Emeli

‘Good morning on this bright and sunny day. The time is 6:30am and you are listening to Allstars FM...’

My radio has this really annoying thing where you set the alarm and when it goes off, the volume is SO loud that this wakes my parents up.

My Dad used to yell ‘Turn the damn thing off!’

The thing is, does my Dad want me to be late for school?

I switch my radio off and slowly sit up. I have these random butterflies in my stomach and I have no idea why. The sun is shining through a small gap in my curtains. My curtains are second-hand and they look very babyish.

Did I mention my name?

My name is Emeli. I am 14 and I suppose I’m a bit of a geek. My brother is so geeky. He got into Cambridge. He was a straight ‘A’ student. I can’t help feeling quite jealous. I do love him, he is my brother after all, but sometimes he can be a bit of a jerk. My Dad is quite strict. Once he says something, he means it and that’s that. My Mum used to be like a gentle dove but just recently she has changed. ‘Emeli do this, Emeli do that!’

I just roll my eyes and pretend to be all angelic.

Ha! As if!

I sit at the breakfast table, slowly eating my cereal. My parents are also eating cereal but instead of eating slowly, they actually gobble their food down really fast. My Mum asks me for the umpteenth time if I have remembered to feed my hamster Tommy. Yes, yes. I do have a hamster. He is a bit of a lazy bones if you ask me.

After my breakfast, I run upstairs to have a shower and to get ready for school. I have a nice cool shower. The cold water really wakes me up. But the thing is, I still have these random butterflies in my stomach.

Something is going to happen today.

The question is... What?

Wayne

Its 6:30am and today... I start at my sixth secondary school.

It is totally not my fault that I managed to get kicked out of five secondary schools on the trot. I have this obsession with street art.

My friend Matt showed me how to graffiti and this is how I got into trouble. Out of the five schools that I got expelled from, four of them were because of graffiti. The fifth and most recent was because I got into a fight.

Burnt toast. That is my breakfast. I love crunchy toast. After all, I am rough and tough. My Mum who, is smaller then me and has three earrings in each ear, watches me as I eat. I have disappointed her again.

‘Why Wayne, why?’ she says to me every time that I get kicked out of school.

I always roll my eyes and shrug my shoulders. I have no Dad. He’s in prison. Naughty boy. Just like me. Being an only child is rather fun. I think of my best friend Matt as my older brother. It is just Matt. I only have one friend.

I really wanted to get my ear pierced. But Mum is really strict and always goes ‘If you are good.’ So, that is not going to happen anytime soon. Maybe, I could bunk off school and get is done.

I will think about it.

Mum stares at me. I am wearing the new school uniform, my rucksack is full of textbooks and yet she still stares.

‘Don’t even think about playing truant Wayne. This is a fresh start. Please don’t blow it.’ Mum tells me.

I nod. ‘Don’t worry Mum, I will go straight to school.’ I say.

Mum opens the front door. I give her a little kiss then I am off.

Time for freedom!

Emeli

I open the front door. Here I am, wearing my uniform and feeling very confused. Mum and Dad run out after me.

Mum gets into her car. A nice dark blue car. Dad gets onto his bike. Not so nice looking! Everyday, when I get home from school, I have to let myself in because my parents work late. I watch them leave before walking towards school. The walk to school takes longer then usual.

Do you want to hear the reason?

Well, I spot this tall boy from Green Lake High walking in the opposite direction on the other side of the road to me. Rumour has it that he got beaten up by a younger student. Poor Jossmore. Yes, that is his name. - Jossmore. I couldn’t help but wonder. Who actually had the nerve to beat up him? Must have been someone rough and tough. I glance at him as he goes off into the distance. Then, I turn away. I hurry on to school. I hate being late.

Wayne

Should I do this? Should I?

Well, I am on a bus heading into the centre of town in the opposite direction of Meadow High. Meadow High is the name of my new school.

A few people stare at me but I ignore them. They don’t need to know.

About halfway to town, I spot Green Lake High. The most recent school I got expelled from.

Shall I proceed with my story?

*FLASHBACK*

‘Get out of the way Wayne!’

I look up. The tall boy ‘Mr Show Off’ has just entered the building. He is not happy.

‘Why should I?’ I reply.

That was a big mistake, Mr Show Off isn’t smiling.

‘You’re in for it now!’ he replies.

He grabs me and punches me in the face.

