Silently Suffering

In this I am using characters from series 6 but Rachel Mason is still head teacher and Karen Fisher works locally. Also Matt Wilding is still the music teacher because I really love him.

Chapter 2 – First day back

Jenny woke up to the sound of her door banging and her uncle yelling outside to get up for school. Jenny groaned and rolled over clutching at her side. Her whole body ached, especially her head. 'What had happened last night?' Jenny thought to herself as she saw that her pillow was covered in blood. She sat up at felt the back of her head remembering parts of the night before. It had a big gash in. 'Great, another thing I'll have to conceal!' She sighed and flopped back onto the bed. She couldn't remember how she got to be there but was to tired to bother and remember, even though her head was killing.

Suddenly her door flew open as her uncle strode into her room, grabbed her by her shirt and pushed her up against the wall as her head hit the wooden wall and she cried out in pain.

"I'm not havin' no dumb teacher asking questions because you are too lazy to go to school or can't stand being thrown about a bit! You get what saying?" She nodded, terrified in response.

"I won't tell and no one will be suspicious! I swear!" Jenny whimpered.

"You'd better not for your own sake." He yelled in her face, loosened his grip and charged out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Jenny suddenly felt wide awake and her head was now bleeding again. She had a shower and quickly got dressed after applying foundation to hide the side of her head that was bruised, and positioning her dusty brown hair so her scar was invisible and headed down stairs for something to eat. She took a look in the fridge; off milk, 2 microwavable pizzas, 2 microwavable pies, a few dodgy vegetables and uncountable amounts of beer. Since it was clear that Jenny's uncle had now left she grabbed a beer, hoping that it would reduce the pain screaming in the back of her head, grabbed her bag and after locking the door with a spare set of keys, set off on the five minute walk to school.

Jenny walked in through the school gates and took a long look at the school. It didn't feel the same anymore. She didn't feel the need to catch up with her friends that she hadn't seen in her three days off because of what had happened. Suddenly a voice interrupted her voice.

"Hey Jenny, you OK?" Lauren said, arms linked with Amy as they walked past her. This was surely a question that she would be getting repeatedly today.

"Yeah, as good as I'll get." She replied in a voice that sounded a little happier than how she felt.

As they carried on walking she heard Amy whisper to Lauren.

"Lauren why are you talking to her?"

"Amy, her mums died a few days ago remember?" Lauren replied in surprise.

"Just because someone dies of cancer, doesn't mean we have to talk to freaks!"

"That's a bit harsh!"She muttered.

"Life is harsh and I am too!" Amy stated making Lauren change the convocation and prompting Jenny to stop listening and carry on walking.

Jenny walked along the corridor towards her locker, as she was desperately trying to conceal the banging echoing through her head, she caught sight of Louise and Ronan walking up to her along the corridor with a bag of stuff in Louise's hand.

"Hey Jenny, did you bring my stuff?" She asked as she handed her a bag filled with some of Jenny's stuff.

Jenny sighed. "Oh, no sorry, I forgot." She tried to focus her mind and looked up at Louise.

"Can you get them at lunch?"

"Yeah I suppose."

Louise whispered something in Ronan's ear and kissed him goodbye on the cheek.

As Ronan walked off Louise turned and linked arms with Jenny as they made their way towards her locker.

"How bad was he?" Louise whispered in Jenny's ear.

"Not too bad." She said preventing herself from looking even more pathetic.

"Yeah he bashed me about a bit but he had his reasons!" Jenny explained as she opened her locker.

"Come on be serious. Are you OK?"

"I'm fine! Head hurts a bit but I'll live."

"Are you sure?" Louise nudged her jokingly.

"Yes stop fussing, I'm fine!"

"Well OK," Louise said as she got up from leaning against a locker. "Remember to get my stuff." She called back as she started walking back to her form room.

"I will, see you later." Jenny called to Louise as she waved and disappeared into the crowd.

