1.3 Elliot 2

“Elliot” Mr Webb calls out

“Here sir” I respond. A feeling of relief washes over me as now I don’t have to speak for the rest of this class, as long as I don’t get called upon to answer something. We’ve spent most of this morning so far going over the GCSE curriculum and being reminded of how important these next two years are. Believe me, I know. The sooner I can get my qualifications, the sooner I can go to a Sixth Form far away from this school and anyone that goes here. 

I thought being in top set would have meant my classmates would generally be more intelligent and considerate people. This is true to some extent. After about half an hour of curriculum talk, we covered genetic inheritance, mutations and natural selection. Someone could make quite a cinematic documentary about how one becomes the survival of the fittest at Alexanders. I can just imagine the voice over now.

“In the unpredictable and treacherous environment of Alexanders, the biodiversity that resides there must figure out how to adapt and fit to their environment.”

As I'm writing notes, I feel a knock on my desk. I look beyond my text book to see a folded piece of ripped paper.  The guy in front of me keeps looking back over his shoulder as if to check I received it. Can’t wait to see what's been written on this!

“What made you mutate? FREAK!”

Original. 

I scrunch up the piece of paper and shove it in my blazer pocket.

The bell rings commencing the end of period 2. Now begins the extreme sport of trying to make it from one end of the school to the other, all while avoiding a herd of adolescents with no sense of spatial awareness. On my way out of the classroom, I dump the note in the bin. I always keep to the side of the corridor, almost leaning against the wall. That way there’s less risk of someone accidentally kicking my crutch. Everyone in the school is in a chaotic marathon to get to the canteen on the hunt for food, energy drinks and whatever caffeine-containing substance they can find. I’m just trying to get to room 29b. 

It’s probably the safest place in school with it quite literally being off the map. I’m pretty sure it used to be a storage room where they kept spare text books and other stuff hence why it wasn’t marked on the school map along with all the other classrooms. Around two years ago, they converted it into the special educational needs department room. Luckily, no one else but me uses it. I finally enter the room and as soon as I close the door, the noise from the corridor is muffled. All is peaceful for the first time this morning. 

I sit down at the only table at the back, even though the room is only about a third of the size of an average classroom. There’s still remnants of the storage room with half empty shelves of books, lined paper, boxes of highlighters and boxes of clutter. The room only has two tables, one of which is a desk for two ancient computers that probably haven’t worked or been touched in years. I have approximately 10 minutes left until the end of break and my meeting with Mrs Carter. In an attempt to distract myself, I pull out the book I’m in the middle of reading. The door opens and I’m suddenly awoken from my book trance. Unsurprisingly, it's Dani. 

“You alright?” she asks 

“Great until you came in here.” I say shifting my eyes back to my book.

“Carter’s patrolling the corridors.”

“Well she’s going to notice your hair at some point!”

I already know what’s coming next. 

“Has anyone said anything?" she predictably asks.

“Well there was this one annoying person.”

“Who was it?”

“You.” I respond knowing it’ll annoy Dani. I have enough people in my life being overly concerned about me, I shouldn’t be occupying this much space and time in people’s life.

“Can you just answer me properly, has anyone been a dickhead?” she stubbornly repeats. 

“No! Will you just leave me alone!” I insist sternly. 

“I’m just trying to help!” she exclaims. 

“Yeah I know, everyone is! But there’s nothing anyone can do so just let me get through the day!”

“You can’t hide in here for the next 2 years!”

“My bad, I thought that was your thing or have you not been avoiding Sofia these past few months?” 

Dani stares at me for a split second before her eyes dart downwards. She turns her wheelchair round and slams the door behind her. I guess I got what I wanted, yet I still feel shit. It’s my fault she hasn’t hung out with Sofia all summer anyway, at least if she’s angry at me she can save her own social life. The room is mostly silent again with muffles of chatter in the distance. I’m alone with my thoughts and poor choices.