But real life isn’t like that.
Wizzie spat on the ground, and turned and walked away. The rest followed after her.
‘That was funny though,’ Heather said. ‘Wizzie and them joining in, chasing them as well.’
‘Had to,’ Erin said at once. ‘They knew they were beat. It gave them an excuse to stop fighting us.’
Heather said nothing to that.
‘Have you got a problem with that?’ I asked her.
She shrugged. ‘It’s just for once we did something together,’ she said.
‘They followed our lead,’ I told her. ‘Could never have thought of chasing the boys for themselves.’
‘I suppose …’ Then she grinned at Erin. ‘I suppose you’re right. They could never have thought of that for themselves.’
Erin was right? I almost yelled at her. Wasn’t I the one who just said that?
Why did that always happen? Erin always got the credit.
It was all round the school next day. We had chased the boys, and the boys had run. Someone even put a photo of Erin on the school noticeboard and sketched a crown on her head. By lunchtime, she had a moustache and glasses as well. Everyone blamed Wizzie and her friends. But it was actually me. I couldn’t resist it.
I met Zak Riley as he lounged outside a classroom. ‘Nearly caught you yesterday, Riley. Fresh underpant time for you boys.’
‘Oh aye,’ Zak said. ‘And what would have happened if we’d stayed and fought you? The boys are the ones who would have been blamed. Not you lot.’
I supposed in a way that was true. We were girls. We got off with a lot more than the boys did. I didn’t like it, but it happened.
Wasn’t going to admit that to Zak Riley. ‘Any excuse,’ I said.
‘You’d never have caught me anyway. I’m the best runner in the school.’
‘Just as well. Who knows what we might have done if we had caught you?’
Zak stood straight, looked me right in the eye. ‘What makes you like that, Hannah? Always ready for a fight. See, lassies, they’re really evil.’ He said it seriously. ‘Boys fight wi’ you. End of story. But with girls, you’re never done with just a fight. You keep it up, wi’ your back-stabbing and your dirty tricks. I’d hate to be a girl.’
‘You’d never pass the physical,’ I laughed. Zak didn’t laugh back. ‘Anyway, we wouldn’t have you. You’re not tough enough. And you’re wrong about girls. We’re the best. Girls are loyal. They stick by you. They don’t let you down. Friends for life. Give me girls any day.’
And I meant it. So sure nothing would ever change my mind.
Chapter Ten
It didn’t take long for word about the fight to sweep all around the school. We all got letters to take home. The ringleaders were taken into Mr McGinty’s office. And guess who the ringleaders were supposed to be? Wizzie and Erin.
‘I think we should all have been taken in,’ I said to Heather. ‘We’re all just as guilty.’
Erin bounced back into the classroom as if she’d just been made head girl. ‘It was old Wizzie who got most of the rollicking,’ she told us later. ‘ “You’re nothing but trouble!” McGinty told her, and when it came my turn all he said was, “Your mother will be so disappointed in you, Erin.” You should have seen Wizzie’s face.’
When I came home with my letter and showed it to my mum you would have thought I’d just shot JFK. She sat down at the kitchen table with the open letter in her hand. I think she watches too many soap operas – everything she does seems like an act to me. No wonder I hardly listen to her.
‘Did Erin get one of these as well?’ she asked me. She answered her own question. ‘I suppose her mother will be phoning me up now, saying her daughter wouldn’t be in this kind of trouble if it wasn’t for you. Her mother won’t want you to be pals with her any more. And then where will you be?’
‘Heather and Rose got letters too.’
‘They’re only friendly with you because Erin is. You don’t want to lose Erin as a friend.’
She always made me so angry. She always made out I was lucky to have Erin as my friend, never that Erin was lucky to have me.
‘You talk as if Erin was our leader … as if everyone listens to her and not to me.’
She looked up at me and sneered. That’s the only way to describe the cruel smile that was on her face. ‘You’re like me, Hannah. Nobody listens to you either. I’m a loser, and if you go on like this,’ – she waved the letter about as if it was on fire – ‘you’ll end up a loser too.’