When Summer Ends by Katy Wormald (the speed reading book txt) 📕

dry and rough, which I was hoping to cover up with foundation. Instead though I only had time for eye liner, mascara and lip gloss.

“Hey kiddo.” My Dad greeted me as I reached downstairs, carrying Romeo under my arm. He was sitting at the table reading the news paper, it was clear to tell by the way he was dressed that he wasn’t at work today.

“Hey, are you taking a day off?” Confused as to why he was not working. I can only remember a handful of days that he had away from work, and none of them were over anything small. Usually he was ill, or there was a funeral on, or he needed to look after to me. But even so, all of these times were years ago.

“Yeah, I’m taking your mother up to see Marissa later on.” He told me with a small smile. My heart pounded at the thought of me being able to see Declan today. Even without looking in a mirror I knew that there was a large smile across my face. He looked up at me, and clearly understood that I had taken it the wrong way. “You’re still going to school, we just need to go up and check on your Aunt.” He told me looking back down at his paper.

I stood there frowning, why couldn’t I go? I mean, I know I have school and Romeo to look after. But why couldn’t they go later on in the day, when school was finished? Tears stung my eyes and will them to go back inside, not wanting to seem childish or to ruin my make-up. “Why...why can’t I come?” I asked him looking down to my feet. I didn’t intend it to, but my voice came out small and child like. That’s not the way to convince someone to let
you have the day off school, I scolded myself.

“Look, your mother wanted to tell you when you got home from school, but it doesn’t look like there’s a way around it now. Marissa was taken into hospital late last night, they think she might have had an over dose. But with all the alcohol in her system it’s hard to tell.”

“Why would she take an over dose though, it doesn’t make sense at all.” I told him. She had always seemed confident and happy, and even underneath the vulnerability she showed occasionally, I thought she was a strong woman, who knew better than to take drugs in the first place.

“Is she okay, I mean...is she gunna die?” I asked mentally kicking myself. This was my Aunt we were talking about; I shouldn’t be asking questions like that. But I don’t think it had set in yet, I felt as though we were talking about someone I didn’t know. Someone who I hadn’t spent all summer with.

“No, she’s stable now. Even so though, it’s best your mother goes.” He walked over to me and slung his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into a hug. I knew I should be crying, or at least upset. Instead I felt dispatched.

“We will be home late tonight, unless your Mum says we have to stay over.” He said frowning. My Dad and Marissa had always gotten along; he was just the kind of man who liked to come home after a day’s work. As he always said, a man’s home is his castle.

“It’s cool. I’ve got money for a pizza anyway.” I told him. I was still upset about not being able to see Declan, but the Marissa situation had to come first. I didn’t want to upset either of my parents more than they already were by nagging about my boyfriend. Instead I grabbed my bag, shouted goodbye and left for the bus stop.

School was packed with people everywhere I looked. They were leaning on walls talking, doing tricks on skateboard, or chatting each other up. I sighed as I walked through, and couldn't help but think of the first day I met Declan. Just like this there were people all around me, but I was still on my own. Pulling out my phone I sent him a quick text. It didn't say much, just that I missed him.

My school was laid out into three buildings; a small building to the left that held offices, a nurse’s station and other boring crap like that. In the middle was a newly built white building. Inside were math rooms, English classrooms and a row of rooms for food technology. To the right of that was a huge canteen area with a gym upstairs, not that the gym was used that much.

I walked through the car park, with no sign of my old friends, and into the office to get my schedule. Behind the desk sat Mrs. Densil. Ahh, I see the summer hadn’t changed her. Still had the bottle-blonde hair with bad roots, and clothes that made her well-over-forty body look...well just plain tarty. Last year I and she had major disagreements all the time. Back them she was a teaching assistant in one of my classes. I took every opportunity I could to annoy her. She deserved it after all, she was as bitch as some of the teenagers in this school. And was just as flirty with the men too.

“I need my class schedule.” I told her, she was sitting behind the desk filing her fake nails. I looked down to where she was sitting but adverted my eyes quickly. Surely people who work here can’t show that much cleavage! I turned my head in disgust, trying to get the image out of my head...nope, definitely scarred for life.

