like the problem. I’ve tried hard with her, but she goes on as if she despises me.’

I didn’t know what to say.

‘Zoe was always quite happy on her own, you know,’ Kerry said. ‘People just left her alone, because she acted like that was what she wanted. Ever since she first came to school.’

‘So?’ I wasn’t sure where Kerry was going with this.

‘You’re the only person she’s ever taken up with.’ Kerry kept picking at the skin on her fingers and chewing it.

I looked away, because it was driving me mad. ‘And?’

‘You’re a lovely person, Anna,’ Kerry said.

I made a snorting noise.

Kerry ignored it. ‘You’re the only one who’s ever been nice to me, too. I’m saying that Zoe doesn’t need you, she’s fine without anyone to hang around with. But she’s turning you into someone like her. Kind of, you know, weird. And a bit mean.’

‘You’ve got that all wrong,’ I said. I felt sure she had. What I didn’t want to say out loud to Kerry was that I wanted, more than anything, to have someone like Zoe as a friend and if anyone thought I was like her I would take it as a massive compliment. And I’d hate to be stuck with Kerry all the time. But I would stay with her for today, because the one thing you didn’t want to be in that school was on your own, facing past the groups of girls who would stand and wait for you.

How do they know who to go for? What weird vibe do people like me and Kerry give off? Being with Zoe was like having a bodyguard. And when I was with her, I was a different person, sure – but cooler, I reckoned. Smarter. Not meaner.

After school, I wandered round to Zoe’s street. I couldn’t help myself. I paced up and down for a few minutes before taking a breath, marching through her gate and knocking at her door. It took an age before I heard some sort of movement coming from inside the house. The door opened a few inches and I saw a sliver of Zoe’s mum’s face and body. In a throaty voice, she said, ‘What?’

‘I... I wondered if Zoe is any better?’ I asked, swallowing.

‘She’ll be back at school tomorrow,’ rasped her mum, not opening the door even a fraction further.

‘I have some homework to pass on to her,’ I lied.

Zoe’s mum said nothing but stuck a hand out of the door.

‘I think I need to explain it to her,’ I went on. ‘It’s complicated.’

‘Calling me stupid?’ The door was flung wide open. Zoe’s mum was wearing a stained dressing gown that clung to her body. She had a strange tremor about her, as if she was shaking with anger.

I looked down at the ground. ‘No, I...’

‘You can give it to me. Or else Zoe will be back tomorrow. Tell that to the nosy beggars at school.’

I took a step backwards and the door slammed hard.

I walked away, a slight wobble in my legs. I hoped I hadn’t made things worse.

But the next morning when I was heading for school I got a text saying: On way. W8 4 me.

I lingered near the entrance to The Cut until she arrived. I wanted to give her a hug, but I didn’t – I couldn’t tell what mood she was in. ‘Still here,’ she said, with half a smile. ‘My mother nearly slaughtered me, though. Next time she catches me, I want you to know I bequeath you all my worldly goods. Because she will definitely finish me off.’

I laughed. ‘What happened then?’

Zoe’s eyes glowered. ‘I’ll tell you what happened. That moron Kerry went to my house and told my mother I was off to a concert. Can you believe it?’

‘I can believe it, yes. She owned up. She said she was worried about us.’

Zoe made a choking noise. ‘Yeah, right.’

I took a breath. ‘She’s really sorry. She just didn’t think it through.’

Zoe stopped walking. I turned and looked at her. ‘What?’

‘You know what. We’ve put up with Kerry long enough. We have to get it into her thick head that she’s no longer welcome.’

I didn’t respond to this. Instead I took Zoe’s arm. ‘Come on, we’ll be late.’ We hurried through The Cut, which was even gloomier than usual in the morning fog.

By the time we got to school I just had time to rush into the girls’ toilets to try to smooth down the frizzy mess that was my hair, thanks to the damp weather. Zoe’s hair still looked angel-straight. When we walked into the classroom, though and Kerry gave us a wave, Zoe strode past as if she wasn’t there.

At break time, Kerry rushed over to us, as we shoved our books into our bags. Zoe turned her back. If Kerry spoke, Zoe talked over her, to me, as if Kerry wasn’t there. I had no idea what to do. I frowned at Zoe, trying to say something with my eyes. After a few minutes, Kerry tapped Zoe on the shoulder. Zoe whirled round so fast I half-expected her to punch Kerry in the jaw.

‘Don’t you touch me!’ she shouted at her.

Some girls stopped talking and glanced around. An unexpected fight – with words or fists – was always worth watching.

Kerry was shaking, but she stood her ground. ‘I just wanted to say I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.’

Zoe’s face went whiter than usual. ‘Trouble?’ She gave an icy little laugh. ‘You have absolutely no idea, you stupid, stupid... You went to my house at eleven o’clock on a Saturday night and woke up my mother, so that you could tell her that I was somewhere I shouldn’t be. And you never meant to cause trouble?’

Kerry started mumbling something I couldn’t make out.

Zoe stepped towards her, her sharp-nailed finger pointed in Kerry’s face. ‘You will never know how much trouble you caused. That’s what I get for putting up with you. Well,

Вы читаете The Misper
Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату