Crossed Classes Ch 34

Three days later.........1

“I am really dreading school tomorrow, Sam,” Confided Lizzie, as they walked along the long path from the corner shop. “I mean, I don’t think I can take this much longer.”2

“Sure you can, Lizzie.” He replied, “You don’t want to leave me alone there, do you?” He laughed, “Come on. Don’t let them have the satisfaction of getting to you. Once they realise that you will be coming back, no matter what, then they will stop. All bullies get bored at one time or another.” 3

“Peter hasn’t.”4

“Yeah well, Peter is an arse. There will always be one of them. He will hopefully get bored soon.”5

“Seriously. When I was at home for those few days I kept thinking about leaving school. But I daren’t do it. I could not put up with the gloats from even my parents. I have not told them what is happening, not that they would care anyway. You told yours?”6

“I don’t want to worry them. We have already had enough bad things happening. I don’t want them stressed any further.”7

“I see.”8

They continued down the road in silence.9

“I will be glad to have you back as well. It’s not very nice on my own. I think Mr. Dorien wants you back as well. He asked me whether we would go round to his house sometime to meet his wife.”10

Lizzie looked at her watch. 11

“You want to go round there now? I think we have enough time, you know.”12

“Ok,” He grinned, “We get to see Annabelle again!”13

*****14

Sam and Lizzie stood on Mr. Doriens front step and rang the door bell. They anxiously smoothed down their clothes so as to make a good enough impression. Footsteps were heard and the door handle rattled. 15

“Hello? May I help?” Asked a small, pretty woman, a tea towel flung carelessly over one shoulder. Her ankle was in plaster, yet she managed to come to the door pretty quickly, thought Lizzie. 16

“Yeah, is Mr. Dorien in? We’re Lizzie and Sam. He should have mentioned us.” Lizzie bit her lip. 17

“Oh!” She cried, “Come in! Come in! Of course I have heard about you two.”18

She opened the door wider and allowed them to squeeze past. They kicked off their shoes and wandered straight into the living room where Mr. Dorien sat on the sofa, looking comfortable in his plain clothes, Annabelle drinking her bottle in his arms. 19

“Hey you two!” He called, “How you doing?”20

“Good thanks, sir.” They chorused. 21

He frowned, “Come on, you’re not in school now! Call me Harry, and my wife Karen.”22

Lizzie smiled shyly. 23

“Come on, sit down,” He said, indicating the sofa with a wave of his hand. They sat, close together, watching Annabelle gently fall asleep. 24

“How is she?” Lizzie whispered. 25

“Good, good thanks, usually very noisy, but quieter now she is being fed! Karen, come on, sit down!”26

“Just making some tea, sweetheart.” She called. 27

Lizzie jumped up, “I’ll go and help!” She called, stepping into the kitchen. 28

Mr. Dorien looked serious. 29

“How’s it all going? Is everything ok? Anybody said anything to you both? I thought you said Lizzie was pretty bruised up.”30

“She is. Just wearing alot of makeup. She is thinking of not going back to school, and I am trying to persuade her not to let them win. But I have not seen them since school. I don’t think it is going to get better, they won’t let it lie.”31

“I’m going to ask you one more time, Sam. Who is it doing this? I have an idea, but I can’t act on it unless you tell me.”32

“Promise me you won’t do anything?” Sam quietly asked, eyes to the floor. 33

“I will try to.” Mr. Dorien lied. 34

“It’s....”35

“Tea!” Called Karen, “And cakes, please help yourselves!”36

Lizzie came in carrying a small tray of heavily filled cups. She set this down on the table and sat down next to Sam again. 37

Sam looked away. 38

She looked at him puzzled, but started when Karen called her name. 39

“So, Lizzie isn’t it?” She asked, “And Sam?”40

“Yeah, Rawlings and Lawlow.”41

“I just want to thank you for the brilliant job you did with Annabelle. She has never been so well and happy. It is so nice to meet you at last.”42

“Thank you. Are you feeling better now as well?” Asked Sam, slowly sipping his tea. 43

“Yes, but will be much better when I get rid of this dratted plaster!! Getting annoying now. Harry won’t even let me drive to the shops.” 44

Harry and Sam exchanged glances. 45

“But ah well, male protectiveness I suppose,” She laughed, nudging Harry gently. He smiled at her, and put Annabelle’s empty bottle onto the table. 46

“You want to put her in the crib darling?” He asked, passing her the sleeping baby. 47

“Oh, can I hold her a minute?” Asked Lizzie quickly, “I haven’t seen her in ages.”48

“Of course!” Said Karen, handing the baby over like she was passing round cakes. 49

Sam leant over to Annabelle and smiled at the angelic face. He put his finger into Annabelle’s tiny fist, grinning when he felt her fingers squeeze his. 50

“Hello baby,” He murmured. 51

Karen looked at Harry and smiled sadly, knowing what they were going through. She wished that she could help, but kept quiet as she knew her husband didn’t want them knowing he had told her. 52

It made things much worse when she had experienced things herself. She kept some things quiet though. There was a nasty guy at their school too, and she had a strong suspicion that he had caused the accident. She didn’t want to worry Harry anymore, as he seemed even more distressed than her about her injuries. She didn’t think she would tell him either. No. It is too soon, she thought. Not that any other time would be convenient. 53

She lifted her head to find her husband talking about the Maths work Lizzie had missed out upon. 54

“Yeah, when would you like it all in for? I know Sam gave me some pages, but I haven’t done any really....sorry.”55

“That’s ok. I don’t mind. Just as long as you do get it in sometime, so I can give you the extra help you might need.” He replied. 56

“Ok, you know me, so I will need ALOT of help!!” She laughed, accidentally waking Annabelle up. 57

She started bawling almost immediately, outraged that someone had dared interrupt her sleep. No amount of cradling, or walking around made her cease her crying. 58

“It’s going to be one of those nights.” Mr. Dorien sighed, hauling himself off the sofa. 59

“Would you like us to go?” Lizzie asked over the din. 60

“I apologise very much, but yes, I think it will be better. It took us about an hour last time to keep her quiet and that was only through sheer exhaustion.”61

Karen gave each of them a warm hug and made them promise to return soon, and was sorry that their stay was so short. Lizzie and Sam smiled and swore they would. 62

(Do I add this next bit in or not?)63

They left a harassed pair of parents and let themselves out. Harry and Sam keeping each other’s secrets, letting neither of their partners know anything different. 64

“That was nice of them to give us cakes.” Sam grinned, “And tea.”65

“Yeah, pity Annabelle had to cry, I was enjoying our talk, even if it was only about Maths! I think Karen is nice though.”66

“Yeah, I thought she would have looked alot worse than that. Much more than just an ankle plaster.”67

“Uhhuh.” 68

Lizzie caught hold of Sam’s hand. 69

“I will go to school tomorrow.” She said, “But I am scared about it.”70

“I don’t blame you. But I will be there, and Mr. Dorien if we REALLY need help. I am sure it won’t be that bad though.” He said, “Now where do you want to go?”71

“I think I will have to go home now. I know it’s not late, but it’s still getting dark quickly. My mother, bleurgh, will go round calling the police to annoy me. Or try and stop me from going out or something stupid like that.”72

“Come on then.” Sam replied, “Let's get baby home.”73