Becky's Terrible Term by Holly Webb

lovely long white ruff that stuck out behind his ears. She looked up in surprise as her sisters came in. The shed was pretty much her place, and she’d wanted to be left alone.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Becky asked, feeling confused. Her sisters usually came in here only when she asked them. She felt strange, having them burst into her safe place, and suddenly it wasn’t so safe any more. “Do you want me for something?”
    Katie took a deep breath. “Becky – we’re worried about you. It’s horrible seeing you so upset. Can’t we, um, help somehow?”
    Becky’s face was completely blank as she answered Katie, in an artificially cheerful voice. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Honestly.”
    Bel and Katie exchanged glances. “That’s not true,” Bel told her sister flatly. “You’ve been miserable since Wednesday, and today you’ve been looking as though someone’s poisoned Pixie. It’s because of the project thing, isn’t it? Why are you upset about it? Fran and the others seem really nice.”
    Becky glared back. “I don’t want your help! I’m fine.” She felt furiously embarrassed. It wasn’t fair! She knew that Bel and Katie were just being kind, none of this was their fault, and she should let them help – but at the same time, she was so cross! How dare they? So what if they’d both got loads of friends – they couldn’t leave her out and then suddenly expect everything to be OK as soon as they felt guilty for abandoning her.
    â€œBecky. . .” Annabel sounded as though Becky was being a pain, and it was all Becky could take.
    â€œDon’t ‘Becky’ me! Fine, so you two are really popular – well, I’m not, and I never will be. If it makes you feel bad you’ll just have to suffer – it’s all your own fault for being selfish, anyway!”
    Sam squeaked in outrage – Becky had been hugging him way too hard as she got more and more upset. Katie and Annabel just gaped. They’d never seen sweet, gentle Becky get angry like this.
    â€œJust go!” Becky hissed, cradling Sam, and stroking him apologetically.
    So they went.

Chapter Eight
    The rest of Friday evening was deeply uncomfortable. Mum was working to finish a translation to a tight deadline, so she missed out on the prickly atmosphere. The triplets were glad. This wasn’t one of those silly squabbles about keeping their room tidy that she could jolly them out of. For once, they didn’t chat when they went to bed. Katie and Annabel fell asleep quite quickly, full of righteous indignation, and Becky lay awake seething. By the time she woke up next morning, her sisters’ beds were empty. Becky didn’t feel like getting up. She nipped out of bed quickly and grabbed one of her battered collection of pony books. She needed comfort reading. Then she snuggled back under her warm duvet and read determinedly. Unfortunately, the ditzy heroine kept reminding her of Annabel. This wasn’t working. Stupid sisters!
    â€œHello, Becky. You’re in bed late.” Mum poked her head round the door.
    â€œMmm,” Becky replied unhelpfully, hoping that her mother’s sixth sense wouldn’t pick up that something was wrong. Mum could tell that things weren’t right, but also that Becky really didn’t want to talk about it, so she decided to leave things for now. She did pick up on the obvious, though. “You didn’t go out with Katie and Annabel then?”
    Silly question! thought Becky crossly. She can see perfectly well I didn’t! “No, I didn’t feel like it. I’m tired.”
    â€œAll right, darling. I’m working this morning – just let me know if you want anything, OK?” Mum went back downstairs and Becky was left feeling aimless. She knew where Bel and Katie had gone – they’d told Mum at teatime