told off for forgetting to do last night’s homework. I’ve never been late with any homework before. I actually like the routine of it, the fact that it’s boring and normal. And now I’ve not done my maths or French, I feel almost shaky. What I don’t need is grief from Ella as well.
It’s not my idea to cut down Darkling Wood. Left to me I’d keep the trees and try to find another way to protect the house. But what Nell’s doing isn’t a crime; she’s just trying to stop tree roots destroying her house.
As we leave the lesson, Ella nudges Max.
‘See you in the canteen?’ She’s clearly forgiven him for the bag incident. ‘I’m just going to the IT room to print something.’
‘Sure. Alice and I’ll go ahead and get a table.’
Ella pulls a ‘yuk’ face. I’m thinking the same. I want to eat lunch without someone scowling at me over their chips.
‘See you later. I’m fine on my own,’ I say, shouldering past them both.
Once I’ve got my food, I find an empty table by the window. No one else takes the other free seats; I musthave ‘new person’ disease. Either that or every student here is what Nell calls an eco-warrior, though most are dropping litter on the floor. When I check my phone for messages, there’s nothing new from home. The battery’s low anyway, so I stuff it back in my bag and try not to think about Lexie or Theo, who I’d give a million pounds just to see.
Looking up, I notice Max weaving his way between the tables. People wave at him, offer him a seat, but he’s heading straight for me.
He drops into the chair opposite and stares at my half-eaten lunch. ‘So they really do sell healthy food here.’
‘I think it’s pretending to be a salad.’
Max grins. His eyes go all twinkly brown, which makes me feel a bit better. It occurs to me then that he might know Flo – he certainly knows most people round here.
‘Does a girl called Flo go to this school?’ I ask. ‘She’s probably in our year group. Light brown hair, quite skinny, wears weird clothes?’
Max pulls a thinking face.
‘She could be a Traveller,’ I add.
‘Ella might know her, I suppose.’
I go quiet.
Max grins. ‘What happened to your tie?’
I untuck the crumpled end of it from my jumper. It looks a right state. ‘The dog chewed it.’
‘Ah, that old excuse,’ says Max. ‘Teachers never believe it, even when it’s true.’
‘But it is true! I swear on my …’ I stop myself mentioning Theo, though he’s the first person that comes into my head. Instead, I pick up my fork and jab at a tomato.
‘Sir told us about your brother,’ says Max. He’s not grinning any more.
‘Us?’
‘Ella and me.’
I squish the tomato flat on the plate.
‘Ella’s okay really,’ he says. ‘She’s just very into conservation stuff. It makes her a bit … well … single-minded.’
‘But I don’t want the woods cut down either. That’s what’s so stupid – it’s pointless taking it out on me.’
‘It’s just her way. Don’t take it personally.’
I look at Max. He’s defending his friend and I like him for it, though I’m still wary of Ella.
Out in the corridor the end-of-lunch bell rings. We get to our feet.
‘English next,’ says Max. ‘You can sit with me if you want.’
‘Thanks.’
I’ve not had a boy as a friend since preschool. I can’t wait to tell Lexie later – she’s bound to want all the details.
As we go out into the corridor, I stick close to Max because I don’t know the way to English. There’s not much room to move. A crowd of people are staring at a noticeboard on the wall. We manage to squeeze past but then Max stops dead. I almost walk straight into the back of him.
‘Oh no,’ he says. ‘She hasn’t.’
‘What?’
‘It’s my fault. I’m an idiot. I told her what your grandmother was up to and I shouldn’t have.’
‘Don’t be daft – Ella already knew,’ I say, yet something in his voice makes my stomach twist. ‘What’s
It’s not my idea to cut down Darkling Wood. Left to me I’d keep the trees and try to find another way to protect the house. But what Nell’s doing isn’t a crime; she’s just trying to stop tree roots destroying her house.
As we leave the lesson, Ella nudges Max.
‘See you in the canteen?’ She’s clearly forgiven him for the bag incident. ‘I’m just going to the IT room to print something.’
‘Sure. Alice and I’ll go ahead and get a table.’
Ella pulls a ‘yuk’ face. I’m thinking the same. I want to eat lunch without someone scowling at me over their chips.
‘See you later. I’m fine on my own,’ I say, shouldering past them both.
Once I’ve got my food, I find an empty table by the window. No one else takes the other free seats; I musthave ‘new person’ disease. Either that or every student here is what Nell calls an eco-warrior, though most are dropping litter on the floor. When I check my phone for messages, there’s nothing new from home. The battery’s low anyway, so I stuff it back in my bag and try not to think about Lexie or Theo, who I’d give a million pounds just to see.
Looking up, I notice Max weaving his way between the tables. People wave at him, offer him a seat, but he’s heading straight for me.
He drops into the chair opposite and stares at my half-eaten lunch. ‘So they really do sell healthy food here.’
‘I think it’s pretending to be a salad.’
Max grins. His eyes go all twinkly brown, which makes me feel a bit better. It occurs to me then that he might know Flo – he certainly knows most people round here.
‘Does a girl called Flo go to this school?’ I ask. ‘She’s probably in our year group. Light brown hair, quite skinny, wears weird clothes?’
Max pulls a thinking face.
‘She could be a Traveller,’ I add.
‘Ella might know her, I suppose.’
I go quiet.
Max grins. ‘What happened to your tie?’
I untuck the crumpled end of it from my jumper. It looks a right state. ‘The dog chewed it.’
‘Ah, that old excuse,’ says Max. ‘Teachers never believe it, even when it’s true.’
‘But it is true! I swear on my …’ I stop myself mentioning Theo, though he’s the first person that comes into my head. Instead, I pick up my fork and jab at a tomato.
‘Sir told us about your brother,’ says Max. He’s not grinning any more.
‘Us?’
‘Ella and me.’
I squish the tomato flat on the plate.
‘Ella’s okay really,’ he says. ‘She’s just very into conservation stuff. It makes her a bit … well … single-minded.’
‘But I don’t want the woods cut down either. That’s what’s so stupid – it’s pointless taking it out on me.’
‘It’s just her way. Don’t take it personally.’
I look at Max. He’s defending his friend and I like him for it, though I’m still wary of Ella.
Out in the corridor the end-of-lunch bell rings. We get to our feet.
‘English next,’ says Max. ‘You can sit with me if you want.’
‘Thanks.’
I’ve not had a boy as a friend since preschool. I can’t wait to tell Lexie later – she’s bound to want all the details.
As we go out into the corridor, I stick close to Max because I don’t know the way to English. There’s not much room to move. A crowd of people are staring at a noticeboard on the wall. We manage to squeeze past but then Max stops dead. I almost walk straight into the back of him.
‘Oh no,’ he says. ‘She hasn’t.’
‘What?’
‘It’s my fault. I’m an idiot. I told her what your grandmother was up to and I shouldn’t have.’
‘Don’t be daft – Ella already knew,’ I say, yet something in his voice makes my stomach twist. ‘What’s
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