I apologised to Miss Newark about going home without telling her. I told her I wasn't feeling very well. She told me she had phoned my stepmother, and she had told her I was ill.
I began trying to help Della date Sean; eventually I had to tell her he wasn't interested. She looked so devastated poor girl; I didn't have the nerve to tell her Sean had asked ME out!
He began passing me pieces of paper with stupid little jokes that made me chuckle. At one point I looked over my shoulder. I could see why Della fancied him. In fact if I had been a real schoolgirl I wouldn't have minded a date myself!
"I thought you and I were friends. You come to this school acting all scared, until you get everyone on your side. Then with those big boobs and sexy long legs, you start chasing the boy I've wanted to date for ages!"
"Della it's not true, I've never chased Sean," I protested.
"Oh you are a fucking lying cow! I saw the notes he passed to you, and you quickly hid them," she spat narrowing her eyes.
She stormed out calling me a slut on her way.
"Becky!"
I spun round looking my teacher.
"Yes Miss?"
"I want to see you after school," she said.
I sat next to Della but she snubbed me the whole day. At lunch time I tried to talk to her but she told me to fuck off. After lunch I noticed the blackboard. Someone had drawn a heart with an arrow through it, and Sean and Becky had been written above and below.
Miss Newark rubbed it out and said nothing; she just glanced at Sean and then me.
"You drew that you bitch," Della said, under her breath.
"I didn't!" I screamed, finally losing my temper.
"Quiet!" Miss Newark spat.
I sunk back in the chair, feeling the amused eyes of the rest of the class on me, and hearing several stifled giggles.
I stood in front of the teacher as the class emptied. Then I was aware of Sean next to me.
Miss Newark demanded to know why we had both upset Della.
10 minutes later I was striding down the corridor pissed off with everything. I heard Sean calling me and ignored it until he caught me up just outside the school. I broke down in tears. Everything was getting on top of me, I just couldn't cope anymore. Sean pulled me into the bike shed away from the rain that had started to fall. I was shaking with cold and he took his over coat off and made me put it on. I just clung to him sobbing hard, I just needed to be held, but this was the boy that my best friend wanted to date.
"I'm sorry, have you got a fag?"
We started walking I was so wrapped up in what had happened I didn't know where we were going. We didn't speak, well I didn't Sean just talked and after the fourth or fifth joke I began chuckling.
A car ran through a puddle and my legs got a soaking of cold water. I jumped and yelled at the driver.
"Oh Jesus!"
"Becky what's up?"
"It's my bloody step...mother's car!" I snapped, just managing not to say daughter.
"Get in, and you young man."
I looked at Becky through the open window. She had a real triumphant look on her face. I slid in the back seat next to Sean.
What the hell would happen next?
"So who is this Becky?"
"Sean," I whimpered defeated.
It took us ages to get to Sean's house, I'm sure Becky was driving as slow as she could. I just sat there cringing hoping the 'Car Seat Monster' would pull through the back seat and into another universe, it didn't happen. So I had to listen to her tell Sean that I talked about him at home, about how nice he was, and if he was going to ask me out!
"So are you dating my stepdaughter?"
I could see her eyes in the rear view mirror. God she was fucking well enjoying this!
"She's free on Saturday,"
"I'm not, besides Della wants to go out with him!" I hissed through gritted teeth, staring hard into her laughing eyes.
"Hell Becky, just go out with the boy. Pick her up at 10.30 dear I'm sure you are free, and I bet you would rather date my step m, daughter."
God she wasn't asking him she was bloody well telling him.
I heard him swallow.
"Y, Yes I, am free, Mrs Norris," he mumbled.
I dug him in the ribs but it was too late now.
"Oh call me B."