Before I can stop myself, I grab him and push him into the wall.

Mr Show Off is dazed. But he tries to kick me.

I kick him right back. One kick on the shin. That is all it takes before he starts moaning in pain. By now, a huge crowd of people are watching the entire fight.

One big blow. That was all it took. I could have backed away. But I didn’t. I lift him into the air. The crowd gasp. Yes, I have something called muscles here. With a deep breath, I throw him onto the ground.

The crowd cheers. Mr Show Off is lying on the floor motionless.

The headmaster runs out of his office which happens to be down that corridor and pushes past everyone. He bends down and examines Mr Show Off. I smile. Done and dusted...

And that is how I was expelled. Right on the spot it was. No wonder I am trouble. I see the bus stop. Here I am in town. Time to go.

Mum will be narked when she finds out what I am doing. I am standing outside Mike’s, a really cool menswear shop that do ear piercings.

Did you think I was joking earlier? 

Should I?

I think of Dad at that moment. I smile. I take a deep breath and I go into Mike’s.

Emeli

I get to school just as the bell rings. Hundreds of students in the Meadow High uniform are walking towards their classrooms. The random butterflies still haven’t left my stomach. What is going on?

I spot my good friend Jess. We both start talking about our recent Chemistry test. I am a scientist, Jess isn’t. We both get to our form room and I am surprised to see Mrs Gordon running around like a headless chicken. Guess someone woke up late. Jess and I sit at our desks. Both of us are hoping that Registration ends very quickly.

Then, the bombshell comes.

‘Right Form 10X.’ Mrs Gordon said. ‘We have a new student transferring to Meadow High from Green Lake High. His name is Wayne Martin and...’ her voice trails off.

‘Is something wrong Miss?’ Jess asks.

There is a slight pause.

‘Wayne hasn’t arrived.’ Mrs Gordon replied.

My butterflies have vanished. That was it. A new boy was joining our class.

Wayne

I leave Mike’s in pain, but satisfied. Now, I am the proud owner of a sliver stud earring in my right ear.

‘Look at me Dad. Just look.’

Just as I was celebrating my achievement, someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn. Standing there is this lady and she doesn’t look too happy.

‘Wayne Martin?’ she asks.

I stare at her. I realise that I am wearing my school uniform and that she is wearing a badge with the Meadow High logo on.

‘I can explain...’ I say.

She still does not look amused.

‘I got too nervous.’ I add.

Her angry face relaxes. Slightly.

‘Ok Wayne. My name is Mrs Turner and I teach Art at Meadow High.’

I stare at her.

‘How do you know me?’ I ask.

‘The staff  were warned about you and we saw a picture of you.’ she replies.

Blast.

‘Let’s go Wayne.’ Mrs Turner said.

I walk with her back to the bus stop. Great. Well done, Wayne. I have mucked up on my first day. My ear is really sore. She gets on the bus and I follow just behind her.

The journey is quite long. I sit a few seats in front of Mrs Turner and all I do is just stare out of the window. We have to travel past Green Lake High again.

I hate it. I hate it.

Journeys do have to end sometimes. Mrs Turner and I get off the bus.

Across the road, I see a long, tall building. It takes me a second to realise that I am standing outside my new school.

‘Like the look of it Wayne?’ Mrs Turner asks.

I shrug my shoulders. She sighs.

‘Trust me, it really isn’t scary.’ she replies.

I follow her towards the gates. I spot some Year 7s having a PE lesson. It isn’t long before we reach the main entrance.

Here I am.

Emeli

Art class. How fun. Trust me, I am not the next Monet at all. Jess, who is sitting next to me, is painting a nice picture of a sunflower. I still try hard at art for my parents’ sake. I hear footsteps, I stop painting. Normally, the people who are walking down that corridor are going outside to do PE.

But no, that doesn’t happen. The footsteps stop outside the door.

I stop painting and look at Jess. Jess and I watch as the classroom door opens.

My art teacher Mrs Turner has finally shown up. I was getting rather fed up of our cover teacher. Following close behind her is a tall boy. He looks rather handsome except for the scar down the side of his face. The class fall silent.

‘Can I have your attention Form 10X?’

Everyone is looking at her.

‘This is Wayne Martin.’ she said.

Everyone glances at Wayne. I don’t think anyone expected to see him looking so rough and tough.

I stare and stare.