Fifteen Going on Grown Up (16 page)

After the constable left, Hally went to her room and changed into cosy pyjamas and a fluffy dressing gown. Mum made hot chocolate and the four of them sat quietly drinking the soothing beverage. Wes stayed close to her and when their drinks were finished he told them he should go home and let Hally get some rest. He wouldn’t let her get up and see him to the door but gave her a light kiss on the lips before he left. He showed no signs of embarrassment at doing this in front of her parents and she felt just as comfortable. Mum followed her to her room and sat with her as she settled into bed.

“Could you stay with me for a little while?”

She asked mum. A small lump came into her mother’s throat at the pain in her daughter’s eyes.

“Of course I will my baby. You close your eyes and try and sleep.”

Hally didn’t think she would sleep at all that night; but she woke from a dreamless sleep to autumn sunshine. It seemed very late and when she looked at her clock she saw it was ten thirty. She jumped out of bed wondering why mum had not woken her for school. As she rushed from her room the events of the previous night flooded back into her mind and she stopped on the landing, realisation coming that this was why mum hadn’t woken her.

“Hally, are you alright?”

Mum called from the bottom of the stairs. Hally trotted down to meet her mother.

“Um, yes, I think so. How come you let me sleep in. I should be at school.”

She said as she got to the bottom.

“Don’t worry, I rang Mr Hopkins and explained everything. He agreed it was best for you to have a day at home and rest. And before you ask, I rang the girls too. They both wanted to come straight round but I insisted they speak to their parents first.”

There was knock on the backdoor, so Hally followed mum through to the kitchen and saw Corrinne and Clia through the glass. Hally felt her day brighten with the sight of her friends as mum opened the door for them. They dived at Hally with hugs and a huge box of chocolates.

“I’m not ill.”

She told them laughing. Together they said.

“We know.”

“But you need pampering” From Clia

“And chocy comfort.” From Corrinne

They all laughed then and Hally raising her hands in submission said.

“Ok, but first I’m going to have a quick shower and get dressed.”

The girls explained how their parents had agreed to let them have time off school to support Hally, and as they were all three very able students, Mr Hopkins had given permission too. Feeling secure that Hally would be alright with her friends, mum left them to visit her parents.

Settling on the sofa with a DVD, hot chocolate and the box of chocolates, the three girls began to discuss the dreadful news of Dana’s death.

“I just wish I had said something before.”

Hally said solemnly.

“I know Hals, we feel the same way. But, really, there was nothing any of us could do. Obviously Dana was in a very bad way, but even her own mates didn’t know anything or do anything.”

Clia stated.

“What a horrible life to have.”

Corrinne said in a soft voice. This brought tears to Hally’s eyes. Tears because of the loss of such a young person; tears because of the desperation and loneliness of the girl who had treated her with such hatred and tears because she felt privileged to have a family and friends who loved her. Corrinne and Clia hugged her from either side and for some time the three sat huddled and quiet.

“Hello!”

A voice called from the kitchen. Hally leapt up recognising the voice as belonging to Wes. As she reached the kitchen she saw him holding the back door slightly open with his head poking through the gap.

“I knocked a couple of times, but I don’t think you heard.”

He told her as he came fully into the room.

“Your mum rang me and said Corrinne and Clia were with you, but I wanted to see for myself how you were doing.”

“My mum rang you. how?”

Wes hugged her and laughed.

“Uh, they call it a phone.”

He said jokingly. Hally play thumped him on the arm and giggled.

“I meant, how did she get your number?”

“I gave it to her last night when you went to get changed and asked her to call me anytime, even through the night if she wanted me to come round.”

Hally hugged him tightly, all the joking put aside.

“That is so very lovely.”

She whispered into his shoulder. Wes hugged her back, then with his arm around her led her back to the girls in the lounge, where Hally took her place between her friends and Wes settled on the floor resting against the sofa. They watched the film and ate chocolates and though Dana’s suicide was very much in Hally’s mind; she kept pushing it back and tried to enjoy the company of three of the most important people in her life.

The next morning Hally walked into school with Corrinne, Clia and Wes feeling very apprehensive. She knew how quickly news got around the school and she was sure everyone would know about Dana. What she wasn’t sure about was whether anyone knew about her involvement. There was no sign of Penny or any of the other girls in Dana’s gang and the boys who usually hung out with them seemed to have drifted away to other groups.

Registration went ahead normally but Hally could see some of the students giving her sly looks. However none dared question her with Mrs Jacobs commanding silence throughout. But, as soon as she dismissed them for their first lesson she was bombarded with questions.

“Did you find her Hally?”

A girl called Rachel asked.

“Yeah, what happened?”

Asked a boy she only knew was nicknamed Pickle. Clia and Corrinne saved her, they linked arms on either side of her and marched her through the throng calling out as they moved.

“No she wasn’t there, and she doesn’t know anything about it, even if you have heard different.”

It was a relief to arrive at English and settle down in the classroom. Mr Austin was there so no one had any chance to question Hally further. The lesson progressed normally, but it seemed to fly by to Hally and she was quite disappointed when the bell went indicating the end of the lesson. As she gathered up her things Mr Austin came over and said quietly.

“Could I just have a quick word?”

“We’ll wait outside Hals.”

Corrinne told her. She gave her friends a thankful smile and waited whilst the remaining students left.

