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Kelly was smiling when she walked into the classroom. Sean had just called to say he missed her and was looking forward to seeing her later on. She’d have to pretend she was going to help Shannon with her homework. Lucy had got even stricter since the whole Dylan drinking episode. She barely let them out of her sight. Kelly had to be extra careful not to get seen or caught with Sean. He wastoo important to risk losing. He was her lifeline.

She walked over to her desk, and as she went to sit down, her chair was pulled from under her and she landed on the floor. She smacked her head on the desk behind.

‘God, you’re so clumsy.’ Melissa giggled and took a photo of Kelly sprawled on the floor.

Kelly’s head really hurt, but she refused to cry.

‘You’re probably used to sitting on thefloor. I doubt your people have furniture,’ Chloë said.

‘Why don’t you just leave and go back to the stinking dump you came from?’ said Alicia.

Kelly scrambled to her feet. ‘Piss off and leave me alone,’ she hissed at them.

‘Tut tut. That language isn’t tolerated here. What would the headmaster say if he knew his charity case has a mouth like a sewer?’ Chloë said.

Melissa sniffed the air.‘Urgh, what is that disgusting smell? It’s … it’s coming from you. Don’t you wash? You’re gross. You’re stinking out our school. Just admit you’ll never fit in and go home. No one wants you here. Take your brotherwith you and your scumbag boyfriend and your lowlife mother. Can you believe her mother works in a corner shop? It’s so embarrassing!’

Kelly could stand herself being ripped apart,but not her mum. No way were they going to slag off her mum.

‘Why don’t you fuck off and die, you stupid bitch?’ she screamed.

Unfortunately for Kelly, the teacher chose that moment to come around the corner. ‘Kelly Murphy!’ she roared. ‘Outside now. And you three as well.’

Kelly stood outside the door, shaking with rage and fear, listening to Melissa’s lies.

‘She just attacked me verballyfor no reason. That’s what happens when you let unsuitable and violent people come to this school.’

Mrs Holland asked, ‘So you’re telling me Kelly shouted at you for no reason?’

‘I think she’s jealous of me.’

‘She totally is,’ Chloë said, nodding.

‘Why would she be jealous of you?’ Mrs Holland asked.

‘Because Melissa is so popular and, like, cool,’ Alicia gushed.

‘Really?’ Mrs Holland didn’tsound convinced. ‘So Kelly screamed obscenities at you because she’s jealous of you?’

‘I think so,’ Melissa said. ‘She’s got a really bad temper. I just don’t think she’s right for this school. My parents are not going to be pleased to hear about this verbal abuse.’

‘Let’s not dramatize the issue.’

‘A verbal attack is just as serious as a physical one. I insist on speaking to the headmaster.Kelly needs to be punished for attacking me like that.’

Mrs Holland sighed. ‘I will inform the headmaster. He can decide what course of action to take. Girls, go back to class. Kelly, you stay here.’

Kelly began to shake. What had she done? She didn’t want the headmaster hearing about this. Damn it, it would look really bad for her. She had to fix this. If she had to apologize to Melissa, she’ddo it.

She began to cry. Why was life so unfair? Now she was going to be in trouble and it was all that bitch’s fault.

‘Right, Kelly, go to the headmaster and tell him what happened. I need to keep this unruly lot under control. I have no doubt you were provoked, but you cannot scream obscenities at another student. I’ll talk to the headmaster after class.’

Kelly dragged her heels as she walkeddown the long corridor towards Mr Gough’s office.

Her legs shook as she stood outside the door beside the brass plate with ‘Headmaster’ emblazoned across the middle. She knocked gently.