all went for a pizza.
22nd October
Connor and Daniel met Autumn by the bridge. ‘Well we’ve just got this week left
babe till half term.’
‘Yeah then we do Halloween I for one am looking forward to it.’
‘Me too.’
‘What about you red are looking forward to it.’
‘I guess.’
They all walked into school.
‘Wow you’re all on time Impressive.’
‘Shut it Jae and tell them what you’ve managed to pull off this weekend.’
‘Well I can’t wait to hear this one. What you gone and done and whose arm you managed to pull doing it?’
‘No ones.’
‘So what is it.’
‘We’re going carting Saturday. My bro’s working and he said he’d pay for all of us so are you all up for it?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Will we have the pleasure of you Saturday Autumn.’
‘I guess.’
‘Good lets get this day over with.’
The bell rang and they all went in to registration. ‘You sure you want to go carting babe it’s not easy.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘You sure.’
‘She said she would be stop fussing Con. We have to get to registration and red has Harding he’ll flip a mental if she’s late.’
‘Sure.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll see you second lesson okay.’
‘Okay.’
‘Later red.’
‘Later Dan.’
They stepped into the class as she continued down the corridor. Matthew stood at the open door waiting. ‘I’m surprised you’re in most don’t see the point for four days before half term.’
‘No good bunking it don’t get you no where.’
‘At least you’ve got your head screwed on.’
‘Can we just do this.’
‘Sure come in and take a seat.’
She slipped in dropping to the sofa. He closed the door walking over sitting opposite her. ‘So how are we this morning Autumn.’
‘Fine.’
‘You don’t sound fine it sounds like something’s bothering you.’
‘It’s not it’s just.’
He looked at her for answers. ‘Just what?’
‘Nothing.’
‘You can tell me Autumn I’m here to help not judge so please.’
‘It’s nothing just if the swimming weren’t bad enough the carting well and Halloween.’
‘Okay slow down, take a deep breath and tell me what happened and what your concerns are. Let’s start with the swimming and move on to the others.’
‘Okay.’
She took a deep breath and began to explain what had happened when her Connor and Daniel had gone swimming. He listened with interest.
‘We’d all met them at the pool my friends were surprised that I’d even turned up. I wasn’t going he’d twisted my arm into joining them I hated going swimming with them they acted so childish and they were that day dive bombing into the pool the life guard taking a crack at them to act more sensibly he chose to ignore him. He twisted my arm to go up there Con he knew I was good I was in training and he had to ruin that for his stupidity.’
‘What happened Autumn you looked a little scared. You can tell me you can trust me Autumn.’
‘We all went on to the boards me him and Rudgey. They made sure I went first I wasn’t to sure but he said it’d be fine and they’d dive in after me. I pulled myself to the top unsure if it was wise to be up there at all. I walked to the edge dumb I know but they were on the steps so I thought I never knew they’d got on the board all I remember was falling and their faces I didn’t even know he’d gone in after me. I was lucky Matt if I hadn’t’ve took to the water like I did I would’ve been dead.’ She said tears falling off her face. ‘I woke in hospital he was by my bed. He told the life guard had pulled me out and tried to resuscitate me I came round and slid back into unconsciousness and that they’d all been banned from the pool.’
‘Did you tell the police.’
‘He begged me not to he’d already been in trouble with them he didn’t need an asbo.’
‘You still should’ve.’
‘I couldn’t he made damn sure he was there when they came to talk to me I lied to them. I said I’d lost my footing though we both knew it wasn’t the truth.’
‘You still should’ve told them Autumn unless you were scared of them.’
‘Everyone was Matt we’d seen what they’d done to those who chose to grass on them. I wasn’t ending up like them.’
They bell rang.
‘Looks like we’ve ran out of time. I’m sorry I couldn’t be any more help to you today we’ll continue on Thursday okay maybe I’ll be able to help a little more and understand your anxiousness with carting.’
‘Sure.’
They pulled themselves up he opened the door. ‘Thursday okay.’
‘Okay.’
‘Bye Autumn.’
‘Matt.’
She walked away was he finally getting inside her head and getting to know what her old life was like so he could make it better. Connor slipped his arm round her. ‘So everything go okay with Harding?’
‘Yeah fine once I got started.’
‘You haven’t got to rush into it babe if he’s a good shrink he’ll understand when you don’t wish to talk about it and when you do.’
‘Was it like this for you?’
‘For a while yes Grayson was on the ball. He understood it’s hard to talk about what you want to forget, sometimes it just helps to get it off your chest sometimes it don’t. You just have to work out which is which.’
They walked into lesson sitting down.
