I tried to get out of going to school the next morning, to no avail. My sister practically pushed me out the door. I didn’t tell her about what happened though. I just said I had a cold.
She sighed.
“you’d only sit in feeling sorry for yourself. Besides, the fresh air will do you good.”
I groaned and nodded my head.

During classes I was too worried to sit beside Jared and Michelle. I sat in the middle of the class - on the divide - where I had when I started out.
I saw Michelle draw me some ugly looks. I noticed Jared’s nose was rather swollen.

At lunch I sat alone again. At the table, where I could see both the horrible popular group and the people who had previously been my friends ogling at me, really burning their eyes into the back of my head . I kept my eyes on my food, pretending to be too interesting in what ingredients went into my fizzy drink and feeling too afraid to look up.

“Hey Becca.”
Only one person called me “Becca.” , I knew it must have been Kimberley.
I looked up.
“Oh, Hi Kim.”
“Can I sit here?” she asked kindly.
“Sure.” I said, a little shocked.

She sat down her tray, before taking one quick glance back over at her old table.

“Why aren’t you sitting with us today?” she asked.
“ I…um…was worried…because of Saturday, you know.”
“Ah yeah. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked you to come.” Kim said, keeping her eyes on her tray.
“Don’t worry about it, I freaked out.”
“No really, Michelle told me it wouldn’t be your scene, but I kept pushing it.”
“Michelle said that?”
“Yeah.”

We stayed quiet for a few minutes. Tucking into our lunches.
“How long have you guys been going there? To be honest Kim, you don’t strike me as that kind of girl.”
Kim nodded slowly and sipped at her water.
“I guess. We started going about a month ago,  Michelle met Remmon. She started hanging around him all the time and naturally we got roped in. Its just a good time, but sometimes it gets out of hand.”
“What about Jared?”
Kim stifled a laugh.
“Don’t worry, we’ve convinced him he ran into a wall. I think he likes you though.”
“a little too much.” I said sternly.
“You sure they’re not mad at me?”
Kim bit her lip.
“Just give them time, they’ll get over it.”
“You going this weekend?” I asked.
“Nah, I’m going to give it a miss this weekend. I ended up a little over my head.”
“How so? you in some sort of trouble?” I asked, worried.
“No, No, nothing like that. I woke up that Sunday with… a bout 3 other guys, In an apartment about a mile away from the castle and I had no idea how I’d got there. It was just scary you know, but it put stuff in perspective. I’ve woke up in some strange places but nothing like that.”
“Maybe you should go get yourself checked out Kim, what if one of those guys had something.”
“Are you kidding? My mum would kill me. She thinks I’m a virgin.”
“I could go with you-”
“Drop it Becca.” She said sternly.
“Ok.” I said meekly.
“You want to do something this weekend?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“Ok then.” she smiled. “Like what?”
“Um… we could… have a sleepover.” I realised how primary school that sounded as soon as it escaped my lips.
Kim laughed sweetly.
“It would have to be at your house then, My house isn’t exactly guest friendly.”
I didn’t ask anymore. “Sure.” I said.
“This Saturday then?” She asked.
“Sure thing.” She smiled again.