‘You’re the sneaky one, you two-faced bitch,’ Leanne spat. ‘I should’ve known I couldn’t trust you.’
‘Told you she’s a liar,’ Holly said triumphantly.
‘You shut your mouth,’ Bex cried.
‘Why should I?’ Holly retorted. ‘It’s true!’
‘You’re just jealous ’cos you know I like Julie more than I ever liked you,’ Bex yelled.
‘I don’t give a shit about you and Julie,’ Holly yelled back. ‘But don’t you ever talk about my mum like that again, or I’ll kill you!’
‘Holly Evans, go to the Head’s office immediately!’ the teacher barked, walking into the room at that exact moment.
‘But, miss . . .’ Holly protested.
‘Now!’ the teacher said sharply. ‘And the rest of you sit down. I’ll be back in a minute.’
As she gathered her things together, Holly flashed a glance at Bex and felt a twinge of remorse when she saw how scared she looked as she sat down beside a still-scowling Leanne. They had been best friends for a long time and she had trusted her more than she had ever trusted anyone, so it hurt that Bex had said that about her mum. But if this was how she wanted to play it, she could get lost, because Holly was never going to talk to her again.
Holly didn’t bother trying to defend herself when the teacher told the Head what she’d done. She was an outsider, and she knew the teachers looked down their noses at her as much as the other pupils did, so she stayed silent while the Head lectured her about bullying and zero tolerance, and she didn’t argue when he ordered her to go to the exclusion zone and think about her actions.
Secretly relieved that she wouldn’t have to face Leanne and Bex again, Holly kept her head down for the rest of that morning. But she knew she wasn’t off the hook when, at lunchtime, she heard a group of girls excitedly discussing a fight Leanne was planning to have after school. In no doubt that she was the intended victim, she made sure she was ready to run as soon as the home-time bell rang that afternoon.
16
Josie was coming out of the bathroom when the front door flew open, and she jumped back in fright, spluttering, ‘What the hell?’ when Holly ran in.
‘Sorry!’ Holly gasped, bending over and placing her hands on her knees.
Concerned when she saw that Holly was struggling to catch her breath, Josie said, ‘What’s happened? Is someone chasing you?’
‘Ran home,’ Holly gulped. ‘Trying to . . . keep fit.’
‘By half killing yourself?’ Josie frowned.
‘Didn’t realize it was so far.’
‘Idiot.’ Josie tutted. ‘Hurry up and get changed. You’re dripping sweat on the lino.’
Muttering, ‘Sorry,’ again, Holly dropped her bag and took off her damp blazer.
Josie narrowed her eyes and peered at Holly’s chest. ‘Where’d you get that?’ she demanded.
Holly looked down and blushed when she saw that her sweaty shirt had become transparent and the red bra was visible. There was no way she could tell her mum that Suzie had given it to her, so she said, ‘Oh, erm, Bex gave it to me.’
‘Why?’
‘It didn’t fit her, so she asked if I wanted it. I can give it back if you want?’
‘You might as well keep it now you’ve worn it,’ Josie grumbled. ‘But don’t take anything else off her. We’re not charity cases.’
She turned and walked into the living room at that, and Holly shook her head as she went to her room, wondering why she’d made such a big deal out of it if she wasn’t going to make her give it back.
After changing into jeans and a jumper and hanging the damp shirt on the back of the door to dry out, Holly sank down on her bed and chewed her thumbnail. She’d made it home safely today, but what about tomorrow and the day after that? With Leanne and Bex both gunning for her, her life was going to be hell, and the thought of facing them at school tomorrow was making her nauseous.
Pretend you’re ill!
The thought came to her in a flash, and she seized it with both hands. If she could bag a few days off school by convincing her mum that she was sick, Leanne might have found someone else to pick on by the time she went back.
Thinking that it had to be worth a shot, she wrapped her arms around herself and hobbled into the kitchen where her mum was rinsing a glass out at the sink.
‘Mum, I don’t feel well,’ she said.
‘Why, what’s up with you?’ Josie asked.
‘I’ve got stomach ache.’
‘It’ll be a stitch from running home,’ Josie said, wiping her hands on a tea towel.
‘It’s been aching all day, but it’s getting worse,’ Holly groaned. ‘I think it might be appendicitis.’
‘Don’t talk rubbish.’
‘But it’s really sore, and I feel sick.’
‘Drink some water and sit down till it passes,’ Josie said distractedly as she rooted through her handbag. ‘Where’s my purse? You haven’t seen it, have you?’
Holly shook her head, and Josie brushed past her and went into the living room. Still clutching her stomach, Holly leaned on the door frame and said, ‘I think I’d best stay off school tomorrow.’
‘What?’ Josie said, tossing the sofa cushions aside.
‘I said I should stay off school tomorrow,’ Holly repeated. ‘I’m sure there’s something wrong.’
‘You’ve over-exerted yourself, that’s all,’ Josie replied gruffly. ‘Stop being such a drama queen.’
Figuring that honesty might be the best policy since the lies were getting her nowhere, Holly said, ‘Mum, please let me stay off. Bex isn’t talking to me, and she’s turned everyone else against me. And now this other girl’s after me, ’cos Bex told me a secret about her and I got mad and let it out.’
‘Serves you right for gossiping,’ Josie said unsympathetically. ‘I’m always telling you to keep your mouth shut, but you never listen, so you’ll have to deal with it.’
‘I can’t,’ Holly moaned. ‘She’s the hardest girl in our class. Please, Mum—’
‘For God’s sake!’ Josie snapped, plunging her arm down the back of the sofa. ‘Don’t