“Here.” She said finally handing me it, followed by her waving me away with her hand. I walked out of there and leant of the wall outside while I looked over this year’s class schedule.
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1st period – English literature
2nd period- Mathematics
Break
3rd period- Free period (Except Wednesdays for gym)
4th period- Additional science
Lunch
5th period- Food Technology
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Well, at least I only have gym once a week, I thought to myself as I walked to English Lit. A few doors down from the class room I was in, my friends-well, old friends- were hanging out and talking to each other. Vanessa looked up at me and whispered something to the others, causing them all to look and laugh at me. I stuck my middle finger up at her and walked into the room. I had no idea what they were laughing about, I mean, I have nice hair, beautiful clothing and I’m quite pretty. I shrugged it off as I sat on the back seat alone.

Leaning my head on the table I thought about how boring today would be. Students were still coming into the class with their friends and sitting next to each other. I sat at the back by myself and watched everyone. Luckily none of the douche bags were in here. All of the class was seated now; we were just waiting for our teacher to get here. Or rather, I was. No one else seemed to care if he came or not. Truthfully I couldn’t either; it didn’t affect me if he made people stop talking.

I was unpacking something’s from my bag when I looked up to see a group of three guys looking at me. I groaned and carried on with what I was doing. No doubt they had something to do with me falling out with everyone. Once I had unpacked I slyly looked back up again, this time only one of them were looking, and he smiled at me when I caught his eye. I knew his face- he was in a class of mine last year, but I’d never spoken to him. I gave him a small smile back and looked down at my watch. 1st day back and the teachers late! How ironic huh?

“Hey, are you Jodie?”

I looked up to see the guy that had smiled at me from across the room, standing right in front of my desk. He was smiling and seemed shy. I figured then that he couldn’t have anything to do with the others. If so, why would he be smiling and acting friendly? I nodded at him and shot him a questioning look.

“I’m Cole” He said and I looked at him as if to say ‘so?’ He shuffled his feet on the ground and looked even shyer then before. “Declan’s friend?” He pretty much asked.

“Oh right, sorry I was kind of in my own world.” I kicked myself mentally, way to make yourself look an idiot in front of your boyfriends mate!

“Can I?” He asked pointing to the empty seat next to me. I nodded and moved my bag so that he could sit there. Why was he sitting with me? A few minutes ago he was with his friends.

“Why you sitting by yourself?”

“Don’t know, I just am I guess.” I answered not really wanting to go into any detail. “Why aren’t you sitting with your friends?” I asked him pointing in the direction he was sitting before.

“Don’t know, I guess I’m just not.” He said, pretty much copying what I had just told him. I laughed along him, his black hair hung loosely over his eyes, and he brushed a few pieces of it back a little.

“So, how do you know Declan?” I asked him after a few minutes of awkward silence.

“I used to live near him, I moved down here a few years ago and got my own flat though. You met him on holiday right?”

“Yeah, I can’t wait to see him this weekend...”

“Me neither, I haven’t seen him in months, when we were kids we would hang out every day. I remember one time I had chicken pox, so I wasn’t allowed out, and when he came around for me he cried until Laura came to get him. Man, he was such a girl.” He said and we both laughed. It was at that moment the teacher walked back in and the whole class fell into silence.

Ding Dong, Ding Dong.

The sound signalled the end of first period, which I couldn’t decide if I was happy about or not. Next period I would be by myself again, but I was happy to have one class down. I and Cole had chatted like we were old friends all the way through the class, as I was grateful that he didn’t once ask me about my old friends.

“So, if you’re not doing anything at break, then come find me. I’ll be in the canteen most likely. Here.” He said passing me his number on a piece of paper. I smiled and stuffed it into my pocket.

“Sure, see you then.” I told him as I walked away. I would definitely be finding him at break, I had almost two hours (including my free period) to do nothing, so I figured I may as well. Besides, I didn’t have anyone else to go to, and he was a nice guy. I pulled out my phone and text Declan again. Cole was nice, but it still couldn’t take my mind off Declan. Although I doubt he’d been trying to, as Declan was all we pretty much talked about.

Thankfully my next class was in the same building so I wouldn’t have to go back out into the cold winter air. I