"Hello Mrs Norris, I'm Miss Newark."
I could have slapped Becky when I saw the sick grin she shot at me. It went quite well until Mr Bird walked by. Becky's eyes followed him and I had to kick her under the desk.
"So we have high hopes for your stepdaughter, although I think, she could do with, well, covering up a little more," Miss Newark said, with a nervous swallow.
I saw the look on Becky's face. Oh no why did you have to say that Miss? I asked in my head. I felt my heart sink; Becky looked like she was winding up for a fight. She placed her hands on the desk in a very deliberate manner. I closed my eyes as Becky smiled. I recognised it straight away as a 'right you bitch' smile.
"My stepdaughter is only following fashion, and it obviously hasn't been detrimental to her work."
Christ where did that word come from? I asked myself.
"No but the short, very short skirts are a distraction to the, the boys," Miss Newark stammered.
"Ca, Becky can dress how she likes, in fact she dresses down compared to her old school."
I went to get up and Becky grabbed my arm without even looking at me.
"Look Miss Newark, I don't know what you are getting at but I saw the look you gave that boy in the corridor. Pete was it?"
Miss Newark shot me an awkward glance. She opened her mouth to say something but Becky started again.
"So who are you wearing the stockings for? I could see the suspender straps through that tight skirt. Those shoes are hardly suitable for standing on your feet all day. How high are those heels 3 Β½, 4 inches? Now maybe that little stroke on that boys shoulder was innocent."
"I can assure you Mrs," Miss Newark started again.
I watched Becky stand up.
"I don't give a damn what you are doing, but my stepdaughter will turn up tomorrow in what she wants, and you are not going to do anything to stop her."
I raced down the corridor and into the toilets.
"What are you doing here Norris?"
I looked at Sabrina and she began to circle round me. She flicked my hair and barred my way out.
"Please Sabrina I don't want any trouble," I said with a gulp.
She grabbed my wrist and twisted it until I was half bent over. I saw a hand grab her hair and she yelled out. I watched as Becky pulled her into a cubical. She shoved her head down the toilet and then flushed it!
"You touch my stepdaughter again and I'll fucking shit in the loo next time!"
Sabrina went to run out and Becky just grabbed her hair making her cry out again.
"Have you got that twat face?" Becky sneered.
Sabrina just nodded with fright, and then fled when Becky let go of her. I just stood open mouthed.
"Jesus Carol you shouldn't let little shits like that push you around," Becky hissed.
I sat crying in my room. I'm sure Sabrina would be planning to get her own back on me now. At least I only had a few more weeks left at school. With the exams starting next Thursday, I had to try and keep myself out of trouble. Tuesday when Jim got home he said he was taking Becky out. I had to stay in and revise. Not that I could concentrate after the pinch Sabrina gave me on my arm, and her promise to get even with me. I hung around with Sean at school; he and Della had split up. Della was now into hanging round with Sabrina, Tommy and their little gang. Even so I got a frosty reception from her when she saw me with Sean.
He walked me home several times; to be honest I was glad to get out of going by bus. We went up to my room to study together mum and dad, (Becky and Jim that is) had gone out yet again! They told me it was so I could study for my exams, yeah right! After nearly an hour of study I found myself watching Sean. You know that feeling you get that makes your skin go all prickly, well I had that for awhile until I just couldn't help myself. I bent my head forward and kissed his cheek.
"Becky don't do that, I, I just want to revise. I mean it's too close to Della and me, I don't want to just have sex with you."
I looked down feeling foolish.
"Why not?" I mumbled, with my chin on my chest.
"Well I do but I don't want you to think I'm using you like the last time."
"I wouldn't mind."
Shit Carol what a stupid thing to say!
"You mean you want to just have, sex with me?"
Here we go, both feet again I thought.
"I need to Sean Jim's thingy is too big for me I really want to, it would be just sex. I need to have it with someone, I'm too small."
God that didn't sound right did it?