AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her stern tone takes me by surprise. “For what? A night out clubbing?”
She catches my hand and squeezes it tightly. “For having sex with a girl who’d been drugged.”
I pull my hand free, crossing my arms until the pressure outside matches to the inside. “He didn’t know that.”
“Didn’t he?” She arches her eyebrow in disbelief.
“I didn’t even realise. Not till later. He was…” Marnie’s frown deepens when I want it to go the other way. “He looked after me, kept me safe.” I can’t tell her my suspicions about the assault on the bartender. I think it’s gorgeously romantic that he beat him to a pulp, but she might think he’s a psychotic freak, a viewpoint that’s equally valid.
“You should let the head decide that.”
“Except it’s my birthdaytoday.I’m the one who shouldn’t have been at the club.”
And now her brow is thunderous. “Is that what he told you?”
“No! This is—” I break off in frustration. “I sell fake IDs to underage students. I sold one to you, for goodness’ sake. How d’you think that’s going to look to the board? If they find out, I’m fucked.”
She still looks troubled, but she slings an arm around my waist and gives me a half-hug. “Fine. If this is howyouwant to do things, that’s fine. I won’t tell a soul.”
The relief is so great, my knees tremble. “Thank you.”
“And if you change your mind and want me to give evidence that you told me what happened to you immediately after it happened, I’ll do that, too. I’ll do that in spades.”
I clasp her close to me, overflowing with gratitude that she came into my life. That she’s my friend.
“Thank you,” I say, the words completely inadequate. “This is the best birthday present ever.”
We return to school soon after, making it back as the fading twilight deepens to full dark. After stashing the leftover cake in my room and having a quick shower, I meet Marnie in the cafeteria for dinner. My cravings for something savoury and on the right side of healthy are satisfied with a broccoli salad topped with almond slivers, while she opts for salad with a few hot chips on the side.
“Are you two dieting?” Brooke says when she joins us, tucking into some lamb chops with mint sauce. “Thought James would give you a better workout.”
Like she conjured him by name, James appears behind Marnie, giving her a kiss before taking the seat that would usually be saved for Floss.
“Joining us again?” Brooke asks with her usual subtlety.
“Is there a law against sitting with attractive women?”
“This is the girls’ table,” I say. “You should hunt down some boys to eat with.”
“Don’t need the competition.”
Brooke snorts. “If you’re threatened sitting near males, eat in your room. I don’t care.”
Floss walks in and glances over to us, then turns around and walks back out again.
“What’s that about?” Brooke asks, frowning after her.
“Probably realised her arse is getting too big,” James replies, leaning across to steal a chip from Marnie’s plate.
“You can take all of them,” she blurts, moving them closer to the edge to make them easier to reach. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“Are you kidding?” I stare at her, my concern rising. “Those are the only things you took that have actual calories in them.”
“She’s allowed to watch her weight,” James answers while Marnie folds over an iceberg lettuce leaf to make it easier to eat. He pinches her thigh. Hard. “Not everyone wants to be plus size.”
My concern spills out as aggression. “How is it you’re sitting with a group of girls, and you still manage to be the biggest cunt?”
James’ smile freezes and he squeezes Marnie’s shoulder. “Are you going to let your friend speak to me like that?”