They walked down the the to lesson. ‘You okay babe you seemed a million miles away.’
‘I’m fine…Con.’
‘What’s up babe.’
‘Will things ever change between us all will it.’
‘I hope not Why you ask.’
‘No reason.’
‘You can tell me.’
‘Just stuff that went on in my past. I don’t want you or the others to judge me for it.’
‘We won’t babe trust me the guys won’t, Dan won’t and i certainly won’t. You know my back ground I’d like to get to know yours if you let me.’
‘I can’t Con its hard.’
‘You talk to Harding.’
‘Barely. I’ve barely opened up Con he doesn’t know everything.’
‘You’ve got time Autumn use it wisely we’ll be here when you decide to tell us everything Harding I’m not sure about.’
They their met friends going to lunch, going outside for a cigarette.
The bell rang and they all said their goodbyes for registration Con kissed Autumn on the cheek. ‘I’ll meet you at the end of school babe.’
‘Okay.’
Connor walked away.
Daniel called Autumn over she slid in next to him. ‘Well this lesson is going to be interesting.’
‘How come.’
‘Here comes the boring bit red we’re doing our assignments he’s got everything on the board I hope you can write fast cause he never gives you time to write anything down.’
She looked nerved he smiled.
‘Right class all you need to know for your assignment are on the board you have half an hour to write it down then discuss how you are going to conquer it by talking about it in your pairs’
They all looked at the board trying to understand what he had written with great difficulty. Daniel struggling.
‘Right times up if you haven’t got it now you’ll have to ask some one that has. He wiped the board. ‘Now discuss how your going to do this assignment from the brief.’
‘You okay Dan?’
‘I didn’t get it all.’
‘I’ll give you my notes.’
He smiled. ‘I’ll give you them back tomorrow.’
The bell rang and they all headed out of the room.
‘Here.’
‘Thanks.’ He said taking the notes off her. ‘I’ll give them back to you tomorrow.’
‘There’s no rush.’
‘We have to start this weekend red I hope you’re ready for Halloween.’
‘Not yet no.’
‘Me neither I guess Con isn’t either.’
‘I heard my name.’
‘Con we were just talking about Halloween.’
‘Oh we’re going to get the costumes the thurs.’
‘Me to.’
‘Come on let’s go.’ He placed his arm around Autumn and they walked out of school.
‘We’ll see you tomorrow babe.’ Connor said kissing her cheek.’
‘Okay.’
‘Night red and thanks for the notes I’ll give them back to you tomorrow.’
‘He rush you again.’
‘Yeah I have reds notes lucky she could read his shit handwriting.’
‘It is.’
‘Well we’ll see you in the morning babe.’
‘You will night Con, Dan.’
‘Night babe.’
‘Night red.’
She walked away. Connor and Dan walked away walking their separate ways.
23rd October
‘Don’t forget we’re going carting the Saturday so we’ll all meet up at ten on the park okay and we’ll all go together.’
‘Sweet.’
‘You will be joining us won’t you Autumn.’
‘I guess.’
The bell rang.
‘Cool let’s go in or sour face will spew.’
‘Well all meet up after school Friday and go and see that film you’ve been talking about Con.’
‘Sure.’
‘Will you be joining us Autumn or will you be opting out of it unless you like action movies lots of blood and sex.’
‘I guess if you want me to come.’
‘We wouldn’t be asking if we didn’t want you to be there. Your one of us now babe so you in.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Cool let’s make tracks.’
They all walked out of school heading home.
24th October
Mathew opened the door. ‘So are we ready Autumn.’
‘Yeah.’ She pulled herself up Daniel smiled.
She shot a short, brief smile his was going in.
He closed the door as she sat down.
He sat beside her, nerving her. ‘You okay Autumn.’
‘I guess it’s just the guys have invited me to go carting with them on Saturday.’
‘And you’re feeling anxious about going.’
‘Just a little.’
‘How come?”
She looked at him. ‘Why can I remember everything bad that ever happened and not the good.’
‘Tell me what happened so I can at least try and understand why you feel anxious about going carting with your friends.’
‘Everything was going fine til we’d all done a few laps, the walls were going way too fast and I drifted. ‘
‘You seem to be doing a lot of that lately.’
‘I just wanted to be normal and he ruined it.’
‘Who?”
‘Taylor.’
‘Oh.’
‘He promised that it would be just us he promised me one weekend alone with him no one else but us, no friends.’
‘So he lied to you.’
‘It felt that way. We went into the city go carting. I was just so happy it was just me and him then they turned up.’
‘His friends you mean.’
‘Yeah. I mean would one weekend without them killed him?’
