Being Lara by Lola Jaye

Author:Lola Jaye [Jaye, Lola]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Adult
ISBN: 9780062069344
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

The first day of secondary school was a breeze for Lara, especially when she’d spotted two girls in the upper years who looked more like her than any of her junior schoolmates had. Then, she’d been the only “one”; now there were others! Such recognition felt unfamiliar, yet pleasant, and she was determined to at least become their friend. Perhaps they could even stick together, so as to be armed and prepared the next time an older version of Connie Jones materialized or someone decided to use the N-word. They could form an alliance and become close friends. Perhaps they were from Africa, too?

Toward the end of the first week, one of the said girls shrugged past Lara, almost causing her to drop her carefully picked-out tray of mash, sausages, and soggy semolina onto the dining room floor.

“Oh, sorry,” said the girl, sarcastically. The girl had multicolored beads dripping from tiny little plaits in her hair and Lara had longed to ask her about them. Did they hurt? How long did it take to do? But it was now clear that any chance of a friendship was out, and she may have just earned her first enemy in that school.

“I bet you were!” Lara countered, determined not to be “the bullied one” yet again. The girl edged toward her, all neatly pressed uniform and baggy socks, fists resting on each hip.

“You wanna say that to my face, new girl?” she challenged.

Before Lara could think of something as equally menacing to say back, a girl with a shorter skirt and straighter socks shoved herself into the space between them.

Sandy Smith.

“Unless you want some trouble today, you’d better go about your business. You know I ain’t scared to bring it to you.”

The girl with the beads rolled her eyes, contemplating her options. Even Lara had already heard about Sandy, a notorious London girl who knew anyone worth knowing in the fourth and fifth years. Clearly, the girl with the beads had no options.

“Like I’m scared of you!” said the girl defiantly anyway, stomping off and leaving Lara clutching her tray and feeling more than flabbergasted at what had just happened. Sandy Smith, the most connected girl in the school, who up until that moment had never given Lara a clue she even knew she existed, had just stuck up for her in the most public way. Oh. Mi. Gosh.

“Thanks,” said Lara, which didn’t sound anywhere near as thankful as she’d liked.

“It was nothing; she’s an idiot,” replied Sandy as the two girls placed their trays on the table and sat down.

“Still—”

“She knows not to mess with me. I know people who can kick her ass with their eyes shut, if I ask them to. Essex girls like her wouldn’t last a minute in London.”

Lara surged with admiration as Sandy spoke. Easily the prettiest girl in school with her perm and red lipstick, she was also the toughest, and listening to her had to be the most exciting thing Lara had ever done.

“What

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