Free Heartbeat Away by Laura Summers

getting out of bed was a challenge.
    â€˜Mum,’ I say, later that day, when she’s calmed down about me being out for so long. ‘I don’t want you to drive me to school any more. I want to meet my friends and walk with them, like I used to.’
    â€˜I don’t mind giving you a lift, Becky. It’s on my way to work.’
    â€˜Mum, please, I’m fourteen!’
    She glances at Joe who pulls a face. Suddenly she looks doubtful. I try not to glare at Joe.
    â€˜Look what happened today,’ she says hesitantly.
    â€˜Nothing happened today! I just . . . forgot the time, that’s all. I’m sorry I scared you. But you can trust me. Honestly. I’ll be all right on my own.’
    â€˜I suppose walking will be good exercise,’ Mum says finally, ‘and if you’re meeting your friends, there’ll be someone with you. But you must keep your phone charged, Becky.’
    â€˜I will. Promise.’ I hug her.
    It’s time to start getting my life back again, I think, as I hurry off to text Leah.
    Monday morning, I set off to walk the mile or so to school. Since meeting Sam, I’m feeling braver and stronger. Maybe I’ve turned a corner, I think happily. Maybe things are going to finally settle down.
    Ahead of me, by the parade of shops, I see Jodie and Alesha, waiting for me by the newsagent’s, so I call to them and wave.
    We head off down the road towards the estate where Leah lives, chatting about her party next month and the nerdy boy Jodie fancies (but swears she really, really doesn’t, OK?), and it feels just like old times, before I got sick.
    â€˜So, how you doing then?’ asks Jodie as we approach the block of flats where Leah lives. I’m just getting ready to tell them about Sam when I see Jodie glance at Alesha, who makes a face back at her and shakes her head slightly as if to say, ‘Don’t.’
    â€˜What?’ I ask.
    â€˜Nothing,’ says Jodie. But they’re both staring at me now.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’ I ask, forcing a grin. They exchange looks again. ‘What’s going on?’
    â€˜Well . . . We were just wondering . . .’ Alesha begins.
    â€˜Leah told me . . .’ Jodie can’t meet my eye.
    My heart sinks. ‘What did Leah tell you?’ I ask hesitantly.
    Jodie flushes bright red and starts biting her bottom lip – she only does this when she’s nervous, or Mr MacNamara tells her off.
    Alesha threads her arm through mine. ‘It’s nothing, Becky . . . Leah just told Jodie that since you got your new heart you’d been sort of . . .’
    â€˜Sort of what?’
    â€˜Well . . . seeing things . . .’
    â€˜Really weird stuff,’ interrupts Jodie.
    â€˜Leah promised me she wouldn’t tell anyone,’ I blurt out anxiously.
    â€˜She only told me,’ says Jodie lamely.
    â€˜And you told Alesha.’
    The pair exchange guilty looks.
    â€˜You didn’t tell anyone else though, did you?’ I ask, dreading the answer.
    â€˜No . . .’ Jodie still won’t look at me. ‘Not really.’
    My stomach starts to churn. ‘Oh Jodie . . . Who?’
    â€˜I only sort of mentioned it to . . . Sophie Morgan.’
    â€˜
Sophie Morgan
? You told Motormouth Morgan?’ I yell at her.
    â€˜Yeah . . . but she promised on her sister’s life not to breathe a word to anyone . . .’
    I’m feeling sick. By now, all our year, if not the whole school, will know that Becky Simmons – that girl who’s had the heart transplant – is seeing weird stuff. I spin around as two girls from Year Eight walk past us. One glances at me then whispers to her friend, who eyes me warily.
    â€˜I . . . I’ve got to go,’ I mumble.
    â€˜Becky?’
    â€˜Aren’t you coming with us to Leah’s?’
    â€˜I’ll see you at school,’ I tell them, and rush off downthe street, feeling their stares