Thirty six

Josh's return to school was a massive event. Faith, Elektra, Frank and Blake all got out the car first. Blake was arguing with Elektra about going to their form room. Elektra was refusing as she wanted to spend time with Josh and the others. Blake scowled at her and stormed off. Josh climbed out with Jessie and Rick following. As the six of them walked onto the playground, people started noticing Josh. Jessie grinned at Josh who had started going red from all the attention. "now you know how I felt for the past month with everyone watching," Jessie joked. He smiled back and led the way to a bench where he sat down. Jessie sat down on the bench arm with Rick next to her. Elektra leant on the back of the bench over Josh. Faith and Frank sat down next to Josh. They were all waiting to see what would happen now they were at school. They didn't have to wait long as Sophie and Alex came over.

"Alright Josh. Great t' have you back," Sophie said. Josh smiled. "Jessie was so excited 'bout you coming out," she added. Sophie slipped into one of the seats on the bench while Alex leant against the side.

"Welcome back Josh. Glad to see you out. Your sister has missed you," Alex told him. Josh laughed.

"Yeah, I'm fully aware she missed me. How are you both?" Josh asked. Sophie shrugged nonchalantly.

"Yeah we are ok. How are you?" Alex answered for the both of them.

Josh thought for a minute. "I'm great now I'm out and have been reunited with Jessie but I wish PEOPLE would STOP STARING," Josh shouted the last bit. Those within hearing distance turned back to their conversations and stopped staring.

Jessie giggled. "nice one Josh," she said as the bell rang and everyone started heading inside. Josh shook his head. He was going to have to get used to the stares. At least for a little while. Jessie led the way inside with Josh following as he had forgotten the way after a month away from school. She walked into the classroom and went and sat in her usual seat. Josh sat in his old seat and leaned across the aisle towards Jessie.

"It is still my seat right? Blake hasn't taken this as well has he?" Josh asked.

Jessie shook her head. "No, he's in Elektra and Faith's class," she told him. Mr Crowhurst walked in and started the register.

"Jessie Thomas," he called.

"here sir," Jessie replied.

"Josh Thomas," he asked tentatively unaware Josh was back. "Lori..."

"here Sir," Josh answered interrupting Mr Crowhurst mid name. Mr Crowhurst looked up in surprise.

"Josh you are back. Good to see you. Lori Wells," Mr Crowhurst called.

"yeah," Lori grumbled, irritated that Josh had stolen her limelight by interrupting her name. Lori was an overdramatic girl and wanted to be an actress and hated when anyone else got better parts than her in the school play.

"So 11J, I have an exciting announcement. The year 11, 12 and 13 school production name has been announced. This year we will be putting on Grease, in a modern day setting. The play will be an up to date, modern day version involving dancing, singing and comedy. If you want to audition auditions are after school tomorrow," Mr Crowhurst informed the class. Lori sat up straighter as if daring anyone to try and go for Sandy against her. "You will need to sing a song from the film in your audition as well as read a piece of the script you will be given."

Jessie spun round to talk to Rick. "Anyone want to try out?" she asked. Rick and Josh both nodded while Frank shook his head.

"it's not for me," Frank said. Jessie smiled at him.

"That's fine. It will be like a little outing tomorrow," Jessie joked. They picked up their school bags and headed to their English lesson. "I hope you did all your homework Josh or the teachers will have a field day with you," Jessie told him as they followed the rest off 11J.

He shrugged. "I've done it but not to the best standard. What are we doing in English anyway?" he asked quietly as they all took their seats.

"Coursework on An Inspector Calls, you'll do fine we've done it once," Jessie told him. Their English teacher came in, looked around the room and clocked Josh. She came over to Josh as the first thing she did.

"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. I hope you've got your coursework for me Josh. And the notes in your anthology," she said. Josh nodded and handed over his English book, with the notes and his piece of coursework in it. She scowled. "Very well, I shall mark it tonight and have it back to you tomorrow," she sneered.

Josh turned to Jessie straight away. "What was that about?" he asked. Jessie, Rick and Frank all just sort of looked away and rubbed their neck. "Come on, please tell me," he added.

Jessie turned back round to face him. "Basically when the school found out why you were in the youth offenders some of the teachers got a bit... well they got a bit snooty about teaching me especially when I defended you after overhearing some of the teachers calling you a good for nothing idiot. She's one of them and a lot of them tried to say they weren't going to teach you when you got out but they got overruled. You're going to face quite a lot of that today as a lot of them think you were just spiteful to me," Jessie explained speaking about 10 words a second.

Josh spent a while trying to decipher what Jessie had said and then when he had he finally understood. "Oh. So not very good then," Josh said. Everyone shook their head and turned back to writing their essay on An Inspector Calls while Jessie leant her book to her brother so he could read the play before writing up his coursework. Jessie lent over her notes and stared at a bit of it.

"You see I've never got this bit," Jessie said quietly to the others, hoping to not draw their English teacher over to have a go at them or explain it. Rick looked at what she was pointing at. "I get he's predicting the future but who is he and how does he know about what is going to happen to them? I mean is he a ghost or a alien or what?"

Rick laughed. "An alien? No. I would say he's a ghost who has come to teach them a lesson about being selfish and conforming to a societies view on status rather than basing each person on merit and how much they deserve it," Rick whispered back.

Josh nodded. "yeah he's right. It's about not judging people based on appearance or first impressions. I'm never going to get a job because I have a criminal record and because of that I'll be judged before they even meet me."

There was a hiss by their side. "Yes," their English teacher said drawing out the s into a hiss, "you won't get a job but the rest of them need their grades to get a job, so stop distracting them." Jessie glared at her.

"he might get a job if the new laws come in as he won't have a criminal record forever," Jessie replied.

"Don't back chat Jessica. Detention after school today. You don't talk to a teacher like that," she hissed before walking off.

"You don't talk to a teacher like that," Jessie imitated quietly. "Yeah and you're not supposed to judge or crush people's dreams and ideas but you do." Rick, Frank and Josh all burst out into laughter at her accurate impression. She spun back round.

"All of you!" she shouted. They all exchanged a glance and smiled.

A/N: Poor Josh. He's really having a hard time of it. Well at least he's with Jessie. There is another new character joining soon and you will get to find out more about Blake too. Indigo :)