Free The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

interesting, Leo Denton, do you know that?’
    And Alicia is looking at me as if I have all these layers and the whole time our eyes are locked together. And for a moment I forget all about Harry Beaumont, and Mr Toolan and being on probation, and my million other problems. Even the voice in my head, the one warning me to make a run for it and that girls are no good, is fading by the second. Because everything is cancelled out by my heart going wild in my chest, like it’s going to burst out of me and dance right across the room.

14
    When I come out of Mr Toolan’s office, Felix and Essie are waiting. They jump up from their chairs and fling their arms around me like I’m a soldier returning from battle. I get a big mouthful of Essie’s hair. It tastes of her perfume and chemicals.
    ‘Oh my God, are you OK?’ she cries, holding me at arm’s length, inspecting me for injuries.
    ‘I’m fine,’ I say. ‘What are you guys doing here? Shouldn’t you be in art by now?’
    ‘Art, schmart,’ Essie replies.
    ‘What the hell happened, dude?’ Felix asks over her.
    I start with the ear flicking and end with Leo getting carted off to Mr Toolan’s office, a mixture of anger and bewilderment on his face.
    ‘But why was your inspection book in your bag in the first place?’ Felix asks. ‘I thought you kept it locked away?’
    ‘It wasn’t on purpose,’ I say grimly, ‘believe me.’
    ‘Did Harry see much of it?’ he asks.
    ‘Just a few pages I think.’
    ‘That’s something at least.’
    ‘I still can’t believe that Cloverdale kid punched Harry Beaumont!’ Essie interrupts, shaking her head in wonder. ‘Was it amazing? I bet it was amazing!’
    ‘I don’t know. I had my eyes closed,’ I admit. ‘It sounded pretty amazing though. It was a proper punch, really loud. And Harry’s nose was bleeding loads afterwards.’
    ‘Awesome,’ Felix says, his eyes dancing. Harry broke Felix’s glasses back in Year 8 and Felix has been patiently waiting for his comeuppance ever since.
    ‘You should totally invite him to have lunch with us,’ Essie says.
    ‘Who? Harry?’ I ask.
    ‘No, you idiot!’ she cries. ‘What’s-his-name! The junior-hacksaw wielding maniac!’
    ‘You mean Leo?’ I reply. ‘I thought you said he’d had his opportunity?’
    ‘But that was before he stood up for you and punched Harry Beaumont in the face!’ Essie exclaims. ‘The boy deserves a medal!’
    ‘Fine, I could ask him in detention I suppose. I don’t know if he’ll say yes though.’
    ‘Hang on a second, detention? How come
you
got detention?’ Felix demands. ‘
You
were the victim!’
    ‘For making Harry bite his tongue,’ I say, rolling my eyes. ‘A week. For what it’s worth, Harry got a week too. Leo gotan entire month apparently. For a single punch. That’s pretty harsh, don’t you think?’
    Essie shrugs, swinging her legs. ‘You know what Mr Toolan’s like, always banging on about how we’re “young ladies and gentleman”,’ she says, imitating his deep voice.
    ‘Essie’s right,’ Felix adds, ‘he has a really low tolerance for physical violence.’
    ‘Psychological torture on the other hand …’ Essie says. ‘God, things are messed up in this place sometimes. If the teachers had any sense, they would have socked Harry in the face themselves years ago. Eurgh, he’s such an animal.’
    We sit in silence for a few moments.
    ‘It is strange though, when you think about it,’ Felix says.
    ‘What is?’ Essie asks.
    ‘That the school would accept Leo as a pupil in the first place. They make out places here are like gold dust and yet Mr Toolan, who prides himself on running such a “peaceful” school, goes and lets in some kid with a history of violence. That’s weird, right?’
    ‘I suppose,’ I say.
    ‘And what’s weirder still is this,’ Felix continues. ‘Do either of you know what a junior hacksaw actually looks like?’
    Essie and I shake our heads. I don’t think either of