Emeli

This is it.

Today is the day of the maths exam. I am feeling really nervous. I always get quite panicky before exams. This nervous feeling comes as no surprise to me.

I try to eat my breakfast but I feel very sick. I don’t want to throw up before my exam. That would be a disaster.

‘Try to relax Emeli.’ said Mum. ‘You are too nervous. I can see nerves written all over you.’

I flash a small smile.

‘Just try your best Emeli. It isn’t the end of the world if things go badly.’ said Dad.

When I arrive at school, Mum escorts me to the main reception where I am due to meet Mrs Hander. She will take me to where I will sit my exam. I think of Wayne.

The bell rings which startles me.

‘Emeli, relax.’ said Mum.

‘I can’t help it! The bell was really loud!’ I reply.

I watch the clock and wait. Any minute now, I will be sitting the exam.

Wayne walks towards me. He takes my hand. I face him.

‘Be brave. Good luck.’ he tells me. I shake.

‘Emeli, it isn’t the end if you fail.’ he adds.

‘It is. Mr Zucker would go mental.’ I reply.

‘No he wouldn’t.’ he said.

I knew Wayne was trying his best to reassure me.

‘Shouldn’t you be in class?’ I ask.

‘I don’t care being late for class. I just want to wish you luck.’

Just then, Mrs Hander walks towards me. ‘Emeli, it’s time.’

I get up and hug my Mum. A little tear trickles down her cheek. I then turn and hug Wayne.

‘You can do this.’ he whispers.

I turn and follow Mrs Hander to the room. As I walk, my nerves are playing up quite a bit. I just wish Wayne could come with me but he isn’t allowed.

I reach the room and take a seat.

‘Right Emeli. It isn’t the same paper as before. But it is in the same style with different questions.’ said Mrs Hander. I nod.

‘You have one hour Emeli. Try to relax.’ she adds.

I put my name at the top of the paper. I look up.

‘You may begin.’ said Mrs Hander.

The hour surprisingly goes by quite quickly. I attempt every question. My nerves are under control.

‘Right Emeli, time is up.’ said Mrs Hander. I put my pen down.

Mrs Hander takes my paper. Mr Zucker is going to mark my paper.

I leave the room and join my class. Jess sends me a note.

Emeli,

How did the exam go? Been missing you. We need a sleepover sometime. You and Wayne still together?

J

My reply was.

Jess,

I think the exam went ok. I have missed you too. I totally agree, we do need a sleepover. Me and Wayne are still together.

Em

When Jess got my reply, she smiled.

I feel happy.

Wayne

I race to school. I overslept and Mum wasn’t pleased. The rain pours down. I am dripping wet by the time I get to school.

I look for Emeli. I spot her with her Mum waiting for Mrs Hander. I take her hand and wish her luck. I also tell her that it isn’t the end of the world if she fails.

She is worried about Mr Zucker’s reaction but I tell her not to worry. I have to reassure her as much as I can.

Emeli asks if I should be in class. I am but I don’t care. She is more important.

Mrs Hander comes out to fetch Emeli. She hugs her Mum before turning to me. I wish her luck and watch her go.

I am excused for being late but I make no attempt to work. I am really worried about her.

I am worried that she might struggle and blank out. But I have to stay calm. I can’t get too freaked out.

A little confession is that I don’t panic when it comes to exams. I take them like a pinch of salt. I know that exams are important but if I think of them as little hurdles, I can easily overcome them.

Emeli

I sit with Jess and Wayne in double art. We are back in the art room and the whole class is buzzing.

Mrs Turner has the radio on and some of the boys are doing some funny dances. We all laugh.

No-one hears the knocking of the door except for Mrs Turner who goes to answer it.

‘Emeli Johnson? Mr Zucker wants to see you.’ said Mrs Turner. I turn pale.

‘Good luck!’ yell Jess and Wayne as I leave.

I head to Mr Zucker’s classroom. He is sitting at his desk with a cup of tea.

‘Emeli, take a seat.’ he said. I sit.

‘Now, I’ve marked your exam paper.’ he said. ‘You only got four questions wrong.’

I stop. ‘What...’

‘You’ve passed! With an A!’ he tells me.

I smile. I’ve done it! An A instead of an F!