‘If it was me no.’
She looked at him. He nodded.
‘They’d dragged my friends along with them, they were almost as pleased as I was. We all got kitted up and got into the carts.the beeps went and we began to lap that’s when it all started to go wrong. Rudgey pushed Taylor’s cart into mine several times they crossed another he clipped Taylor’s and he went into mine. I lost control and the cart flipped. I can’t remember much it was all fuzzy. Sam rushed over and got me out before the cart blew. Sam went mental and I passed out.’
He looked at her concerned.
‘I woke in hospital Taylor begging me not to tell my mom what had really happened.’
‘And did you?’
‘No the police closed down the track, they said the breaks had been tampered with which caused the explosion.’
‘So did this Sam do it?’
‘No he’d never hurt me we were like brother and sister.’
‘So do you think Taylor did it?’
‘Maybe. I was never sure, he always seemed jealous of mine and Sams friendship. So did Rudgey.’
‘He could’ve done it. It could’ve been either of them Autumn.’
‘I guess.’
‘Why did you put up with this guy Autumn?’
‘Because I loved him.’
‘He clearly didn’t feel the same to pull a stunt like that. He could’ve killed you.’
‘I know, but he didn’t.’
‘You should think with your head not your heart.’
‘My mom always said that.’
‘She’s right Autumn. This guy had serious issues, so did this Rudgey by the sounds.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Don’t protect him Autumn you deserved better. You can’t keep blaming yourself for their falls.’ He edged closer. ‘I’d never do that.’
She looked nervously at him. ‘Bu….’
He pressed his lips on her she hesitated his tongue slipped in kissing her harder and harder. She shot back. ‘I have to go to lesson.’
‘We’ll talk more after half term okay we’ll continue talking about this and what happened Halloween okay.’
‘If we must.’
‘You’ll be fine autumn just don’t get making any rash decisions okay.’
‘I won’t.’
Connor and Daniel met Autumn at the end of school they all got onto the bus heading into town looking around the costume shops.
‘The costumes are shit this year.’
‘They sure are.’
‘Maybe we should go further a field.’
‘You mean the shopping centre.’
‘Yeah we’ll go in the hols, let’s just hope there’s more there.’
‘Yeah let’s hope.’
‘Come on I’m starving let’s grab some chips and sit in the park for a while.’
‘Sure.’
‘You hungry babe.’’
‘Just a little.’
‘Come on the chippy ain’t far.’
They all walked out of the plaza getting chips and heading to the park where they all sat down eating their chips and drinking their cokes.
‘Well I’ve got to get going I have homework.’
‘Sure we’ll walk with you.’
‘You don’t have to.’
‘It’s cool ain’t it autumn.’
‘Yeah.’
They all pulled themselves up walking out of the park throwing their cans and chip paper into the bin.
‘Well this is me guys I’ll see you tomorrow .’
‘You will Later Dan.’
‘Later Con red.’
‘Later Dan.’
They walked away as he closed the door behind him. They walked up to the lake. ‘So we still cool for tomorrow.’
‘Yeh.’
‘Good, I’ll meet you here at in the morning okay. we’ll go costume shopping in the week.’
‘Sure we’ve got time.’
‘We have trust me babe.’ He leaned forward kissing her. ‘Night babe.’
‘Night Con.’
She walked away he watched her until he could no longer see him. He turned walking away
25th October
Connor met Autumn on the bridge. ‘We ready to go?’
‘Yeah.’
He dropped his arm over her shoulders and they walked away.
‘Where were you lot last night?’
‘We went into town to get our costumes’
‘And did you?’
‘Not yet no.’
‘You best hurry Con its next Thursday.’
‘I know we’re going in the hols to the shopping mall let’s hope they have more costumes.’
‘Let’s hope or you’ll all be going in your birthday suits.’
‘No we won’t chill guys you know us.’
‘Only too well.’
The bell rang.
‘Come on guys we best be getting in.’
They all walked into the school saying their goodbyes before registration.
‘So what lesson have you got babe?’
‘Biology.’
I’ll walk with you I have wood work. I’ll wait for you.’
‘Okay,’
He walked down the corridor and she went into her lesson. She sat down he looked at her about to get up to join her. ‘Hi Autumn do you mind if I sit by you?’
‘Not at all.’
He smiled sitting down. Jarrad cut his eyes angered that he’d taken the only brainy chick in the class away from him because he s too incompetent to do the work himself. if looks could’ve killed him they would.
Connor met Autumn. ‘So how’s it go?’
‘Okay.’
‘Did Stenton behave.’
‘He always does.’
