The Burning by Laura Bates

Author:Laura Bates [Bates, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471170218
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

CHAPTER 23

After that, I don’t think things can get any worse. Until they do.

By the time I reach the canteen, walking round school has become unbearable. The whispers, the looks, the way people glance at each other when I walk into a room, or let their eyes flick down to my breasts and quickly back up to my face again. Going to the canteen feels like entering the lion’s den. But it’s the only place I know I can find Cat and Alisha. I haven’t had any lessons with them since everything happened and I really, really need my friends right now. So I steel myself and walk in, holding my tray like a shield.

The steady buzz of conversation drops for a moment, as if the whole canteen takes a collective breath in. Then the noise breaks out again, louder and more intense, with little ripples of laughter racing away from me in all directions as if I’m a pebble that’s been thrown into a pond.

I see Alisha sitting at a table on her own, frowning down at her yoghurt, and I rush gratefully for the chair next to hers.

‘Boy, am I glad to see you,’ I start, wondering how much she knows, how much she’s seen.

She stands up abruptly, her face like thunder. ‘Shut up.’

I stop dead. ‘Lish?’ I feel like I’ve just stepped into icy water.

Inside me a small, horrible voice is telling me I know exactly what’s happening, but I’m not ready to accept it yet, I won’t. I look pleadingly at Alisha, but she holds up a hand to silence me.

‘I’m not good at the witty put-downs, not like Cat,’ she says breathlessly. ‘So I’m just going to be straight with you: this is not okay.’ She pauses awkwardly, like she’s not sure what to do next. ‘And I’m leaving. Right now.’

I feel like she’s punched me in the stomach. And the nasty voice inside my head is crowing. ‘You see?’ it trills gleefully. ‘You knew this would happen. They won’t stand by you any more than your last friends did. Nobody wants to be associated with a slut.’

I’m trying to breathe, but my throat is squeezed painfully tight and it’s difficult to get air in, let alone words out. ‘Alisha, wait, please, I can explain.’ I’m begging now, trying to hold back the tears.

She turns and gives me a withering look that stings all the more because it’s so out of character. ‘Explain? How could you do that to Cat? How could you? There’s no way you can explain. You’re a bitch, that’s all.’

I stop in my tracks, reeling with confusion. Cat? What have I done to Cat?

And, before I can stop her, she’s turned on her heel and marched out of the canteen. I make a dash for the exit, leaving my tray on the table, but Lish is a faster runner than me and she’s nowhere to be seen.

‘Hey.’

I whirl round, expecting a fresh attack. Robin is leaning against his locker, watching me, his eyes warm with concern.

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