Yesterday Once More – Part 4
"Smith and Webb."
"What!"
Smithy smirked as Mickey protested, getting to his feet.
"He's taller than me!"
"Everyone's taller than you." Zain sniggered, the group of boys around them laughing – all except John.
"Come on Webbo!" Smithy mocked from where he was stood at the side of the swimming pool, jumping into the water.
"Michael." Mr Cavanaugh nodded at the pool, "Get into the water…"
Mickey scowled and sat on the edge of the pool, sliding himself down into the water.
"On your marks." Cavanaugh raised his hand, putting the whistle to his lips, blowing it, the room soon full of the sounds of the boys each encouraging their competitor on, Smithy easily a full 2 strokes ahead of Mickey, reaching the end as he treaded water, grinning as he waited for Mickey to appear above the water again.
"Take your time." He smirked, pushing himself out of the water, purposely splashing Mickey.
"You got bigger arms," Mickey scowled. "And you train after school."
Smithy smirked and reached for his towel, the badges he'd earned from competitive swimming all painstakingly sewn around the edge by his mother, shrugging.
Gina settled in Adam's office, glancing around at the pictures of his family, looking back up as he came in. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Gina…" Mr Okaro sat opposite her. "I understand you've been having some…'problems' with Mrs Prosser."
"You could say that." Gina nodded, still watching him.
"Do you want to elaborate?"
Gina watched Adam for a few seconds, before opening her mouth to speak. "I believe she's a disgrace to the teaching profession."
Adam's eyes widened a little, not having expected Gina to be so blunt. "Pardon?"
"I've tried." Gina announced. "I don't mess around or talk or do anything she says I have. I want to do well, I'm not here to fail." She paused and watched Adam, her hands resting together in her lap. "She doesn't like me, it's a simple personality clash."
"Gina, I understand how…"
"That woman is a threat to my education!" Gina insisted. "She's stopping me from learning psychology by ridiculing me each lesson! Sir, I want to transfer to Miss Ackland's class."
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as that…" Adam sounded almost apologetic. "I'm going to have to suspend you, just for a couple of days."
Gina blinked, "But…my exams, sir I can't just take time off…it's completely-"
"It's out of my hands." Adam looked pained. "I'll talk to Mrs Prosser, as soon as we get this whole mess sorted out…"
"I haven't done anything wrong!"
"I know." Adam sympathised, "I'll sort this out, Gina. Just give me time – I'll make sure Mrs Prosser understands the situation."
"Ah, Daniel." Amber purred as she fell into step beside him, batting her eyes up at him.
Dan blinked and looked down, giving her a small shy smile. "Amber, isn't it?"
"You remembered!" Amber smirked to herself, "Amber Johannsen, I'm in a few of your classes…"
"Oh…" Dan paused and nodded quickly. "…Good?"
"Anyway, gotta dash, got Miss Bradford for PE – she'll kill me if I'm late, see ya!" Amber started to sprint in the opposite direction, before faltering to a jog and then dropping to a dawdle. Dan watched for a few seconds and almost chuckled, opening the doors to the swimming baths, leaning against the wall as he watched the boys PE lesson, yawning to himself.
"Come on girls!" Miss Bradford circled the seated group of girls, her eyes glazing over a little. "Noone gets anywhere without trying!"
"We did try miss!" Kerry panted. "We can't go any faster!"
"Yes you can!" Cathy Bradford spun on the spot, crouching so her face was inches from Kerry's. "You have to run till your lungs hurt – till you can't take anymore, the pain of pushing yourself! It's the only way to better yourselves!"
The girls exchanged glances, each longing for the end of class as they sat catching their breath. "But miss…" Honey looked up, frowning a little. "We can't."
Cathy twitched as she looked in Honey's direction. She was easily the most athletic of the girls, catching the eye of many of the boys, and if she was honest, some of the male members of staff with her long blonde hair and big blue eyes. She remembered the long conversation she'd seen her having with Mr Kane, the RE teacher and balled her hand tightly, her nails digging into her palm. "You can go first." She spat eventually.