He laughed. ‘That’s a first.’
They walked together for their next lesson sitting down.
They met their friends met their friends for lunch sitting down.
‘So Autumn how’s your lessons with Stenton going?’
‘Okay. Why?’
‘Just he don’t like learning.’
‘He’s trying.’
‘You ever think why that is.’
‘I’d rather not.’
They had a cigarette before they went into registration.
‘I’ll see you last lesson babe.’
‘Okay.’
They went their separate was. Connor looked at Stenton. ‘I hope your keeping those to yourself in lesson.’
‘I always do.’
‘So is Autumn still helping you?’
‘She is. We sit together, she’s a clever chick Con she shouldn’t be knocked.’
‘Oh I don’t. Just make sure it’s just your work she’s helping you with that’s all.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean Con? My dick is where it should be. She’s my friend and I respect her.’
‘You respect no one Stenton you’d rather bed them than take in what ever they have to say.’
‘Well I’m not this time okay. I need this Con I promise I won’t touch her she’s my friend.’
‘Good.’
‘You two to class now.’
They walked away going to their next lesson.
Autumn and Connor met up for break and lunch which was relatively quiet they all went to registration before their final two lessons.
Autumn met Connor for last lesson which they shared together before walking home.
26th October
Autumn and Connor met their friends at the park and headed to the go carting track.
‘Right were all going to do a few laps around the track before lunch.’
‘Okay.’
‘Hey guys.’
‘Gaz.’
They smiled at the long haired male.
‘So you working here now.’
‘Till dark yeah.’
‘So you still work in that creepy cemetery.’
‘I do.’
‘Bro this is Autumn.’
‘Nice to meet you chick.’
She smiled slightly.
‘She’s quiet bro.’
‘She’s not at school. So you all ready.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Autumn.’
‘Yeah.’ She said with a set on unease in her throat.
The gate opened and they went to their carts. ‘So do you think that your going to beat Autumn?’
‘I’ll have a good go.’
‘We shall see,’
They all slipped their helmets on, getting in and putting their seatbelts on.
The beeps went Gaz dropped the flag. The wheels spun they screeched as they turned every corner of the large track.
The room spinning. The carts bouncing around the track, Taylor and Rudgey looking at each other nodding. They both crashed into Autumn’s go cart, she edged forward Rudgey pushed into hers why were they aiming for her? The others were good too.
Taylor and Rudgey crossed each other Rudgey bounced into Taylor who clipped Autumns cart it flipped rolling, her head hitting the wheel.
The carts screeched stopping. Gaz ran over. ‘Babe You okay.’
‘Babe.’
She slowly came round with a gash to the head. She looked around at all her friends paled faces. ‘What happened?’ She said groggily.
‘Come on let’s get you out of here and sit you down.’
He unfastened the seat belt he and James steadied her walking her over to the chair sitting her down. ‘You okay babe?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘How many of me do to see?’
‘Four or five.’
‘She’s concussed.’ He looked at her. ‘I’ll clean you up okay.’
‘Okay.’
He bathed the gash cleaning it with sterile wipes and cotton wool, butterfly stitching it. ‘What happened out there?’
‘The room it was going so fast.’
‘Did you loose control?’
‘I can’t remember.’
‘You need someone to take care of you for a day or two.’
‘I will.’
‘You sure Con?’
‘Yeah.’
‘What are you going to tell mom.’
‘I’ll think of something.’
‘You were doing well to Autumn you were in the lead, maybe we can do it again sometime.’
‘I thunk you’re friend has had enough don’t you?’
‘I guess.’
‘What about Halloween.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘You sure.’
‘Yeah stop fussing.’
They smiled.
‘How are lot getting home?’
‘Bus.’
‘Juels will take you won’t you.’
‘Sure I have to go into town anyways.’
‘Watch how you go okay.’
‘We will.’
‘Keep an eye in your friend.’
‘We will.’
‘I’ll see you at home Jae.’
‘You on the graveyard shift tonight.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Sunday then.’
‘Yep.’
‘Thanks.’
‘No probs take care.’
‘We will.’
They steadied Autumn walking up to the pick up. ‘So you all live close?’
‘Me and Autumn do the guys don’t.’
‘Just give me directions. I’ll punch them into the sat nav hop in.’
They got into the pick up closing the door belting up Juels got in the front punching in the postcodes and they were off. ‘So do you lot all go to the same high school?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Give you lot something to talk about. No one usually crashes, well not like that anyway.’
‘Mmh.’
The friends all said their goodbyes. Thanking Juels. ‘Keep an eye on her okay. If she feels nauseous take her to the hospital.’
