Fifteen Going on Grown Up (26 page)

Chapter 14

Roses and Chocolates

The almighty intrusion of thoughts kept Hally awake for most of the night, and when she did drift in and out of sleep strange dreams invaded these short periods of rest. So by the time she rose in the morning she felt drained and ragged. Her head ached, her throat was sore and she was oh so tired. She pulled on her dressing gown and made her way downstairs and into the
kitchen. Mum was supervising Nathan’s breakfast and looked up as she walked in. Her smile turned immediately to a frown of concern.

“Hally, baby, what’s wrong?”

Hally opened her mouth to speak and found nothing came out, she had lost her voice. Mum came to her side and placed her hand on Hally’s forehead. It felt so cool and soothing.

“Back to bed with you little girl. I’ll call the doctor for an appointment and let the school know.”

Hally turned back towards the door, then turned back to her mum.

“Yes, and the girls, and Wes, now bed.” She leaned towards Nathan. “Eat your breakfast darling whilst I go with Hally and take her a drink.”

With a mouthful of cereal Nathan nodded.

Tucked back up in bed with water and juice nearby, Hally felt miserable. She was rarely ill and when she was she hated it. Mum had made an appointment with the doctor for later that morning and was going to call in on Granddad on the way back from taking Nathan to school, so for the time being she was alone and felt very lonely.

Mum had also called her friends and Wes. Both Clia and Corrinne had texted her sending their love, but so far there had been no word from Wes. This made her feel worse and tears spilled down her cheeks. Her book lay next to her on the bed and as she reached for it she heard the back door close downstairs and was relieved that mum was home. Then she heard voices and thought Granddad must have come back with mum. Footsteps sounded on the stairs, too rapid to be Granddad, and too heavy to be mum. Then he was there, Wes, moving into her room and straight across to her bed. He held out his arms and she leaned into him.

“Babe. How are you feeling? stupid question, you’ve lost your voice.”

As ill as she felt, this made her smile and she hugged him close, so much happier that he was there with her. Mum came up with hot drinks for them all and told Hally that Granddad was going to take them to the surgery in his car as dad had their car for work.

The doctor diagnosed laryngitis and told Hally she had to rest for a few days, drink plenty of fluids, take pain relief and not strain her vocal cords by using her voice too much.

“Ah, peace and quiet.”

Dad joked with her that evening as she sat huddled on the sofa with a fleece blanket wrapped around her.

“Ha Ha”

Hally silently mouthed back. She was actually feeling quite a lot better with pain relief and soothing drinks supplied by mum and Wes throughout the day. She had worried that Wes was taking time off school or work, but he insisted he wasn’t and that he would spend all day just taking care of her. This was very helpful to mum as she had shopping and Nathan to take care of when he came in from school. Now, Wes had gone home and dad was sitting with her as mum was busy getting Nathan ready for bed.

“Wes spent all day with you?”

Dad asked. Hally nodded and smiled again.

“That lad is really taken with you sweetheart. I didn’t think boys were that considerate these days.”

He told her seriously. Hally leaned towards her dad and let him cuddle her. At that moment, despite being ill, she felt like the luckiest person alive.

Corrinne and Clia called by early the next morning on the way to school to see how she was and told her they would come back straight after school. They were true to their word and sitting either side of her on the sofa, chatted to her about Gregg and Rhys and about school. Hally’s voice was a little above a whisper now and so she was able to join in with the conversation a little. She told them how Wes had looked after her the day before and was surprised when Clia said.

“We saw him on the way to school. He was so worried about you, he couldn’t get here fast enough.”

Hally raised her eyebrows and whispered.

“Wow, he never said.”

“Well I just hope Rhys is as caring if I get ill.”

Clia replied.

“Me too, with Gregg.”

Corrinne chipped in. The girls stayed for a little while longer and by the time they left Hally felt quite worn out. Mum had told Nathan to stay out of the lounge so as not to disturb Hally, and she was just dosing when Wes arrived. He came in and kissed her gently then sat next to her wrapping her in his arms.

“Go back to sleep babe.”

He told her in a soft voice. Hally leaned into him her eyes closed and relaxed. Now was not the time to ask questions, that could wait until she was feeling better and could talk properly.

It took a whole week for Hally to fully recover and get back to school. Once again she had to catch up with her work but her teachers were insistent that she take it easy and not push herself too hard. Still, she was determined to catch up as quickly as possible. She didn’t like the feeling of not being sure what was going on in lessons.

The end of January brought a thaw and February began with bright sunshine and a rise in temperature. The shops were suddenly full of everything red as they advertised Valentine’s Day, from tiny teddy bears, to bottles of pink champagne.

“I just don’t know what to get Wes.”

Hally said to Corrinne and Clia as they sat on their favourite bench during morning break.

“Well, I’m going for something sexy for Rhys.”

Clia told them.

“What about you Corrinne?”

Hally asked. Corrinne pressed her lips together and mulled over the question.

“Um…me…I think.”

She told them boldly. Both Hally and Clia looked at her wide eyed.

“What?”

Hally exclaimed.

“Yeah, what?”

Replied Clia too. Corrinne burst into giggles.

“Oh priceless. You should see your faces.”

Hally gave her a playful punch on the arm.

“You..”

She didn’t know what else to say. Corrinne laughed more loudly and Clia and Hally joined in.

“Oh don’t you look all carefree and guiltless!”

A girl’s voice came from behind them. They turned on the bench and saw Penny Cuthbert staring viciously at them. She stomped towards them, came round to the front of the bench, pointed at Hally and all but screamed at her.

