"...So, I'm here to run this school. And I'm going to promise now, that I will try my hardest to make something of this school. Yes- things may change and yes- you may not like things, but this is a school and things will be dealt with accordingly. Thank you and let's make this a fresh start for all of you" My Byrne, our new headteacher says, finishing up this morning assembly.

Today's my first day back after being ill. It's been a week and I feel a lot better. The hall erupts into applause before we get let out to head to our first lesson, which happens to be my free period. Today I'm sitting in with Mr Clarkson as he doesn't have a lesson. I make my way out of the hall and start to head up to Mr Clarkson's room when Jenna – a year 11 pupil – stops me by grabbing my arm.
"Oi, you little skank, you're finally back I see. Enjoy all the attention you little attention seeker" She says before pushing me against some lockers at the bottom of the stairs.
"What?" I ask, taking a minute to react to the situation.
"You. You're just an attention seeking little brat" She says, again pushing me backwards.
"I'll give you something to cry about" She says, before swinging at me and hitting me in the stomach. I bend over and gasp for air as I struggle to catch my breath. I don't have time to recover before she pushes me again and hit me in the face. She pins me up against the locker and goes to swing for me again, when someone's hand grabs hers, stopping her for hitting me.
"Oi! Cooler now!" He shouts, pushing Jenna in the direction of the cooler. It was Mr Clarkson. I sigh with relief as I let my body sink to the floor whilst I fight for my breath.
"Are you okay?" Someone asks, kneeling down besides me. I look up at them and it was Mr Byrne. I nod my head.
"Yeah" I say, excepting the help he offers me to stand up. I grab my bag and stand up straight.
"Right, go to my office. I'll be there in a minute" He says, gesturing for Tom to go with me.
"You sure you're okay?" Tom asks, grabbing my arm gently to stop me, as we get upstairs.
"I said I'm fine!" I say a little louder than I intended. Tom ignores it and sits down in the office with me. We wait in a somewhat awkward silence until Mr Byrne enters the office 5 minutes later. He leans on the front of his desk and faces me.
"What was that about?" He asks calmly.
"I don't even know sir. This is my first day back" I say, making him nod at me.
"So why did she hit you?"
"I don't know. She walked over to me and called me an attention seeker after what happened last week and then she called me and brat and just went for me" I say, confused as to what actually happened myself.
"Just to clarify, what did happen last week?" He asks, as he wasn't here at that point.
"She collapsed at school and ended up in hospital for 3 days. This is her first day back" Tom says.
"Right. Well Jenna will be excluded for 3 days and in the mean-time, head to your first lesson."
"Right come on then sir" I say, talking to Mr Clarkson, making Mr Byrne look at us confused.
"Oh- I have a free lesson when I'm supposed to have PE as I struggle sometimes. I either spend the period with Mr Clarkson or Mr Mead" I say, filling him in. My Byrne nods his head and we walk out, heading to Mr Clarkson's room.
"Right, how far have you gotten with the pack I gave you?" He asks, moving to lean on the edge of his desk.
"Ermm...I've done like half of it I think. But I'm struggling with the language section" I say, referring to the practice work/catch up he set me for our English language papers.
"Right, well how about you answer the question there...and I'll mark it now and then we can go through it yeah?" he asks, motioning to the practice question in the booklet. I nod my head and grab my notepad. I start to read the question and then go on to answer it. 30 minutes later, I finish.
"Here" I say, handing it to Tom. He sits and reads it. When he's finished, he walks back over to my desk and sits down next to me.
"This is good...I'd give it 15 out of 24 marks...but let's show you what you can do to improve. This is an example piece that scored full marks. Let's highlight the important parts and then you could use that to improve your own." Tom says, grabbing a highlighter. We read through the piece and highlight all the useful things. I then go on to re-write my answer. When I'm done, Tom takes it just as the bell goes.
"I'll mark it and get back to you by the end of the day..." Clarkson says.
"Okay, I'll come here after school" I say grabbing my things before heading off to maths.
When I arrive at maths. I sit down next to Josh and get out my book. I get right on with the work until Mr Tilson (made up maths teacher) walks over to me.
"Work, now" He says, making me frown.
"I am..." I say, gesturing to the page of equations I've completed.
"I mean the booklet and test paper...you've had plenty of time to do them" He says, angrily.
"Ermm...I only got given them last Thursday. I've only managed to complete 2 of the papers" I say shyly, having only had 4 days to work on them as it's Monday today.
"Well that's not good enough!" He shouts, getting the attention of the class.
"This is what happens when pupils skip school..." He mutters, making my anger levels rise through the roof. Josh looks at me, trying to mentally tell me not to bother, but I shake my head and stand up.
"Excuse me?" I say through gritted teeth.
"Yes?" Mr Tilson asks.
"I did not 'skip school'" I say, using my fingers as quotation marks.
"I was ill and ended up in hospital" I say, pissed off that he accused me of skiving.
"Sit down" He says.
"Not until I get an apology" I say, crossing my arms.
"Sit down, last chance!" He shouts.
"Or what?!" I shout back.
"Right you! Cooler, now!" He shouts banging on the table. I grab my bag and storm out of the classroom, slamming the door behind me. I make my way to the cooler and barge into the room. I make my way to the back of the room and sit on the table at the back next to the corridor window.
"JJ? Why are you in here?" I sigh as I look up and see Mr Mead on cooler duty. I huff and shake my head before putting my head on my arms on the table.
"JJ?" He asks again, only this time I start to cry. He kneels down in front of the table.
"JJ...what's wrong, what happened?" He asks calmly. I take a deep breath and look up at him.
"Mr Tilson...he asked me for my catch-up work which I only got on Thursday. I haven't finished it and he started shouting at me. Then he accused me of skiving school when I was in hospital. I told him that I hadn't finished, and he kicked me out" I say, before leaning my head on the window.
"Right...I have to ask but did you kick off in anyway?" He asks. I understand why he asks as I have a very short temper and don't always help myself.
"No. Well...I did wait with my arms crossed until I got an apology. That's when he kicked off. I mean ask Josh, he was there. I didn't say or do anything wrong" I say, annoyed to be in this situation.
"Right, come with me" Mr Mead says. I stand up and grab my bag and follow Mr Mead. We go up Mr Byrne's office.
"Michael, can I have a word?" Mr Mead asks, knocking on the door. We walk inside the office and sit down at the table. Mr Mead then goes on to explain to Mr Byrne what has happened, and he calls for Mr Tilson to come to the office. A few minutes later he arrives, and Mr Byrne asks him for his version of events. Mr Mead then goes to get Josh and Josh's explains what happened. Mine and Josh's stories are the same so Mr Byrne says that we can go as the bell rings, signalling the end of the school day. I thank them both and leave Mr Byrne and Mr Mead to deal with Mr Tilson.

I walk up to Clarkson's room with Josh. Tom hands me my marked response and I smile when I see I scored 22 out of 24 marks.
"That's much better. Keep that up and you'll do great"
"Thank you" I say, putting it in my bag.
"Want a lift?" He asks, collecting his own things.
"If you don't mind" I say, just wanting to curl up on the sofa after the day I've had. We all go outside and get in his car before he starts the drive back to my house. I thank him when we arrive and walk inside. I quickly get changed before snuggling down to watch some Netflix until mum arrives home.