Jack didn't know if it was fear or something else settling in when he had spent the evening reading stories in the Rochdale Observer. The most recent stories have discussed a real togetherness at the school with the old headteacher being well supported. However, going deeper into the past revealed more. Stories of murdered teachers, general parent outrage and even a school fire. A school merger is interesting but it's not the carnage he expected. Then again, reporting on children doing crimes is very unusual and only in extreme circumstances.
Walking into school, alone this time, Jack heads into the tutor room. The miserable old man takes the register in more of a rush than usual and Jack took a seat in the back of the class. He then went on to announce an assembly starting shortly. She hadn't said anything but Andi took a seat next to him. "Do you know what this is about?" Jack asks with only one situation in mind. He then goes on to clarify "Mr Clarkson told me the story. I don't know why but he did." He says as they get up. Tagging along with her and the two girls she was around at lunch yesterday.
As they get into the hall, there's a lot of talking in their direction. The events of the day before are still fresh in their minds. Jack takes a seat and Mr Byrne goes on to explain the situation from yesterday to dispel the rumours going around from the events of the day before. Some discussion from neighbouring rows makes it sound like she was let off because of who her mum is. Jack notices Andi's distress. "If it helps, I know they're talking crap. Mr Clarkson came over to me to clear the air and he seems like a trustworthy guy. They won't listen to the new kid, though."
After the usual notices and a talk on bullying, we're sent to our first lesson. After the cancellation of the lesson yesterday, we have a Science with Mrs Diamond. On Jack's way to the class, he asked if they were also doing Triple Science. It's not the most relatable question to ask but it's more to understand how mixed ability the mixed ability setup was. The other two girls shook their heads both mentioning how they were doing Double Science but Andi was. "I'll just sit with you, then", said Jack as he thought it would make more sense.
Heading into the classroom, the teacher looked a little distressed. He didn't know why. Mrs Diamond introduced herself and Jack explained how he was told the class is split between Double and Triple Science. "The front two rows are for Double and the back two are for Triple. Find yourself a seat and you'll be fine."
Moving to the third row, there's a seat available at the end next to Andi. Sat behind her Double Science friends who had introduced themselves as Scout and Emily. Admittedly, it was a little uneasy being sat behind the two girls who were most open about treating her badly yesterday. "Thanks," Jack said to Andi for saving him a seat. "Mind if I stick around with you guys for a bit? I don't know anybody else." They seemed to have no issue with it.
Unlike yesterday, a lesson went off without a wild controversy or the overarching story going on. Heading out, Jack asks "What's the school like? The only thing I've been told is to check out the Rochdale Observer. There are some stories but it's not going to go that deep since they can't report on people our age as easily. There were some things about murders, break-ins and things like that." Jodie seemed the more confident of the group. Shrugging her shoulders at the depth of the question. "It's alright. There are some things going on but it's not that bad." Realising he went further than he meant, Jack quickly retracts. "Sorry. My old school was nothing like this and Mr Byrne suggested it."
The discussion caused a slightly awkward silence until Andi brought up a new one. "My mums are letting me bring a few friends round for dinner. You can come if you like." Jack thought he misheard when she said 'mums.' He didn't want to bring it up but hoped somebody else would have asked. "Mums?" Jack asked, confused. In reply, Andi said, "Yeah. Two mums." An embarrassed Jack shook his head. "Sorry. I thought I misheard. That should be fine." He says fumbling around for his phone to text his mum (singular) to tell her that he won't need dinner tonight.
For some reason, the other two girls back out of the dinner. They didn't mention why but Jack didn't think of it. "I can do it another day if you'd prefer," Jack says, hoping to not be seen as a date in front of her mums. Trying not to have an awkward conversation. Jack's confusion continues as she seems fine with it. "No. It's fine." She says with her eyes moving over to the other two either with the mindset of their plan working or wanting them to come round.
The remainder of the school day goes by fairly quietly and quickly. Being with people helped Jack to not get lost and find out what goes on at the school. The day was much quieter than yesterday and this Andi girl seemed nice. He didn't want to disappoint her and it was not like he had anything else to do anyway.
At the end of the school day, he walked out with Andi. Some of the boys questioned why the new kid was hanging around 'Manga Girl'. "It just happened. She was the first person I spoke to properly and she's not annoyed about me being around." They didn't seem to take much notice of what Jack thought and he held back a little.
Walking home with this girl he hadn't known 48 hours ago feels a little strange but knowing her family are normal enough to invite friends round helped. It's not like he was going to a party full of people he barely knows and others he doesn't at all. Outside of the two mums thing, she had a reasonably normal family which is the opposite of the reputation for some of the area and the school.