Worse Than Boys(8)

It was Sonya who leapt at me. Wizzie held her back. ‘Not here, Sonya hen. We’ll get them later. And we’ll pick the time.’

‘You … and what army?’ I suppose I was trying to egg them on. Here in the canteen, I wanted all of them jumping on me. Boy, would they be in trouble then.

Wizzie knew that too. ‘I’m going to make you so sorry, Driscoll.’

‘In your dreams,’ I said and I turned away from her. I bumped right into Zak Riley, nearly knocked his tray and his lunch all over him.

‘I don’t believe you!’ he moaned. ‘You’re talking like a couple of gangsters. Did you never play with dolls?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘Did you?’

Zak ignored that. ‘Girls are supposed to be interested in pink fluffy things. Shop till you drop. Sugar and spice and all things nice?’

He had stopped in front of me. I pushed him aside. ‘You’re in the wrong school if you want girls like that, Zak,’ I told him. ‘Miss Marchmont’s Academy for Young Ladies this ain’t.’

I heard Wizzie laughing behind me. I couldn’t help smiling either. Zak was right, I guess. Girls weren’t supposed to fight, were they? But here at Cameron High, you had to be tough. You had to make sure gangs like Wizzie’s knew they couldn’t walk all over you.

Wizzie and her friends didn’t waste any time. That same day, after school, they were gathered across the road, waiting for us. Grace stood straight when she saw us, so did Sonya. Only Wizzie ignored us, picking at her nails, calm and unconcerned. You had to admire how cool she always was. Lauren was beside her, looking as usual like an unmade bed. Had she never heard of an iron … or a comb?

‘Wizzie’s mine,’ Erin whispered to me.

My heart was throbbing, I could feel the perspiration on my upper lip. But other than that no one looking at me would have known I was heading for a fight.





Chapter Eight


They spread themselves across the road, barring our way. Wizzie was right at the front, with the others close behind her. But she had her supporters too, other lowlifes from the school, ones who came from their estate, lived on the east side of the town, sympathetic to the Hell Cats. That was OK by us. We had back-up too: the ones who would step in if the fight got out of hand. I couldn’t see them, but I could feel their presence, knew they would be there. They wouldn’t join in the fight unless they had to. Unless the fight turned dirty.

Erin stepped a few paces ahead of me. She waved a hand at Wizzie. ‘Would you mind getting out of the way? Ladies coming through.’

Wizzie just stared at her. ‘Make me,’ was all she said. It was all she had to say. I knew she wasn’t going to move.

The wind rose and whipped up plastic cups and crisp packets and leaves across the ground. I was suddenly reminded of some old Clint Eastwood movie, the Man with No Name, staring down his enemies in a dusty Mexican street. I had to stop myself from giggling. Wizzie’s eyes narrowed. I saw her as if in close-up as she stared at Erin. And Erin stared right back at her.

‘She’s mine,’ Erin had said of her, and I knew even in that moment I was annoyed at that. Annoyed that Wizzie wasn’t looking at me, searching me out. I felt guilty about it too. Erin was my very best friend.

Well, it was up to me to change things. There was going to be a fight and someone had to make the first move. It might as well be me.

I let out a roar like a demon and hurled myself towards Wizzie. Grace Morgan was as quick as I was. She threw herself between us, caught hold of my blazer and pulled me to the ground. It was then all hell broke loose. I swivelled on to my back and blocked a blow from Morgan’s fist. I reached up and grabbed her by the hair. My hand almost slipped through her mane it was so greasy! But I tugged as hard as I could and she screamed.

I was aware of Lauren and Heather battling it out on the ground beside me. And Wizzie and Erin still standing, locked in combat. And even then, in the middle of a fight, I was annoyed that it was Wizzie and Erin who were fighting each other – leader against leader – and I knew I didn’t like that.

That tiny slip of concentration was all Morgan needed. She pulled herself free of me and punched me hard across the face. I saw stars, I really did, but I held on to her hair and pulled her with me as I rolled across the ground.

It was then I heard the roars and cheers from the crowd. The whole school had gathered to watch us.

At last I managed to get to my feet, but I didn’t waste a moment. I didn’t want to fight with Grace Morgan. I wanted Wizzie. I was sure she was getting the better of Erin.

I pushed Grace aside so hard she fell against Lauren and caught a blow meant for Heather. I yelled with laughter and turned and jumped in between Wizzie and Erin. I pulled Wizzie’s head back and stopped a punch that was heading straight for my friend. Wizzie turned on me – just as I’d planned – anger flaming in her eyes. She was ready to leap at me, but she was suddenly pulled away again. Erin was on her feet, fighting Wizzie, and I had given her the chance to get the upper hand.