Jenny sat in her from room staring out the window. She couldn't really see the point in listening anymore. When the bell went she slowly filed out with everyone else when her form teacher; Mr Clarkson asked her to stay behind. Jenny sighed to herself, 'I know what this'll be!' she thought. When everyone had left she faked a smile which he clearly didn't believe.

"Are you Ok Jenny?" He asked worriedly.

"Yeah why wouldn't I be?" She said a little impatient.

"Because of your mum."

Jenny's smile slowly faded and she looked down and the floor. 'I won't cry.' She told herself. 'Not in front of him!' He put his hand on her shoulder supportively.

"If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm always here."

"Really Sir, I'm OK. At least I will be!"

"If you're sure." He replied. She nodded and headed for the door, relieved.

"Thanks anyway Sir." Then she left knowing that this won't have been the last time anyone tried to 'talk'.

The rest of the morning went rather slowly. English, Art. However she successfully managed to conceal her pain enough to prevent any questions.

"We've got PE later. I'm too tired." Her friend Josh Stevenson complained as Jenny, him and Sambuca walked to music after maths. Jenny groaned. PE, how would she manage that?

"What did you get up to last night then?" Sam asked.

"We were at my cousin's 16th Birthday bash, didn't get home till midnight." He said rubbing his eyes.

"Jenny, you look like you didn't get much sleep either. Are you OK?" Sam asked sounding worried.

"Yeah!" Jenny replied not exactly sure what to tell them.

"Er, yeah spent the whole night on the internet." She lied.

Josh and Sam exchanged a look and turned to her.

"I'm sorry to hear about your mum!" Josh told her.

"If you ever want to chat?" She added sympathetically.

"Thanks, really, you're great friends."

Jenny, Josh and Sam sat listening to the music blasting out of the speakers and everyone making occasional notes. The heavy base music pounded in Jenny's head. She closed her eyes as she rubbed her forehead. Her head was killing; now with a headache along with last night's scar, and PE after lunch. How would she manage? She rested her head in her hands. 'Boy would today be long!' she thought.

"Jenny? Are you OK?" asked Mr Wilding looking up at her with her head in her hands.

'Oh great!' Jenny thought to herself sarcastically. 'This is just what I need'; "I've just got a headache Sir, that's all." She answered hoping he would leave her alone.

"Do you want to go and see the nurse?" he said sounding concerned as he turned down the sound on the speakers.

'Surely everyone would be staring now!' she thought as she didn't look up. "I'll be alright Sir! There's only ten minutes till lunch."

"Well if you're sure." He replied warily as he turned the volume back up as people went back to concentrating on the lesson.

The end of the lesson came, eventually and they made their way to their lockers. Jenny spotted Ronan and Louise further down the corridor which made her remember; 'Louise's stuff!'

"Oh, guys, I've got to go home and get some stuff." Jenny told them as she reached for her house key and coat.

"Ok! We'll see you later." Josh replied sounding a bit surprised.

"Bye, and if anyone asks you haven't seen me!" Jenny covered up.

"Sure, I'll text you!" Sam replied.

Jenny set off through the playground. There weren't any teachers about so getting there would be easy. Suddenly a thought shot into her head; "Uncle James" she muttered to herself as her pace slowed. 'What if he was in the house?' she thought worried. She suddenly decided hopefully, she would be in and out before anyone at school noticed that she was gone and definitely before Uncle James got back (whatever time that would be).

She went upstairs to get the bags in her room. Their step-dad, Martin certainly couldn't tell her stuff from her sister's and half of her bag was probably packed with Louise's stuff. Louise had given Jenny her stuff that morning. She rifled through the bags making a pile of Louise's stuff. She put them in a bag, checked her texts and collapsed on her bed in exhaustion, her head pounding against the pillow.

'Five minutes of relaxing couldn't hurt, and besides she needed that rest.' Big mistake, as she quickly drifted into a short sleep.

Sorry, there wasn't much in this chapter but it kind of leads on to the next chapter. What do you think? Carry on?