When Cara got to Pastoral the rest of the class were already there. It was almost as though they were waiting for her to get there to start their issues work. Their teacher for that day, Mr. Matthews the year level coordinator had split the whiteboard up into 3 sections, Important Issues, Issues We Face, and How To Deal. As Cara opened the classroom door she noticed that everyone's eyes were on her. She knew her face was puffy and red, she knew that she had just spilled her life story to all of the girls in her year, she knew that she had just made a mistake. The class was quiet as she walked in. Devon and Benny were the first to get out of their seats and go over to her, followed closely by Ellie. Devon wrapped Cara into a bear hug.
"You did it sweetie" was all she said, before she let go of the girl. Ellie then wrapped her arms around Cara and hugged her tightly. She didn't say anything; she knew that actions speak louder than words. And what was she supposed to say, she had just found out her host student was similar to her, possibly even worse off. Ellie let go of her and moved out of the way for Benny to hug Cara, who looked confused as to why Benny was up to. He didn't know anything, did he?
"I'm sorry," he said, hugging her. Cara didn't want to let go, but she wanted to know how he knew. Instead, she took his hand and pulled him out of the classroom.
"What do you mean, you're sorry?" She asked him, sitting down on bench.
"Uh… We got let into the end of your speech. Me, Craig, Jay, Kyle, Marco and Jake. Because we are such good friends…" Benny didn't really know what to say. Cara go up of the bench.
"Oh…" was all she said. She wrapped herself up in Benny's arms again. He was one of her best friends, but he had never ever hugged her before. Cara liked it.
Meanwhile, back in class the group was working on the issues work.
"Right, for Important Issues we've got…" Alex began. She was the writer for the work, because it turned out that all the work had to be done on paper so it could be handed in, and not on the board. "Family, Friends, Boyfriends/Girlfriends, Money, Growing up, Freedom, School, Parties, Alcohol, Drugs, Getting Hurt, and Abuse… That's pretty much them all isn't it?" she said.
The group nodded.
"Ok, and Issues We Face we've got eating disorders, self injury, rape, alcohol, drugs, boyfriend/girlfriend problems, schoolwork, family and friendship problems. Is that them all?"
"Pregnancy… Abortion" Manny said quietly. Alex added it to the list, which she then handed to Mr. Matthews. They were going to work on How To Deal after lunch, which was in about 10 minutes. Cara and Benny came back into the room and the group sat together, quiet, for a few minutes. Everyone was thinking about different things. Benny had his arm around Cara, as a protection 'move' more than anything else.
By the time lunch came around the whole school was buzzing with the news that there was a girl in year 11 who was seriously screwed up. As much as their group tried to act normal, they couldn't help but act differently when people whispered and pointed at Cara. Cara was sitting on the bench behind the group, hiding from view. The girls were surrounding her, and then the guys were surrounding them. Kyle and Mark tried to keep the conversation flowing easily, but it just wasn't happening.
"I need to get out…" Cara said softly, speaking for the first time that lunchtime. Devon looked at her and Benny leaned over to her.
"Out where?" he asked.
"Just… away. From all of this" she said slowly, motioning to a group of year 9's walking past, whispering and giggling away.
"Then let's go" Benny said. "We'll go to mine. Mum and Dad are away for the rest of the week and Michael is doing nationals preparations… I've got the house to myself. We'll just kick back, watch some TV and relax."
"Sounds good… But everyone has to come k?" Cara said.
"No probs. But they'll hafta come spread out, not in one big clump."
"Ok"
"Right, well you go get your bag and meet me back down here. You, me, Ellie and Paige will get going first."
Ellie shook her head. "uh… how bout someone else goes before me… say… Emma and Jay or something instead of me n Paige. We'll be the last 2 to leave."
Benny nodded his head. "Sure, whatever. It doesn't really matter anyway."
A few minutes later Cara arrived down at Benny's locker with Jay and Emma in tow. Saying their goodbyes quickly, they headed off to Benny's house.