Blood Entwines by Caroline Healy

attempt to rationalise the changes.
    The pencil she was holding snapped in two. One of the pieces rolled across the table, almost falling to the floor. Kara snatched it back from the edge, concealing it in her lap. She looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Hannah was eyeing her with an expression of,
I told you so
.
    If only the stupid bell would ring so she could get out of this class and go sit under a rock for, oh, say twenty years till this whole miserable episode just went away.
    She glared resolutely at the empty page in front of her and willed the clock to tick faster. Eventually the bell rang and Kara gathered her books with more energy than was required, practically sprinting out of the class. As she exited through the door, she felt a soft pull on her conscience and mind-fingers probing her thoughts.
    â€˜Quit it.’ She said it out loud and regretted it in an instant. Several students turned to look at her. Ugh, this day could not get any worse, she thought as she walked briskly down the corridor.
    She skidded to a halt when she saw the small crowd gathered in the hallway in front of her locker. Their ringleader, Ashleigh, was casually leaning against the grey metal doors, her nose coated with layers of face powder, but, no matter what she did, nothing could hide the dark purplish bruise beginning to bloom.
    OK
, thought Kara,
my day has now plummeted to
totally sucks. She stood for a moment and appraised the situation. She noticed Ben walking down the corridor, oblivious to the standoff about to take place. That was it, the final nail of humiliation in her dismal coffin. Her fast-approaching public disgrace would, of course, have to happen in front of
him
.
    Something clicked within Kara: stubbornness. She levelled her gaze at Ashleigh, squared her shoulders and continued towards her locker. Politely she nodded her head at the door.
    â€˜Excuse me.’
    Ashleigh smiled so sweetly that for a moment Kara was taken by surprise, till she glimpsed the teeth, straight and polished perfectly white. She wondered if they were sharp.
    Ashleigh spoke. Her voice was loud, louder than was necessary. ‘I don’t think we can be friends any more, Kara.’
    Kara looked back at her blankly.
    â€˜Not after what you did in PE class.’
    Kara continued to stare in silence.
    â€˜I mean, I know it looked like an accident, and maybe it was, but now you’ve taken to hanging out with . . .’ She paused for dramatic effect.
    God, thought Kara, this girl could win an Oscar.
    â€˜. . . freaks.’
    A murmur swelled through the corridor.
    Kara felt a cold pressure run through her head. Hannah was watching her. She could sense that the strange girl had arrived on the edge of the crowd.
    â€˜Of course,’ continued Ashleigh, ‘if you apologise and mean it, then maybe we can, I don’t know, maybe we can come to some arrangement.’
    Kara could see it now, laughing at Ashleigh’s jokes, complimenting her style, waiting for her after school. Oh yes, there would be good stuff, being part of the group, always managing to get hints for tests, hanging out with cute boys, having people look at you with longing in their eyes, jealous that they couldn’t be you for just one moment.
    The other option was murky, unknown, more difficult. She only had half a year left, assuming she didn’t fail any of her subjects, but it would be a lonely year if she was on her own. And then there was Ben. She could see him from the corner of her eye, watching Ashleigh, watching his girlfriend.
    She wondered how he could be with such a terrible person. But she was as guilty; she and Ashleigh had been friends for ages. Ben would have to go; any links with him would have to be severed. It was easier that way.
    Ashleigh’s smug face caused a whiplash of irritation to swish through Kara.
    â€˜I don’t have time for this rubbish.’ Nudging Ashleigh out of the way with her shoulder she opened her