Free Jelly Cooper: Alien by Lynne Thomas Page A

myself to my feet, shushing her noises of concern.
    “It was an accident Rhia nnon, let it go.”
    R hiannon’s cheeks flush. She steps forward and grabs the front of my shirt.  I stare back at her with a little smile, which probably isn’t the wisest way to try and diffuse the situation. 
    Rhiannon pushes Agatha aside and shoves me against the wall.  I’ve always known that this day would come, that me and Rhiannon would come to blows, and contrary to how I always imagined myself behaving, I find that I’m not up for it.
    When you’re being hunted down by a mad thing from outer space, you kind of lose your appetite for petty scrapping.
    I stare, unblinking, into Rhiannon’s eyes, her face inches from mine.
    “ You’re the accident,” she snarls. “You’re a mistake; a mistake that needs stamping on.  A mistake that needs stamping out.”
    Oh, give it a rest.
    Leaning forward, I whisper in her ear.
    “Hitting me won’t stop your mum and dad splitting up.”
    She tries to bluff it and stay angry, but she can’t do it.  Her bottom lip starts to wobble.  She backs away.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    I follow her retreat with my eyes.
    “You two freaks are nuts .”  Her voice is loud again.  It echoes in the hallway.  “You need to see a psychiatrist or something.”
    I can’t let this go on any longer.  I move forward, my eyes never leaving her s.  Concentrate, focus, read their thoughts.  Rhiannon’s mind is open, unguarded and in turmoil.  Her thoughts spill out like water from a tap.  I pick my way through the ripples until I find exactly what I want.  What I need to make this end.
    “When your dad leaves, he’s taking Ricky with him, isn’t he?”
    The statement hangs in the air.  No one moves. 
    My insides roll like that time when Agatha persuaded me to try Sushi.  Delving into someone else’s mind and extracting personal thoughts like a dentist extracting teeth is not all it’s cracked up to be.  Don’t get me wrong, I can’t stand Rhiannon – she’s a royal pain in the arse - but using her deepest darkest thoughts to hurt her?  Not my style and, in all honesty, I feel a teeny-weeny bit sick.  I have no right to steal those thoughts from her head and use them against her.  No right at all.
    However, practicality has always been one of my stronger points.  I do still need to get out of school quickly and with the minimum of fuss (that’s a bit of a joke considering the amount of time the three of us have spent arguing in the hallway, but I guess I’ve got to try).
    Agatha steps forward and places her hand on Rhiannon’s arm, shocked at the tears running down her cheeks. 
    Unsure of what to do, I reach out my hand .  Rhiannon cries harder.
    Fantastic.   All I had to do was get Agatha, get out of school and meet Humphrey.  Simple, you would think, but no.  I have to take this wonderfully inappropriate moment to embark on my career as a mind robber.  Yay me.
    I’m kidding of course.  I’m a complete and utter shit and I’m going to hell.
    Agatha tries to sooth Rhiannon.  She frowns at me, and mouths ‘who’s Ricky?’
    “Her brother.”
    “My brother.”
    Rhiannon starts to cry for real.  We’re talking huge, anguished, body-wracking sobs.  I try to shush her.
    “Stay away you freak.” She backs away, a look of disgust, or horror (I’m not quite sure which) on her face.  “You…stay…away…from…me.”
    “Look, I can explain –
    Distant footsteps echo down the hallway.  They get louder and louder, closer and closer.
    Agatha stares at me, appalled.  “Oh my God ,” she whispers, wringing her hands.  “It sounds like a teacher.  What do we do?”
    Think.   There’s no way I can get caught in school now and I can’t risk Rhiannon blabbing about her early morning run-in with the resident weirdo.
    The footsteps grow louder.
    We need to go.  Right now.  All of us.
    Ignoring my aching ribs, I grab Rhiannon’s left