"Lucy, can I have a quick word please?"

She shrugged her shoulders and came over to my desk. The bell had just rung, but I had the next lesson off timetable and I was going to try to get to the bottom of Lucy's strange behaviour. I pulled a chair over from a nearby table.

"Take a seat, I just want to have a quick chat."

Lucy was silent. I noticed again how pale and tired she looked. Although pale, her skin had a yellow tinge. There was an essence of sadness about her as she twisted and fiddled with a thread that was loose on her school jumper.

"I've noticed you've changed a little recently."

No response.

"Your behaviour has changed, and I can't say for the best. You're quieter now."

I was hoping for a slight response, even just a change of facial expression, but I received nothing.

"And your school work isn't as good as it was a few weeks ago, and you've had a lot of time off school."

I thought I heard a little sigh, but I couldn't be sure. It could have been a small gust of wind between the gaps of the dodgy school windows.

"Lucy," I said, "is everything okay?"

No response again. She looked as though she was pondering over something, maybe deciding to tell me something. Her head lifted slightly and her mouth opened, but quickly shut again, as though she couldn't say her words. I definitely heard a sign this time, as she finally replied "everything's fine."

"What about at home? I mean..."

She'd cut me short. "I said everything's fine."

"Lucy, look at me."

She lifted her head, close to the brink of tears.

"Are you definitely sure?"

Her rage exploded. "Yes! What is it with you people? Why can't you just accept a first answer!" Lucy quickly left my room, bag over her shoulder. I thought I knew where she'd be going, so I followed her down the hall as she stormed off. A group of year 11's were standing around in the corridor, and, thinking I needed to give her a chance to cool off, made them my next priority. After sorting them out, although they had been here long enough to know exactly where they were going, I started my search for Lucy.