‘Now, I suggest you talk to Wayne Martin and see if he can help you work out what you got wrong. But I am very pleased.’ said Mr Zucker.

I turn and run back towards the art room. I bump into Jess.

‘JESS!’ I yell.

‘You passed?’ she asked.

‘YES!’ I yell.

Both of us start jumping up and down like little girls.

‘Wayne.’ she yells. Wayne comes running out.

‘You did it?’ he asks.

‘Yes.’ I reply.

He hugs me and places his head on my shoulder. I giggle as he tickles me under the chin.

‘I am so proud of you.’ said Wayne.

I blush.

We both hug and smile.

Wayne

Double art comes around pretty quickly. I sit with Emeli and Jess.

Some boys in my class start doing some crazy dances.

All of us are laughing until Emeli gets the message that she has to go. We wish her luck because she has gone so pale.

Me and Jess talk about the bad weather and some music. Jess is really friendly and nice. We both know that Emeli is the right girl for me.

Jess goes out to see if she can spot Emeli. She is taking a while but then, she peeps her head round and yells.

I run out.

Emeli is there looking very happy. She tells me that she passed. I am over the moon for her. I hug her and rest my head on her shoulder. To make her giggle, I tickle her under the chin.

I tell her how proud I am. She blushes with happiness.

Both of us feel on top of the world.

Emeli

When I get home, I smell chocolate. I don’t remember buying chocolate. I peep round the kitchen door.

‘SURPRISE!’ yell both of my parents.

I smile. On the table is a chocolate cake which says ‘Well done Emeli.’ and a little present.

I slowly open the present. I gasp. It is a beautiful pendent with a picture of Wayne in it. There is a note which reads this.

Dear Emeli,

You have brightened up my world. You have always been there for me. I feel like a new person now. I am so proud of you.

With love.

Wayne

Tears trickle down my cheeks. This present is so beautiful.

‘When did he drop this round?’ I ask.

‘He dropped it round a few minutes ago.’ Mum replied.

‘Well, I must thank him later.’ I said.

All three of us have a slice of chocolate cake and some tea. I haven’t had this family time in ages.

‘Emeli, we are both so proud of you today. Only four mistakes. Much better than a F.’ said Mum.

‘If you need any help, just ask us.’ said Dad.

I look down at the floor. ‘Wayne has offered as well.’

They both look at me.

‘Emeli?’ said Mum.

‘You prefer my Brother.’ I said.

‘No sweetheart. Where did you get that from?’ asks Dad.

‘Watching you praise my Brother all of the time and trying to push me out.’ I reply.

‘Emeli, things were difficult. When I was pregnant with your Brother. Things weren’t going well. The doctors thought that there was something wrong with him. They gave him a 30% chance of survival.’ said Mum. I blush scarlet. I had no idea.

‘Your Brother pulled through. Because of what happened. I mean, things were different with you. They said that you were 100% healthy. Your Brother needed more care.’ said Mum.

I start to cry. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

Both of my parents hug me. ‘Because we didn’t want you getting too upset.’ said Dad.

‘Emeli, we worry about your Brother. That’s why we spend more time with him. I promise we will spend more time with you.’ said Mum.

All of three of us hug. I stare at the picture of my Brother on the mantelpiece.

I have made up my mind. I am going to be friends with him.

Wayne

When I get home, I look for Mum.

When I find her, she is sitting up in bed looking sad.

‘Oh Wayne.’ she whispers. I jump on the bed next to her.

‘My baby.’ she adds.

‘My Mum.’ I reply.

We both hug for a while.

‘Wayne, a letter came from school.’ Mum said.

‘I haven’t done anything!’ I said.

‘You did really well in your exams.’ said Mum. ‘You really do revise?’

‘Yes I do.’ I reply.

She kisses me on the cheek. ‘You have changed so much.’

‘I have. And this might surprise you.’ I said.

Unknown to everyone, I have been thinking about my future.

‘Mum. I have decided that I want to be a nursery assistant.’

Mum stares at me. ‘Wayne?’

‘I have always liked looking after children so I thought that I could work in a nursery.’ I reply.

Mum’s face lights up. ‘My Wayne!’

I hug her. I love her so much. Tears trickle down my cheeks.

‘I love you.’ I said.

‘I love you too.’ she replies.

And this new attitude is all thanks to Emeli, the girl I love.