Emeli

I just stare at him. Wayne is glaring at me as if to say ‘Stop looking at me!’

I brush away some of my fringe from my eye so that I can see properly. I look over at Jess. She has turned back to her precious picture with a smile written on her face. Thanks a bunch, Jess. You are supposed to help me here!

I watch as Mrs Turner finds Wayne a seat by the window. Wayne doesn’t say a single word. So far, none of the boys in the class are interested in him at all. Personally, Wayne looks really unapproachable. I turn away from Wayne and continue with my painting. It looks like the sort of painting that a five year old would do. I really hate art but I have to try really hard otherwise Mrs Turner will come along and start snapping at me. She comes over and hovers over Jess’s painting. Mrs Turner smiles. Clearly, Jess is Mrs Turner’s favourite.

‘That is a fantastic picture Jess.’ said Mrs Turner.

Jess smiles.

‘Everyone! Please have a look at Jess’s painting.’ said Mrs Turner.

A huge crowd goes over to have a look. I notice that Wayne hasn’t moved from his desk. He just cannot be bothered to pick up a paintbrush. The huge crowd are clapping at Jess’s picture.

Then... It was my turn.

Mrs Turner hovered over my painting and frowned.

‘Emeli, what is this meant to be?’ asked Mrs Turner.

Everyone falls silent.

‘A fruit bowl Miss.’ I reply.

‘That does not look like a fruit bowl Emeli. Can you actually paint anything?’ Mrs Turner asked in a sarcastic tone.

The class burst out laughing including Jess. My eyes wall up with tears. I can’t help it if I can’t paint very well. All of a sudden, there is a huge crash by the window. Wayne is standing up with a furious look on his face. His ear looks quite red, his eyes look angry. The chair has fallen backwards causing a loud noise. Mrs Turner stares as Wayne walks over to me. He looks at me. I try not to stare deep into his eyes.

‘Leave Emeli alone. She does not deserve this. How could you be so mean?’ Wayne shouts.

The class is astounded. Wayne has only been here twenty-five minutes and, already, he has had an outburst.

Mrs Turner has turned a deep shade of crimson. ‘How dare you speak to me like that Wayne Martin!’

‘I dare!’ Wayne yells.

The class are trembling in their seats. Jess isn’t smiling. Good for her, because I am totally having a jealous phrase with her at this moment in time. Wayne walks to the front of the classroom and knocks over one of Mrs Turner’s new pictures. It falls to the floor. He then grabs a huge bucket full of red paint and throws it onto the whiteboard.

‘Wayne Martin!’ yells Mrs Turner. ‘Stop this now!’

Wayne doesn’t listen. He runs back to his seat, grabs his empty aerosol and kicks it to the floor just as the bell rings for break. Jess picks up my bag and together, we walk out of the room. Wayne follows. He has left Mrs Turner standing in a wreaked classroom.

Wayne

This girl just can’t stop staring at me. I walk in and what happens? This girl is staring at me. The girl sitting next to her must be her friend for sure. Mrs Turner finds me a seat next to the window. I hate art.

‘Just paint either a fruit bowl or a vase of flowers Wayne. Don’t be afraid to ask for any help.’ said Mrs Turner. I nod silently.

I stare at a table of boys who are all doing vases of flowers by the looks of it. I look at the girl. I can tell she is looking at me out of the corner of her eye. Why does she look at me? Does my earring look weird? Is my newly styled hair like a mop? I don’t know.

Mrs Turner has gone to look at someone’s painting. She is smiling from ear to ear. She asks everyone to stop painting and have a look at this girl’s painting of a sunflower in a vase. There is a lot of clapping.

‘Well done Jess.’ I hear Mrs Turner say to her. So, one mystery is solved. Jess is the friend of the girl who can’t stop staring at me. Then, I sort of lose control after Mrs Turner says something sarcastic. I look over at her painting. It isn’t brilliant but she is trying to make an effort. Mrs Turner clearly cannot see that. In a sarcastic tone, she asks ‘Can you actually paint anything?’ I hear the girl’s name in the process. It is Emeli.

I can see Emeli is trying really hard not to cry. The class have burst out laughing at her, including her friend Jess. That’s it. I’ve had enough of this teacher’s bullying.

I stand up, knocking my chair backwards in the process. The class fall silent as I make my way over towards Emeli and Mrs Turner. Emeli has turned very pale. Time for my outburst.

