Free Missing Ellen by Natasha Mac a'Bháird Page B

the cafe before she could see me and start talking about the jumper again, or comment on the fact that I should be back in school by now.
    They definitely weren’t in the cafe. I wandered back to the door, checking to make sure Mrs Kennedy was nowhere in sight. Not knowing what else to do, I headed back towards the toilets, even though something told me she wasn’t going to be there. I sat back down on my bench and looked up at the clock. Five past two.
    What now? This was getting a bit ridiculous – what was Ellen doing that was so important she could just leave me hanging around waiting for her and making us late for school?
    I checked my phone, just in case she had rung, but of course she hadn’t. I thought about ringing her, but I didn’t knowwhich phone to ring. She and Pete might have swapped back right away, or they might have been too busy familiarising themselves with each other’s tonsils. The last thing I wanted was to have to speak to Pete. I decided to send a text to her own phone and just hope she’d get it.
    The shopping centre was starting to empty, as people went back to school and work. I felt really self-conscious sitting there in my uniform, Ellen’s pink bag at my feet. I felt like all the sales assistants would know that I should be back at school by now. At least I couldn’t be seen from the newsagents – that was some comfort.
    I wondered if I should go back to school on my own, but then I dismissed that idea right away. If Ellen came back to school with no uniform, she’d be in even bigger trouble than just for being late. And both of us would be in trouble for being out on our own.
    Feeling really annoyed now, I checked my phone again, but it was still blank. I would kill her when I saw her, I really would.
    Just then I spotted Mrs Kennedy coming in my direction. Without really thinking I grabbed Ellen’s bag and bolted in the opposite direction. I circled round the shopping centre, made sure she was nowhere in sight and then dashed out the main entrance.
    OK, there was clearly no point in hanging around the shopping centre. Ellen had my number, she could text mewhen she finally came to her senses. Just in case, I sent a text to both mobiles, saying that I was going to start walking back towards the school.
    As I walked up the main street I felt like all eyes were on me again. I told myself not to be stupid. There could be any number of reasons I could legitimately be out of school at this time. I could be on my way back from the dentist, or the doctor. I could have a free class, and be doing an errand for a teacher.
    I went the long way around though, away from the primary school. Mum would be picking up Jamie shortly, and she’d certainly see straight through any story.
    My phone rang. I dropped the pink bag in my scramble to answer it on time, and Ellen’s uniform started to spill out onto the path.
    ‘Ellen, where are you?’ I demanded, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder as I tried to stuff the clothes back into the bag.
    ‘Keogh’s,’ Ellen said.
    The pub where we’d seen Flaming Moes.
    ‘What the hell are you doing there?’
    I could hear Pete saying something to her in the background , and she giggled and shushed him. ‘Pete said their toasted sandwiches are the best in town. Look Maggie, I’m really sorry I’m late, I just lost track of time. Can you meet me here instead? We’re just inside the door.’
    ‘Ellen. I am in my
school uniform
,’ I said.
    ‘Oh, right. Erm, well will you meet me out the back? Oh wait, I know. Go to the laneway beside the pub. The window to the ladies looks out on that. You can pass me in my clothes, and I’ll get changed as quick as I can.’
    ‘You are going to get us both suspended,’ I said. ‘I’m so tempted to go right back up to the school.’ I had already started walking in the direction of Keogh’s, but there was no need for Ellen to know that just yet.
    ‘Oh come on, Maggie. Think of it as an adventure,’