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Anne and Frankie walk through the door, arm in arm. They both noticed Lydia immediately. Anne said something to Frankie, who tilted back her head and roared with laughter. Lydia looked away, her face on fire.
    ‘Hhmm! I bet Anne’s happy now,’ said Bharti as she watched them too.
    ‘What d’you mean?’ Lydia asked.
    ‘She and Frankie used to be best friends until you turned up. Then it was you and Frankie,’ Bharti explained. ‘Now it’s back to the status quo.’
    ‘I didn’t know that,’ Lydia said thoughtfully.
    ‘Now you do,’ said Bharti.
    Lydia turned to look at Anne and Frankie again, watching as they laughed at some unknown joke. And in that moment Lydia knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Anne was the one who’d set her up.

Chapter Seven

The Message Spreads
    ‘Mum, I don’t want to go.’
    ‘I can’t manage the shopping all by myself.’
    ‘Danny’s going with you,’ Lydia protested. ‘Why d’you need me as well?’
    ‘Lydia, I’ve had enough of this. Go and put your coat on. And wear your trainers or your boots – it’s slippery outside.’
    Lydia scowled up at her mum. She recognized that tone of voice. Her mum had made up her mind and nothing short of a ton of semtex would shift her now. Lydia turned her head to stare back out of the window. The road and pavement glistened like glass from the severe overnight frost. High above, grey clouds were beginning to sweep across the town. Lydia sighed. All she wanted to do was watch the world go by from the front room window. Why couldn’t everyone just leave her alone?
    ‘Lydia, move! NOW!’ Mum said angrily.
    ‘But someone from my class might see me,’ Lydia whispered.
    ‘So what? You didn’t do anything to be ashamed of,’ Mum said. ‘How many times must I tell you? Hold your head high and don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed of something you haven’t done.’
    Lydia sighed deeply as she uncurled her legs from beneath her and stood up. She looked at her mum again, making a silent appeal.
    ‘Hurry up, Lydia. I don’t want to spend my entire Saturday stuck in the supermarket,’ Mum said.
    So much for that! Lydia looked down at Danny, who lay flat out on his stomach in front of the television. He was playing with his latest football game.
    ‘Danny, go and put your shoes on. You can’t go shopping in your slippers,’ Mum said.
    Danny pressed the PAUSE button. ‘Can’t I just finish . . . ?’
    ‘No, you can’t!’ Mum exploded. ‘You children are driving me up the wall and on to the roof! Now I want both of you in the car in one minute.’
    And with that Mum marched out of the room.
    ‘Since last week, everyone’s been so grouchy,’ Danny complained. ‘Snap! Snap! Snap! All the time.’
    ‘And it’s all my fault. Go on! Say it!’ Lydia said furiously.
    ‘Well, excuse me all over the place! That’s not what I meant and you know it. Don’t you snap at me as well.’
    ‘Sorry, Danny.’ Lydia dragged the words out.
    ‘I should think so, too.’ Danny sniffed. ‘I don’t care what anyone else says, Lyddy. I know you didn’t do anything wrong.’
    Lydia smiled. Before Danny realized what she had planned, she kissed him on the cheek.
    ‘Ugh! Yeuk!’ Danny rubbed his cheek vigorously. ‘I’m going to have a whole load of spots there tomorrow! Are you nuts?’
    ‘I must be to kiss my baby brother,’ Lydia said sourly.
    Danny and Lydia glared at each other until their lips started to twitch. Then they both started laughing. Lydia pushed lightly against Danny’s left shoulder. Danny pushed her back. They both smiled.
    ‘Come on. We’d better get going before Mum goes into orbit,’ said Lydia.
    After putting on their trainers, coats, scarves, hats and gloves, they both left the house in silence.
    Lydia emerged from the car like a snail from its shell. She looked around, her teeth clamped together so tightly that her jaw ached. The car-park was almost full, with people milling around everywhere. The