I yell at Mrs Turner. She yells back at me. I yell that I dare to question her. The class just stare at me like I am out of my mind. But my five minutes of fame are not over yet.

I walk over to the front of the class. On Mrs Turner’s desk, I spot a folder labelled ‘New Drawings’ I open the folder and tip them out. Next, I see an opened bucket of red paint. I glance at the whiteboard then back at the bucket. I grab the bucket and throw it at the whiteboard. Red paint goes everywhere on the board and some of the wall. Mrs Turner looks like she is going to cry. Then I walk back to my desk and kick the wooden easel over. The bell rings. Emeli and Jess walk out of the classroom. Emeli looks very pale. I follow out behind them. I leave Mrs Turner standing in her damaged classroom. My job is done.

Emeli

The day passes by slowly. I am still quite shaken up from what happened earlier in Mrs Turner’s class. I haven’t seen Wayne at all but I see Mrs Turner leaving at break. She drives away in her black car. She was not amused. I can’t stop thinking about Wayne. Why can first love be so complicated? He is a bad boy but I truly believe that he must have goodness in the heart if he stood up for me like that. I honestly think that this is love. If Jess hears me say this, then she would tell me not to be stupid. She is my best friend, but I don’t tell her my deepest thoughts.

I walk home after school and I spot Wayne boarding a bus. His earring still in, his eyes still full of anger, his hand curled into a fist. He doesn’t notice me at all. He must have been in school, as he is still wearing his school uniform. I mean, security in town is really tight. Spotted out of school in school uniform and you are in hot water.

When I reach my house, I let myself in. I pick some mail up from off the floor and place it onto the table in the dining room. I race upstairs to my room and to take off my uniform and replace it with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Normally, I start my homework but I was in a very different mood. I mean very different mood. I race downstairs to watch TV instead. My parents came in from work to find me lazing around on the sofa watching a repeat episode of the Top 10 daily songs chart. They were not amused.

‘Emeli, have you finished your work?’ my Mum asks.

I shake my head. ‘No, I haven’t finished yet.’

‘Do it now Emeli!’ yelled Dad.

‘No. I am doing it after dinner because I concentrate better in the evenings.’ I reply.

‘When I say now Emeli, I mean NOW!’ yells my Dad.

I turn off the TV and I run upstairs to my room slamming the door shut. I hate the fact that my parents are so pushy these days.

Wayne

I spend the rest of the day in one of Meadow High’s storerooms. The storeroom is full of cardboard boxes. Some are empty, some have things in. My first day and my first outburst. I check to see if my earring hasn’t come out in the process, but luckily it hasn’t.

I hear a car engine. I look out of one of the windows. I spot Mrs Turner leaving the school in her black car. I wonder if she has resigned? I start to feel a little guilty now. I eat my lunch quietly. Just some BLT (Bacon, lettuce and tomato) sandwiches which my Mum bought for me. I love BLT sandwiches. They do fill me with energy.

Just before the final bell rang, I tiptoe out of the storeroom and make my way to the main entrance. Some students are already leaving. I decide to join the crowd. I spot the bus stop and join the queue of students. The sun is shining down and I feel very warm. Waiting for the bus to arrive, I pass the time by thinking about what has happened today. So much in one day and the funny thing is. It isn’t over yet.

The bus arrives. I get on board and check my reflection in a window. My ear has reduced in redness and my earring is in place. My eyes still look quite scary. I take my left hand and curl it into a fist. Now, I am the rough and tough Wayne.

I arrive home and as I walk towards the flat, I spot some boys having a water fight. Normally, I would have joined in but I didn’t. I open the flat door. ‘I’m home.’ I said. Mum comes out of the kitchen, moody and red-eyed. The first thing she spots is my earring.

‘What did I say Wayne?’ Mum asks. ‘Hmmm...’

‘Sorry Mum.’ I replied.

‘Sorry is not good enough. First of all, you are late for school and then you threaten one of the teachers!’ Mum said.

‘She was being really harsh on one of the students. I had to teach her a lesson!’ I reply.

Mum looks defeated. Again, I have let her down. She bursts into tears. I hug her. She cries on my shoulder letting out all of her tears and her anger.

I kiss her gently. ‘I am so sorry Mum.’

Mum doesn’t let go. I am her main priority and she wants me to know that.

‘I am going to revise Mum,’ I said.

Mum looks at me, pale faced and red-eyed but she gives a small smile.

I give her another kiss before heading into my bedroom. I leave Mum standing there in the middle of the room alone.