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“Oh, Hayley! Are you alright?” She looks relieved.
My stomach churns with distaste. I shake my head. No way near fine. I run my hands through my hair and make fists.
“Why are you crying? I told you to go home.”
I tug on my hair. I want to rip it out. I want to wake up or snap out of it or whatever. I want it to go away! She kneels down and speaks with a tender voice.
“Hayley, come on. Let’s go. Tell me what happened.”
I choke. I just realised that she’s kneeling in that boy. The ash of the bones stir up into small dark clouds. I stand up quickly, repulsed. I drag Jasmine away.
“Hayley! What’s wrong? Calm down.”
“What’s wrong!” I nearly scream it in disbelief. “What’s wrong! Nobody believes me! That’s what. This world is crazy. Absolutely mental. Why can’t you see what’s in front of you?” My hand tightens subconsciously.
“Ouch, Hayley! You’re hurting me!”
I let go and take deep breaths. I have to calm down or I’ll be called a lunatic, if I’m not already. “I’m sorry Jasmine. I’m so sorry! I’m just so stressed.”
She gives me a tight hug. “I can’t believe you’ve taken it so badly.”
I have a flash of annoyance which disappears. There is something about Mark that I’m concerned about. How could he just stand there when the boy just rotted? I pull out of the hug as my stomach wants to empty and in a hurry. I run into the building and could hear Jasmine follow me. It feels like déjà vu as first the toilet door bangs open then the cubicle door. The disgusting taste is different though and Jasmine holds back my hair. I start to cry. I hate this. How come only I remember it? Poor boy. And Kayla. Why did they suddenly rot? Tears make ripples in the mess in the toilet bowl. I stand up and make my way to the basin. I hear the flush of a toilet as I wash my hands. A hand rubs my back soothingly.
“Better?”
I nod and cup water in my hands. This can’t be real. It just can’t! I wash my face. I don’t care if I look like crap.
“You really need to go home.”
“Yeah.”
Someone calls out for Jasmine and I switch of the tap. She goes out into the hall and I follow. Georgia is there.
“So that is where you are again.” She looks over me. “You look sick.”
I push hair back from my face. “Yeah, I am. I might actually go home. Tell the teacher.” My voice echoes down the empty hall.
Jasmine sounds relieved. “Oh, good. I talked some sense into you.” She gives me a quick hug. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, maybe. Bye.” I watch them go down the hall and just before they enter the classroom Jasmine waves at me. I give her a little, reassuring wave back. The door clicks closed behind them and I hurry out of the building. I hope that nobody sees me. The front of the school is empty. I walk off in the direction of the park. I can go missing for a lesson, the school won’t care that much.