“You sit there all giggly with your little friends like nothing ever happened.”

Hally stood up, but before she could speak, Penny, her voice rising to a screech screamed.

“You’re a jinx. Everyone around you dies, first Dana, my best friend, then your own gran, probably be one of these two next, (she jabbed her finger towards Corrine and Clia) or that fancy boyfriend of yours. Or maybe even your little brother…or…”

She didn’t get any further. Hally unusually and totally out of character saw blind fury. All of the years of bullying and ridicule from this girl bubbled to the surface as she brought her hand back and swung it as hard as she could at Penny’s face. The slap sounded like the crack of a gun, then there was a moments silence, then.

“What on earth is going on?”

Mrs Jacobs was there. Her voice calm but authoritative. Penny stood holding a hand to her face then spun round and said.

“She just hit me. I only asked how things were.”

Corrinne and Clia both started talking at the same time. Hally couldn’t believe what she had just done and was unable to speak, not even to defend herself. Mrs Jacobs put her hands up.

“Ok. Enough. All of you to my office please.”

“But miss… I didn’t…”

Penny tried to argue but Mrs Jacobs silenced her with a look and pointed in the direction of the school buildings. Corrinne and Clia took one of Hally’s arms each and gently led her along the path. Penny stormed past them and Mrs Jacobs silently walked behind them.

Once outside her office, Mrs Jacobs asked Penny to sit down and wait. She indicated to Hally to enter and Corrinne and Clia were about to follow when she said.

“I’d like you two to go back to your class and tell which ever teacher you have right now that you will be late, Hally too.”

They were about to protest that they didn’t want to leave Hally but Mrs Jacobs look was enough to deter anyone from disobeying. So, giving Penny a scathing look instead they made their way along the corridor.

Hally was still standing when Mrs Jacobs entered, still shocked by her own actions.

“Sit down Hally.”

Mrs Jacobs said gently. Without a word Hally obeyed.

“Now please tell me why you hit Penny.”

Hally looked at her form tutor and saw concern on her face. This brought tears to Hally’s eyes, she thought she could cope better with anger. Wiping her face with the back of her hand she relayed the events that led to the slap. She left nothing out and ended by saying.

“I lost my temper. I shouldn’t have. But you know, she didn’t even go to Dana’s funeral, some best friend huh? And all the years they kept at me…”

She couldn’t say anymore. She noticed for the first time Mrs Jacobs writing and frowned a little.

“I have to put this in an official report Hally.”

Mrs Jacobs told her.

“Will I get excluded?”

Hally asked, her voice a trembling whisper.

“No, I will speak to Penny and Corrinne and Clia, but you were seriously provoked and the pressure you have been under recently, I’m surprised you haven’t cracked before. But I still have to report it officially, do you understand?”

Hally nodded.

“I’m going to call your parents and I think it’s best if you go home today.”

“But you said I won’t be excluded.”

Hally replied tearfully.

“You’re not Hally. I just think you need the break, just for the rest of today.”

Hally nodded wordlessly. Mrs Jacobs reached for the phone and quietly spoke to Hally’s mum. Hally couldn’t hear what her mother said and looked at her teacher questioningly after the call ended.

“She’s coming to pick you up. You can wait in reception. I’m going to speak to Penny now and I will be making it clear that you are not being excluded, that I am sending you home for a rest not because of what you did. I have to report what she tells me, but I will also report what Corrinne and Clia have to say too.”

Her meaning was very clear. She didn’t think Penny would tell the truth but knew Hally’s friends would.

As Hally moved away from Mrs Jacobs’ office towards reception, Corrinne and Clia were coming towards her. As they met they heard Penny’s voice rise to a shout from inside the office and they all knew she hadn’t been believed.

Mum came towards her as she sat in reception, her arms extended. Hally stood and fell sobbing into them and let mum hug and then lead her from the building. Hally felt she had let everyone down, especially herself. All the years of torment from Dana and Penny and their gang and not once had she let her temper get the better of her.

“Mum I’m so sorry.”

She said as she climbed into the car. Mum squeezed her hand.

“Baby, it’s not your fault. Let’s get you home then we can talk about it. Your dad’s at home, I called him and he came straight home.”

This news brought more tears to her eyes. Her daddy was her hero, what would he think of his daughter, so near to being grown up brawling in the school playground. At least that’s how Hally thought of it anyway.

When Hally walked into the kitchen dad stood up from the table and came straight to her. He held his arms open wide and Hally fell into them crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.

“Tink…it’s alright…shush…sh…sh.”

Dad held her and gently patted her back. Mum came over too and put her arms around Hally as well.

“She’s in a right state.”

Mum said to her husband.

“And she thinks she’s let us down. Even though I have tried to tell her she hasn’t.”

Dad nodded and continued comforting Hally and very slowly her sobs began to diminish.

Eventually calmed, dad led Hally into the lounge and settled her on the sofa. Mum followed with a glass of juice and together they fussed and comforted their daughter.

“So tell us exactly what happened Tink.”

Dad said. Hally went on to explain in detail, even the conversation between her and the girls about Valentine presents. When she got to what Penny had said she saw her father’s face darken with his own anger.

“That evil little bitch.”

He said vehemently. Hally was quite surprised since her dad rarely showed anger. At the same time she felt an overwhelming sense of security. Her dad wasn’t at all angry with her, he would protect and love and comfort her.

Corrinne and Clia arrived straight after school and at once informed her that of course the whole school knew what had happened.