Chapter 37

As the duo walked down the corridor to the cooler, Taliah couldn't help but think about what she had done to Rhiannon and Scout's rooms. They didn't deserve it as even though Rhiannon had upset her yesterday, she hadn't done anything else to deserve what Taliah had done. She wanted to go back to the school house to tidy up their things to try and right her wrong but she didn't know how she was supposed to get there with Mr Clarkson watching her every move and there was also the issue of the permanent marker on Scout's wall.

"Sir, can go make a detour to go and see Maggie please. There is something I need to ask her." Taliah said and Mr Clarkson agreed to rather than continuing along the corridor to the cooler, they made their way down the staircase and headed in the directions of the kitchens.

As they opened the doors that lead into the dining hall Taliah saw her pop her head over the counter before making her way through the kitchen to the door that lead into the dining room. Taliah could see the concerned look on her face and wondered what had happened now but before she could utter a word Taliah started.

"Maggie I really need your help. I got myself into a mess earlier and I'm sure Mr Budgen will explain when he next see's you but I ended up trashing Scout and Rhiannon's rooms and I feel really bad and I don't know what to do as I'm in the cooler all afternoon and I'm not allowed out." Taliah explained frantically as she really wanted it to be sorted.

"When I finish here I'll try to get back to the school house and sort them out before they come in, but I'm not promising anything mind." Maggie explained and Taliah knew that she would try her best. However, Taliah still had to explain the issue of the permanent marker in Scout's room.

"Also, err...in Scout's room I kind of wrote on her wall...in permanent marker." Taliah said and she felt more ashamed about her actions as she said it to Maggie. Taliah could see that Maggie was shocked by what Taliah had done but agreed to try her best as long as Taliah promised not to do anything like it again.

"I promise. I feel so ashamed. I don't know what I was thinking." Taliah explained as Maggie pulled her in for a hug. Taliah was definitely going to make it up to Maggie somehow as she had done so much for Taliah already.

Taliah said goodbye to Maggie and a huge thank you before making her way back over to Mr Clarkson who had been hovering near the door. As they made their way along the corridor and back up the stairs to the cooler Taliah felt like she had done something good for the first time in days by being honest about what she had done.

"I'm proud of you for admitting what you did to Maggie. It can't have been easy." Tom said as they walked along the corridor. He finally felt like they were getting somewhere with Taliah and that the worst was over.

As Taliah walked into the cooler she saw Mrs McFall sat at the desk on duty waiting to see if anyone was going to get sent to the cooler as it was currently empty. Taliah walked over to the desk and stood in front of it and waited as Mrs McFall closed her book and took her glasses off to show Taliah that she was listening.

"I...I just want to apologise for earlier. I didn't mean to say what I said. I was just upset and you were the first person I came across here and it kind of just slipped out." Taliah explained and she could tell that Mrs McFall understood. It was times like this when Taliah realised how understanding and caring her teachers were and how horrible she had been to them the past few days.

"It's fine Taliah. It was bound to happen at some point with everything you're going through. I'm just disappointed that you missed an excellent lesson today!" Audrey exclaimed. Taliah loved how much she cared for history as it fascinated Taliah to learn about what had happened in the past and how the world is what it is today.

"What did I miss?" Taliah asked and she saw a smile flicker across Mrs McFall's face. She needed something to take her mind off what was happening and she thought a journey into the past might help.

"Well, continuing with the topic of World War II we began making diary extracts as if we were Jews in hiding from the Nazi's. It's up to you whether you write it or draw pictures to illustrate as long as you show me that you understand what it must have been like to have been there." Audrey explained and Taliah knew that this was the kind of work she needed to do. To get lost in another time for a while to escape this one to give her mind a rest.

"Anyways, I better be off as I have a lesson next. I look forward to seeing your diary!" She said excitedly as she gathered up her belongings and glided out the room. Taliah watched as Tom made his way over from the door to the desk at the front and sat himself down.

"Right, I'm going to write the letters of apology for Mrs Mulgrew and Mr Budgen and then I'm going to start on my history work. Is that okay?" Taliah asked Mr Clarkson who couldn't help but smile back at her. She was slowly going back to her old self.

"Yes, that's brilliant." Tom replied as he grabbed some paper off the desk and passed it to Taliah who was rummaging around in her bag for a pen to write with. Tom sat back in the chair for a moment and watched as Taliah started one her first letter before grabbing a book off the shelf to read to keep himself amused. Hopefully this would be the start of getting Taliah back on the right track.