Faye’s POV

I open my eyes. 7:00am. God please tell me I’m cured from that horrible bug I had yesterday. I can’t handle being sick any more.

“Faye? Are you going to school today?” My mother shouted up the stairs.

“I think so!” I croaked. My back and ribs ached from the amount of times I’d vomited over the last 24 hours. Getting up slowly, I rub my back as a sharp pain stabs through me.  I looked at my phone; I had a few messages; one from Dan, one from Luke and one from Helen. Yeah, thanks Erin.

From: Dan

Hey! How are you? Hope you’re coming back today or we’ll have an addition to the back seats again ;)

From: Luke

Saved Dan beating up that girl on the bus. Hope you’re feeling better! We missed you! :D

From Helen

Aww babe!  :(( Hope you’re feeling better!! Need you back in my classes with me! You know you missed the voting for after school activity yesterday!! Xxx

Ah crap, I’d forgotten about that… I know Erin would have done one for me, it’s fine. It’s all fine. I did my hair and makeup, got dressed into a baby blue skirt, a white V-neck t-shirt and a red blazer. I brushed my teeth, sprayed my perfume and deodorant and rushed downstairs to a plate with toast on.

“I made you breakfast, darling.” My father said as he made coffee.

“How are you feeling?” My mum asked.

“Yeah better now, thank you.” I smiled. I bit my toast, but instantly hated the taste of the plain toast in front of me. “Can I have some butter?”

“If you’re feeling sick still, you shouldn’t eat dairy…” My mother said.

“I’m fine. Please?” I pleaded, my mum finally giving up and handing me some butter. I quickly scoffed down the now beautiful tasting toast and, shoving on my Vans trainers and slinging my backpack on, I exited the house as I shouted bye. The school bus pulled up and I scrambled on, greeted by the grins of my fellow back seat passengers.  I plonked in the middle seat to be greeted. I loved my popularity.

“Oh My God!” Helen squealed. “You’re ok! You’re here!” She flung her arms round me.

“Hi Helen! Thank you so much for my message!” I hinted, knowing Erin was the only one who hadn’t sent me a message. “You alright, Dan?” I asked, spinning round to him and throwing my arms round him.

“Faye, it’s so good to have you back!” He smiled. “We had a stranger sitting here yesterday!”

“Yeah, Abbie had to sit on the end there, next to me!” Luke laughed.

“You let Abbie sit there?” I questioned.

“There was nowhere else on the bus and the driver would go otherwise!” Luke admitted, I could tell he wasn’t happy about it.

“She called me a whore!” Erin cried. I felt no sympathy for her. No text, no call, no ‘how are you?’.

“Oh well. I’m sure you’ll get over it.” I shrugged.

“Excuse me?” Erin looked shocked.

“She calls me things all the time, I’m saying it shouldn’t affect you. She’s nothing.” I changed it to make it sound like advice.

“Yeah I guess you’re right!” She smiled.

“Oh hey, guys, just wanted to ask… Which one of you filled in my form for the after school activity?” I questioned. There was silence as they all exchanged glances. The bus halted quickly to a stop making us slide forward on our chairs a little. The doors opened and Abbie walked onto the bus, scouting a free chair. The only one being the seat in front of us again.

“Abbie! I missed you!” I teased.

“I thought of you yesterday, when you were ill!” She said to me. “I was praying for you. Praying you wouldn’t recover.” The whole bus gasped and an eerie silence crept over the bus.

“Abbie. It’s not nice to make people’s lives as miserable as yours! My death would be cheerier than your life.” I smiled. The girls giggled. “My life and my friends  will always be better than your mere existence.”

“Well, we’ll soon see how great your life is when you get some crappy afterschool activity cos no-one filled in your form. Were your friends meant to do that? Ooh…” She said. I immediately looked over to Erin, who looked away, and Helen, who looked at the floor.

“Guys?” I questioned.

“It completely slipped my mind!” Erin said.

“Lies! I asked you if you were going to do one and you walked off!” Abbie said, rubbing salt into the wound.

“Guys? I thought we were a group? Whatever. If I get something shitty, you’ll be the first to hear.” I threatened, turning away from the girls.

“I’m really sorry!” Helen begged. “Please forgive me!” I ignored her.

“Why did you care anyway?” I asked Abbie.

“Huh?”

“Why did you tell them they needed to vote for me?” I questioned.

“Well, seeing you do something like Army Training… No-one deserves that!” She turned round. I didn’t know whether to feel insulted, but right now I was too damn angry! The bus pulled in to school and everyone piled off it. I walked ahead of the girls and sitting in the classroom at the far left corner.

“Come on, Faye!” Erin rolled her eyes.

“You’re not sitting next to me…” I shook my head. Luke and Dan walked in. Luke sat himself next to me, Dan beside him, then Erin and Helen. Abbie again sat at the front. Mr France walked in, again adjusting his bow tie, this one yellow.

“Right, class, I’ll do the register in a minute but first, the headmaster is going to announce over the tannoy who has what after school activity. I hope you all get something you like but remember you can’t-” He was interrupted by the tannoy.

“Hello Year 13’s. You’ll be pleased to know I’ve calculated who is going to do which activity and I shall read your names out now. Ok? Remember you cannot change it. It is done. Ok, those doing the dance activity; Serena, Daisy, Iliana, Jackie, Kendra, Joseph, Martin, Hannah, Petra and Georgia.  You guys will be in the dance studio every Wednesday and Thursday for an hour and a half. Those doing Sport; Jason, Danny K, Oliver, Tim, Will, Sammi, Freddy, Benjamin, Ellie and Dan.” Dan celebrated on the chair. Well at least one got what they wanted! Let’s hope I do. I don’t care about the others… “Those doing sport will be on the field every Monday Friday for an hour and a half. If the weather is poor, you’ll be in the assembly hall. Those doing music: Carrie, Sky, Hilda, Terri, Charlie, David, India, Seema, Julie and Cass. You’ll be in the music room every Tuesday for an hour. Those doing drama…” I breathed in deeply and glanced over to the girls, both looking as nervous as I feel. “Those doing drama: Ellen, Dammika, Troy, Conor, Jack, Paris, Sheila, Anna, Erin and Helen.” My hearing blurred and I stared down at the table. Holy shit… I’m going to have to do Army training…

“Faye? FAYE!” Luke shouted at me. I slowly looked up at him. “Are... Are you alright?”

“I… I- I…” I stammered, not being able to find words.

“Those doing army training, you’ll have the rest of today off to travel to an actual army course for the day. After that you will do one hour every day of the week, regardless of weather. Those names are: Abbie, Luke, Faye, Rebecca, Lee, Nigel, Ross, Nick, Jamie and Tom.” Every day of the week? With Abbie? For an hour? I can’t even deal with the bus journey!

“Faye?” Erin called. I looked over to her with hate in my eyes. I thought I’d bought these girls up to treasure me! I was their leader… Look how they let me down!

“What?” I hissed.

“I’m sorry!” She apologised.

“Whatever.” I shook my head. “Enjoy drama with your best friend.” Screw them. I don’t need them. I can convince other people to love me. Look at me! I could get anyone I wanted!