Free Storm and Stone by Joss Stirling Page B

on me times ten.’
    Gina murmured something and turned over.
    ‘Speak in the morning.’ Raven pulled the duvet over her shoulders. Now things would start to go right; she was sure of it.
     
    Light spilt into the room from the open curtains. A bird cawed. Raven groggily opened her eyes and saw a shape moving across the sunbeams.
    ‘Gina? What time is it?’
    ‘Six-thirty.’
    ‘Geez. Is this revenge for disturbing you last night?’
    ‘Don’t be silly, Raven. It’s just time to wake up.’
    Like hell it was. Raven pushed up from her pillow. Gina was already dressed, her hair curled up in a French twist, make-up applied. She was wearing what Raven could only call a sober suit. She looked like someone’s PA, not in the least like the normal casually-clothed Gina.
    ‘Got an interview?’ teased Raven. ‘I’ve never seen you so smart.’
    Gina gave her a cool look and bent over to make her bed.
    Raven put her hands under her head, elbows spread on the pillow, grinning at her friend. ‘Where’ve you been, Gina? I was really worried about you.’
    ‘My course overran. My absence was cleared with the head teacher.’
    So she had been fretting about nothing. ‘Why did no one tell me?’
    ‘Why should they have told you?’ Gina wasn’t meeting her eyes.
    ‘Because I’m your best friend, duh. Us screw-ups have to stick together—remember the pledge?’
    Gina stood up, back stiff. ‘I see. Well, I’m afraid we can’t be this term.’ She fiddled with the thin gold chain around her neck, running the pearl droplet to and fro.
    A heavy weight settled in Raven’s stomach. ‘Can’t be what?’
    ‘I’m sorry but I can’t be your friend again—not like we were. I’ve asked that you move rooms today.’
    Raven sat up. ‘Whoa. Gina? Are you joking? You’ve had me kicked out of our room?’
    ‘You have to understand: I can’t keep my eyes closed to your little problem, can’t live with the stress—it’s not good for me.’
    ‘My little problem? What the heck are you talking about?’
    ‘You know what you do. Toni told me last night about what happened in the changing rooms. If you carry on you’ll end up in trouble with the police. I don’t want to see it happen.’
    ‘You what? You don’t believe the rumours about the bag, do you? That’s rich coming from you, seeing you’re always borrowing stuff without asking!’
    Gina frowned, the comment not hitting home. She looked like she had never heard of such a thing. ‘I’ve worked hard on the course to get myself into a good place. No offence, Raven, but my course tutor showed me that you’re a negative influence. I must surround myself with only positives if I’m to succeed. Mrs Bain agrees. I must stick to my new resolutions so the good work isn’t undone.’
    ‘What kind of negative influence?’ Raven felt sickened. It was happening again: her foundations crumbling from under her.
    ‘To succeed in life, you must seek the best, emulate the most worthy examples, strive for excellence.’
    ‘What is this crap? Who’s got you believing lies about me?’
    ‘And avoid all displays of low behaviour, like swearing.’ Gina did up the buttons of her jacket. ‘I know it’s hard—hard for us both—we were so close before it all came out, but if you just pack your things and go without a fuss, your grandfather will move them to your new room this morning during classes. Mrs Bain thinks it best if you have a room on your own. She’s moving Hedda in with me.’
    ‘Do you even realize you what you are saying? You don’t even like Hedda!’ Raven pushed back the covers and grabbed Gina’s arm to shake her. ‘It’s me—Raven. I am your friend. You are my friend. That has to mean something, surely?’
    Gina’s eyes skated away. She wasn’t enjoying this confrontation any more than Raven but was determined to see it to the end.
    Raven began to feel frightened as she grasped that Gina wasn’t going to stop wrecking their friendship. ‘Remember