Twenty five
Alana had a plan. She had maths third and she was Mrs West's star pupil. Perfect homework, perfect classroom, wants to be a maths teacher herself. That was when she would have her 'emotional breakdown'. Alana was sat with Tee, Tyler and Cassie. Tee had maths with them. All three knew what the plan was. Mrs West set the class their work, Alana started doing it whilst thinking about Oscar, dead. Before she knew it she was crying. She looked at her friends and nodded. Cassie put her hand up. "Mrs West," she said. Mrs West came over and found Alana crying and struggling with her work. She led Alana outside.
"Alana what is it? You' are usually so good at maths," Mrs West asked concerned.
Alana cried. "It's my brother, he's in hospital. I'm worried and I struggled to concentrate when you were explaining and now I don't get it," Alana said in between sobs. She thought she had got quite good at crying. Mrs west patted her on the back.
"Oh Alana don't cry. We all know about Oscar. Are you going to see him tonight?" She asked. Alana shook her head.
"I was going to but I got detention, and now I can't," Alana started crying harder. Mrs West smiled.
"Don't worry about detention, go tomorrow, I'll explain. You need to see your brother. Now stay out here until you feel ready to come back in," Mrs West told her kindly as she went back into class. Alana sat on the floor and rubbed her tears away. She composed herself enough to go back in to class without it seeming like she'd been faking. She sat back down and carried on with her maths, pretending to struggle with it. Tee, Tyler and Cassie leaned in towards her.
"Did it work?" they whispered. Alana nodded her head almost imperceptibly. They sat back in their chairs and carried on working.
When school finished Alana dragged her feet out of school. Mike was waiting to walk her to the hospital. He had been told her detention had been moved. The others all got into the minibus with Gina and Tracy. They arrived at the hospital and Alana looked at it. It was only two weeks ago she'd last been here. Mike led her down the corridors until they got to a small room. Inside was Oscar, laying extremely still and wired into the machines. He'd had radiotherapy and was now having chemotherapy. Alana entered the room. Oscar looked up.
"Alana," he sighed. Alana smiled and walked over to him.
She put on a brave face. "Oscar. How are you?" she asked.
"Weak but alright. It doesn't hurt and it's worth it to get better for you," Oscar told her. Alana smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'm glad," she said. "you are coming to school tomorrow right?" she asked. He nodded. "OK, so you are just staying in overnight and then we are picking you up in the morning." He nodded again. "I love you," Alana told him as he started to fall back asleep. He whispered something she didn't catch. Mike came in and took her back out. She cried, real tears, as he tried to soothe her. That was her brother ill. Not some random person, her brother. She let the tears fall not caring who saw her at her most vulnerable.