Free Summer's Edge by Noël Cades Page A

defensive. "We just hang out and stuff. We talk about things."
    "You’re not planning to get dreads are you?"
    "Maybe, when school’s over. My hair’s such a nightmare."
    "I don’t see why you need them. Kate doesn’t have them," Becky said. This was beside the point since Kate’s school wouldn’t have allowed them either. "And I don’t get how you can wash your hair if it’s all matted."
    "You use special shampoo. Or baking soda and vinegar."
    "That’s why they smell," Becky said.
    Alice tried to change the subject as this couldn’t end well. Privately she agreed with Becky but she didn’t want to take sides.
    "We should do something to celebrate next weekend," she said. "Surviving the first week of exams. I haven’t got any the following week."
    "I hate how they’re all spread out and then clumped. It’s like they don’t give any consideration to what would make best sense in terms of revision. Why put both Economics ones in the same week?" Jules said.  
    "Still, once you’ve done Economics it’s all over," Becky said.
    It was amazing to think this was now only four weeks away. The end of school forever. Alice still got a sick feeling in her stomach when she thought about the approaching exams. The days were flying by far too fast.
    "So what about you and Mr Walker?" Becky asked. Alice had told them about her conversation with him on Monday. They were all convinced something would happen eventually.
    "Nothing more yet."
    "You know he’s divorced?" Becky said. Alice hadn’t known. "I don’t think Brett knows many details, just that he was married and they split up a couple of years ago. Maybe that’s why he’s so careful."
    Alice hadn’t known and it unsettled her. She was immediately obsessed with knowing what his ex-wife was like.
    "She’s his ex. So he obviously didn’t want to be with her, or he would be, wouldn’t he? Plus she’s millions of miles away in Australia," Jules said.
    "You don’t know that. And she might have been the one to end it." It was going to torment her. "Did they have kids?"
    "No, I don’t think so."
    "My stepmum’s still on really good terms with Kate’s dad. But there’s nothing more there any more. She said they married too young and ended up like brother and sister. Maybe it’s like that?" Jules said.
    The thought of Mr Walker having a childhood sweetheart was even worse to Alice but she didn’t say anything. Now she was going to be stuck brooding about it all week. And she couldn’t go out and drown it out because they all had to behave that weekend. There was too much at stake.

11. Detention

    Maddy was already arguing with Miss Symons when Alice arrived by the playing fields to join the rest of the group condemned to clean up. As well as Maddy there were half a dozen or so younger pupils there.
    "I’m absolutely not wearing that. It’s broad daylight." Maddy could be as stubborn as a mule when she wished. Alice was actually surprised she’d shown up at all.
    The bone of contention was an orange reflective band which they were meant to wear for safety. Most people assumed, probably quite rightly, that its purpose was actually for humiliation.
    "Madeleine, you will wear the band. It’s required."
    "My punishment is coming here and cleaning up. We have rights you know. You can’t just deliberately embarrass us, even prisoners don’t get that."
    Miss Symons was getting increasingly exasperated and didn’t want Maddy giving the younger pupils ideas. She turned her attention to Alice.
    "You’re late, Alice. I need you all to hurry up and get your collection bags. I won’t be able to supervise you today, I have a meeting that’s just come up. Mr Walker has kindly agreed to take my place."
    Suddenly detention was simultaneously the most awful and the most amazing thing in the world.
    Alice saw him approach, and from his face she could tell that he had no idea she would be there. He must realise that there was no way she could have known either.
    "Thanks