‘Will do and thanks.’
‘My pleasure.’
‘Later guys.’
‘Yeah later Con, Autumn.’
‘Later.’
Connor closed the door behind them leading her into the house. ‘Sit down babe I’ll do us a drink and some grub.’
‘I’m not hungry.’
‘Just try and eat it okay.’
‘Okay.’
He smiled going into the kitchen as she sat down. He walked in placing the glasses of coke down then the sandwiches and crisps. ‘I’m sorry for all of this Con.’
‘Don’t be.’
‘But the whole day was planned out.’
‘I know.’ He looked at her. ‘So how’s your head.’
‘I have a headache.’
‘Here take some of these.’
‘Thanks.’ She said taking the paracetamol off him swigging them down with some coke.
‘So what really happened out there babe and don’t say nothing. You can’t pull that bull shit over my eyes we all saw what happened out there, accidents like that don’t just happen unless you lose control or someone causes them to.’
She sat shaking, her lips trembling, tears falling off her face.
‘Autumn what’s wrong babe?’
‘I’m sorry Con.’
‘What for?’
‘Everything the guys must think I’m dumb.’
‘No they don’t.’ He placed his arm around her. ‘We’ve all had accidents babe Gee. It’s the first time we’ve been and it’s been someone other than us.’
She looked at him and burst into tears.
‘Please don’t cry babe they understand.’
‘It was supposed to be just us having a fun day out Con. Then they turned up and ruined it.’
‘We talking about your friends, and this Taylor?’
‘Yes. He promised it would be just us, we were ready to get into the carts when the guys turned up. I couldn’t believe he’d lied to me.’
‘Maybe he had his reasons to Autumn.’
‘Yeah his best friend hated me.’
‘I’m sure that’s not true.’
‘So why did they try and run me off the track?’ She said angrily.
He looked shocked at her.
‘Taylor said they were just messing about Con, I lost control of the cart and it flipped. I was in hospital for over a month I was unconscious Con. His brother was so angry at him, that much he stopped them going around. Sam called the ambulance, I was lucky Con I could’ve been paralysed or worse, dead.’
‘I’m sorry babe if I’d’ve known.’
‘What could you have done?’
‘Make sure we done something different so you wouldn’t’ve gone there so none of this would’ve happened.’
‘You have to conquer your fears.’
‘Not like that you don’t. You should’ve passed on it and we could’ve done something different.’
‘You can’t bail on your friends because of me.’
‘You’re my friend too Autumn you need me more than they do right now.’
‘I guess.’
He leaned forward. ‘Next time bail I’ll understand.’
‘Will they.’
‘They’ll have to.’ He pressed his lips on hers kissing her. He moved away. ‘I guess I’ll have to call your mom.’
‘Yeah.’
He pulled her close. ‘I’m sorry for today.’
‘Don’t be.’ She said closing her eyes.
27th October
Autumn slowly came round Conor lay beside her his arm lay over her, she pulled
herself up.
‘Hey babe.’ He said sleepily.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t mean to I thought you were asleep.’
‘I’m a light sleeper babe hows the head.’
‘Sore.’
‘I’ll get you something for it okay.’
‘Okay.’
He pulled himself up going into the kitchen getting some paracetamol and a glass of water. ‘Here babe.’
‘Thanks.’ She said taking them off him swallowing them with water placing the glass down. He sat besides her. ‘I’m sorry for al log this Con.’
‘It’s cool babe I called your mom she said it would be fine I told her you’d be back for supper.’
‘Thanks Con.’
‘My pleasure.’
‘So are you seeing the guys today.’
‘Not today it’s just you and me I’ll do you brunch and we can hang till six and I’ll walk you back.’
‘Won’t your olds mind.’
‘No they’re cool babe they know you’re here.’
‘Where are they?’
‘Sleeping I guess they didn’t come in till early hours.’
‘I never heard them.’
‘You’d sleep through a storm babe they were drunk again they saw us and went to bed. They won’t be up till tonight.’
‘Still I’d rather not be in the way.’
‘You’re not.’
They ate brunch watching dvds before heading off . They sat by the river his arm over her. ‘We’re meeting then guys tomorrow if you’re okay to.’
‘Yeah its just a headache.’
‘You sure.’
‘They won’t say nothing about the track will they.’
‘No they won’t.’
‘Okay.’
He smiled pressing his lips on hers kissing her.
‘I best be going Con.’
‘Sure.’
They pulled themselves up walking away walking over the bridge.’ Here tomorrow at ten okay.’
‘Okay.
He kissed her cheek. ‘Night babe.’
‘Night Con.’
They walked there separate ways.