Free Diamond Girls by Jacqueline Wilson Page B

Guy.
    â€˜Let’s see that hand,’ said Bruce.
    â€˜It’s fine,’ said Jude. ‘Just keep your nose out of things, right?’
    â€˜
You
keep your bogging nose out of things, you stupid interfering pig!’ Rochelle yelled. ‘How
dare
you come charging up acting like a total idiot! You can’t tell me who I can talk to!’
    â€˜He obviously wants to do a lot more than talk, idiot. He’s way too old for you. And he looks a complete plonker too. What does he think he is, an extra in
Pirates of the Caribbean
?’
    â€˜I think he’s really cool,’ said Rochelle. ‘And I think he liked me, until
you
mucked it up telling him how old I am.’
    â€˜Yeah,
twelve
– but you’ve got the brains of a six-year-old,’ said Jude, poking Rochelle.
    â€˜Don’t you dare start hitting me!’ said Rochelle, pushing Jude.
    â€˜Someone needs to slap some sense into you! Can’t you see what those boys are
like
?’
    â€˜You’re just jealous because they were chatting to me, not you,’ said Rochelle. ‘You can’t stick it if someone fancies me, Jude Diamond.’
    â€˜Oh for God’s sake, stop being so
idiotic
!’ said Jude, shoving her in exasperation.
    Rochelle was wearing her best red suede high heels. She found it hard to balance on them at the best of times. She tottered backwards and ended up on her bottom with her legs in the air.
    Pirate Boy was still lurking at the end of Mercury Street. He was looking back over his shoulder. Rochelle went as red as her shoes. She swore furiously, staggered upright and flew at Jude, trying to scratch her face with her long fingernails.
    â€˜Hey, hey, cut it out, girls!’ Bruce cried.
    They both told him to mind his own bogging business and carried on fighting. Jude could normally floor Rochelle in seconds but now Rochelle was so angry she was almost a match for her. I screamed, begging them to stop. Martine pocketed her phone and tried to wade between them. Jude accidentally punched her on the shoulder. Martine whipped off her shoe and started trying to whack them both about the head.
    â€˜Stop it! Please stop it, you crazy girls!’ Bruce shouted hoarsely.
    â€˜This will put a stop to it,’ Mum gasped, waddling up to us with a brimming bucket.
    Suddenly we were all drenched in soapy water, screaming, sobbing, soaking wet.
    â€˜My cardie’s all wet! And Bluebell!’ I wailed.
    â€˜How
dare
you, Mum!’ Martine said furiously.
    â€˜If you’re all going to act like little wildcats you’ll get treated like them,’ Mum retorted.
    â€˜
I
wasn’t fighting, I was trying to stop them. Look, my mobile’s soaked! I’ll kill you if you’ve ruined it!’
    â€˜My best suede shoes! They’re sodden! You’ve spoiled them. You’ve all utterly humiliated me. I hate you all!’ Rochelle screamed.
    â€˜Shut up, you stupid little show-off, you’re the one that started all this,’ said Jude. Her wet hair stuck flat to her head so she looked like a seal. She felt her face and looked at the smear of blood on her fingers. ‘You’ve clawed me, you little cat!’
    She gave Rochelle another push. Rochelle retaliated by trying to scratch her again.
    â€˜Mum, Mum, stop them!’ I shrieked, shaking my wet hair out of my eyes.
    Mum didn’t seem to be listening to any of us. She let the empty bucket fall to the ground with a clank. She put her hands on her stomach. Her face screwed up.
    â€˜Oh no!’ said Bruce. ‘Are you all right?’
    â€˜No I’m not bloody all right,’ Mum muttered. She made little whimpering noises, her eyes screwed up.
    â€˜Oh Gawd, it’s not the baby, is it?’ Bruce asked.
    Mum nodded, bending right over. Water trickled down her legs, as if she’d wet herself.
    Bruce took two steps backwards, greasy-white with shock. Martine stopped wiping her mobile