‘There’s Joan of Arc and Boudicca and –’
‘OK, thank you, Holly,’ Miss Maxwell interrupts. ‘Anyone else got any questions related to Henry VIII?’
‘My question was related to Henry VIII,’ Holly says indignantly.
Eve puts her hand up but the bell goes before she can say anything and the room is filled with the clatter of chairs.
As we go to leave, Miss Maxwell calls Izzy back to talk to her about her homework. I seize the opportunity to escape out the door, and Holly is right next to me.
‘Hi,’ she says.
‘Hi,’ I say back.
‘So, how are you finding it here?’
‘OK.’ I summon up the courage to give a reply of more than two syllables. ‘I liked what you said just then in class. I don’t know why we study him either.’
Holly looks at me like she thinks I might be tricking her. ‘Really?’
I nod.
She starts to grin and her brown eyes twinkle. ‘Do you want to have lunch with me?’
‘Yes, please!’ I’m so relieved to have someone other than Izzy and her gang to hang out with that I can barely hide my excitement.
When Holly and I get to the canteen we grab a couple of empty seats at the end of a table.
‘So, how come you’ve moved to Fairhollow?’ Holly asks, taking a paper bag from her backpack and placing it on the table in front of her. I watch enviously as she takes out two huge sausage rolls.
‘I’m staying with my Aunt Clara while my dad’s away working in Dubai.’
As Holly takes a bite of one of the sausage rolls, I practically start to drool. I take out my own lunch box. Maybe it’ll be something nicer today. But as soon as I open it, my heart sinks. It’s full of little round orange things and a ton of chopped vegetables.
‘How long’s your dad away for?’ Holly asks.
‘His contract’s for a year, but he’ll be home for holidays and stuff.’ I take a mouthful of the orange things. They taste so weird I can’t help grimacing.
‘What is that?’ Holly asks, but unlike Stephen yesterday, she seems genuinely interested.
‘I’m not exactly sure. My aunt’s vegan,’ I explain. I take another mouthful but it’s no good – I can’t make myself like it.
‘Oh. Well, would you like one of my sausage rolls then?’
Normally, if a virtual stranger offered me some of their lunch, I’d be polite and say no, but I’m way too hungry and the sausage roll looks way too nice.
‘Yes, please, if you’re sure.’
‘Sure I’m sure.’ She hands me one of the sausage rolls. I take a huge bite. Holly looks at my lunch. ‘Can I try some of yours in exchange?’
‘Of course!’ I practically shove the box at her.
‘Oh, this is really good,’ Holly says, as she takes a forkful.
‘Really?’ I stare at her.
‘Mmm. I love the different flavours. Oh, I miss home-cooked food.’ She gives a dramatic sigh. ‘Shall we just do a total swap?’ She pushes the other sausage roll towards me. I nod and grab it eagerly. This lunch break could not be going better.
But then I see Izzy, Stephen and Vivien appear in the doorway. Izzy scans the canteen. As soon as she sees me she smiles, but then she sees Holly and her smile wilts into a frown. She nudges the others and leads them over to me.
‘Nessa, what are you doing?’ she says.
‘Having lunch.’
‘With her?’ Izzy scowls at Holly.
‘Yes.’ I glance across the table at Holly. Suddenly I’m hit by a wave of sickness.
‘Right.’ Izzy smiles at me again, but I can tell from the cold look in her eyes that she doesn’t mean it. A shiver runs right the way up my spine. ‘Come on,’ she says to the others, and they go and sit at the table next to ours.
I look at Holly apologetically, still feeling really queasy. ‘I’m sorry. Mr Matthews told Izzy to take care of me and she’s taking it very seriously.’
Holly makes a sarcastic noise. ‘Yeah, that’s Izzy, all heart.’ She takes another forkful of Aunt Clara’s lunch. ‘So, what about your mum? Where’s she?’
I look down at the table. ‘My mum’s – she died.’
Holly instantly puts her fork down. ‘Oh no. I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise.’
‘It’s OK, it was a long time ago.’
‘But it must be really hard for you, especially now your dad’s away.’
The concern in Holly’s voice makes me feel really good. The entire time I was with Izzy and the others yesterday they barely asked me a question about myself. It’s so nice being with someone who genuinely cares – almost like being with Ellie again.
‘Yes, it is a bit, but I’ve got Aunt Clara.’
Holly glances over at Izzy’s table and I get that sick scared feeling again. What’s wrong with me? Ever since I’ve arrived in Fairhollow it’s as if I’ve been on some kind of emotional roller coaster. I can’t wait till things settle down and I can start feeling normal again.
‘Can I ask you something?’ Holly looks all serious.
I nod. ‘Of course.’
‘How do you feel about Izzy and the others?’ Holly asks. ‘Do you like them? Do you want to hang out with them?’ She studies my face like she’s searching for some kind of clue.
‘Not really. I mean, I’m grateful that they looked after me yesterday, but I don’t think they’re the kind of people I’d choose as friends.’
Holly grins so hard a pair of dimples appear either side of her mouth. ‘Well, you know, if you want someone else to hang out with there’s always me.’ She looks down at the lunch box shyly. ‘I mean, I don’t really care if you do or you don’t, but if you do . . .’
‘I do. Thank you.’ The warm glow inside of me is suddenly replaced by a cold chill of dread. I look up to see Izzy, Stephen and Vivien standing by our table again.
‘Come on, Nessa, let’s go back to our form room,’ Izzy says.
I look at Holly and my stomach lurches. She’s gazing down into her lap.
‘It’s OK, you guys go ahead. I’ll come up with Holly,’ I say.
Izzy