“Mr Hopkins has explained what happened Hally. All I want to tell you is that I am a trained counsellor in trauma. The school believes it’s important for the students to have someone to talk to about things like this, so if anytime you feel it’s getting too much or you just need to talk about how you feel about this; well just let me know.”

Hally was a little taken aback about this. She hadn’t thought at all about herself needing support, if anything she imagined Penny would need it. She didn’t voice this though but instead shyly thanked him and went to meet the girls outside.

As English had been a double lesson, they went straight to break and much to Hally’s relief Wes was waiting on their bench. This completely discouraged any other students from coming over to question her. However she knew it was only a short reprieve; that she would undoubtedly have students coming up to her throughout the rest of the day wanting to know any little titbits she could impart.

Somehow, Hally got through the rest of the day without too much trouble. She had one really uncomfortable moment when at the end of the day outside the school gates she saw a van with the local news logo on the side. Milling around was a television crew interviewing a few students, and when they saw her, a few pointed at her. The reporter immediately headed towards her. Wes who had been waiting outside her last lesson of the day tried to steer her away, and when he failed to accomplish this put his arm around her protectively instead. Corrinne and Clia closed in on either side too, so the reporter was unable to get too close. Trying to get as close as possible the reporter leaned in. He was short with thick dark curly hair, an orangey looking tan and brows that looked like caterpillars wiggling across his forehead as he raised them when he spoke.

“Hello, my name is Daly Fesandelo. Could I ask you about Dana Edwards?”

He thrust a large microphone towards her.

“No, I don’t know anything.”

Hally replied nervously. Daly tried to inch nearer and she backed away. His eyebrows really did look peculiar and she felt laughter bubbling up. Help came with the deep authoritative voice of Mr Hopkins.

“Really. This is unacceptable. I cannot have you trying to interview my students outside the school gates.”

As Daly Fesandelo turned to the head teacher Hally and the others made a quick escape. They knew all the cut throughs away from the school and were able to put some distance between themselves and the television crew.

They headed for Hally’s and were all relieved to find mum already at home when they got there. Hally flopped onto a kitchen chair and miserably told her mother about the day. Mum gave them all drinks and snacks and gently massaging her daughter’s shoulders said.

“It was bound to happen baby. But it sounds as though you all handled it well.” She turned to Wes and the girls. “And thank you for taking care of her.”

Nobody said anything, they knew they didn’t need to.

“Think about what Mr Austin said though darling. I know you have all of us to support you, but he has had professional training and you never know, it might help.”

Mum told Hally. Hally swivelled in her chair to look up at her mum.

“But I feel ok. I mean it’s really sad and it was a huge shock at first, but it really doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

“I know baby, I know. But he’s there just in case.”

Mum told her as she squeezed her shoulders gently. Hally nodded and left the subject there. There was a loud crash from upstairs which made them all jump and mum quickly moved towards the hallway.

“Nathan, what have you done!”

She called on the way. Hally and the others laughed. Hally was grateful to her little brother, the diversion was a relief, even though she knew he had probably created an enormous mess for her mum to clear up.

After dinner Hally sat with her family watching the television. The local news was on and though she was looking at the screen, she wasn’t really concentrating on what was being said. Her mind was all over the place. Thoughts of Dana just kept invading her little daydreams about Wes and this annoyed her. Mum and dad were partly watching and partly chatting, and Nathan was playing on the floor with his cars. Suddenly her attention was brought back to the television when she heard one of the newsreaders say Dana’s name. Everyone except Nathan, went completely quiet and watched with full concentration. It was a short piece, and showed the reporter Daly Fesandelo outside the school. There was a brief moment when Hally saw herself, then the report cut to Daly solemnly telling the viewers about the tragic suicide of Dana. They watched in silence, and after mum quietly came over to the chair Hally was curled up in and wrapped her arms around her.

That night Hally had the worst nightmare of her life. She awoke sweating and frightened and lay for some time as real life replaced the horrors of the subconscious. She didn’t want to wake her parents, but wished she wasn’t alone. She looked at her clock and saw it was just after three. Debating what to do she finally reached for her mobile phone. Before she could change her mind she rang Wes. He answered quickly.

“Hally what’s wrong?”

The panic in his voice made her feel very guilty.

“It’s ok. Oh I feel stupid now…sorry to wake you…”

She stammered, her face heating up even though he couldn’t see her.

“Hally, babe, what is it?”

He asked quietly. There was such gentleness in his voice that tears began to flow.

“I just had the most horrible nightmare.”

She whispered. He sensed she was crying and replied.

“I’m coming over. Can you wait in the kitchen? I don’t want to wake your family.”

Hally tried to protest but he wouldn’t hear it, so she nodded then realised he couldn’t see her.

“Ok, and thank you.”

Then he was gone.

As quietly as she could Hally slipped out of bed and put on her fluffy dressing gown and matching slippers. She tip toed out of her room and down stairs. She didn’t turn on any lights until she reached the kitchen, and because of this the nightmare invaded her thoughts and she began to shiver with the fear of it. She partly wished she had woken her parents instead of ringing Wes, but the thought of seeing him helped alleviate her terror.

Much to Hally’s surprise Wes arrived in record time. He was a little breathless and felt somewhat sweaty when he pulled her into his arms.

“I jogged most of the way.”

He told her by way of explanation in a hushed voice. She felt exhilarated that he had gone to so much effort just because she was afraid and upset and held onto him tightly, tears beginning again.

“I woke up and it seemed so real.”