Rev Girl by Leigh Hutton

school.’
    She watched his taillights disappear into the darkness.
    Dallas proved to Clover that she shouldn’t be worried about being grounded by making out with her in the front seat of his truck as soon as she arrived at school the next morning. Here, her father didn’t exist. Neither did his stupid rules. Dallas showed her the best place to park, around the corner from the local hockey rink, opposite the school.
    She was relieved when the school bell rang, however, and she could put her shirt back on, fix up her hair and lipstick. ‘Saved by the bell,’ had now taken on a whole new meaning.
    Every Silvertown High School pupil with Facebook, Twitter or a pair of ears had heard the news about Dallas Cash and Clover Kassedy by the time the pair tried to sneak through the back door of the school. The news had travelled as fast as a Top Fueler in a drag race.
    Clover’s cheeks went pink as she and Dallas made their way, hand-in-hand, past the art room towards the biology lab. Even though the classroom doors were closed and the bell had rung a few minutes ago, there were still a dozen or so students in the hallway, and every one of them looked up from their lockers or their phones and stared. A few whispered to each other. One even pointed. Clover tightened her grip on Dallas’s hand. Of course it was great to be noticed, but she never expected it to be quite so … embarrassing. Thank God she’d spent some time on her appearance; no good getting attention if you looked like a slob.
    She and Dallas stopped in front of the door to the bio lab. He pulled her close, and she wrapped her hands around his neck and reached up to peck him on the cheek, but before her lips met his skin, he was ripped backwards Travis, the school’s football quarterback, and a few of the other guys had grabbed him from behind.
    â€˜Sorry,’ Dallas said, pushing the laughing boys off. ‘See ya at lunch?’
    Clover smiled to herself, turned for the canteen and nearly dropped dead on the spot. Of course it was Dee Harding.
    â€˜Hey, Clover,’ Dee said.
    â€˜Um, hi.’
    â€˜So, you and Dallas, hey?’
    â€˜Yep me and Dallas.’
    â€˜Here I thought he was never going to appoint a girlfriend. And the Loser Canuck gets him to do it in one short weekend. One might wonder at your tactics.’
    Clover’s eyes narrowed into a glare and her hands started to shake.
    â€˜I heard you were a dirty little slut,’ Dee laughed. ‘But at school you’ve always seemed so frigid, ya know, just like the icebergs up there where you’re from!’ She laughed at her own stupid joke.
    Clover froze on the spot, paralysed. There was just something about bullies, they were way scarier than the worst obstacle she’d ever faced on her Yamaha.
    â€˜Ha!’ Dee flicked her hair over her shoulder. ‘I don’t know why people ever thought you were so tough, just because you ride motorbikes. Enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame, Canuck. If it lasts that long.’

NINE

    Just before Christmas, Ernie knocked on Clover’s door.
    She looked up from the screen of her laptop, and the essay she was writing for English class.
    The doorknob turned … In just a few days, she was supposed to be free. ‘Nice to see you’ve finally cleaned up in here,’ Ernie said, surveying her room. He walked over to the bed, and sat down next to her. Clover closed her computer. Her back stiffened.
    Ernie took a deep breath, and sat for a few moments, gathering his thoughts. He raised his eyes to the ceiling, and clasped his hands in his lap. ‘You’re still seeing that boy, aren’t you?’
    Clover nodded with her lips clamped tight.
    â€˜Better bring him over,’ Ernie said.
    Clover’s breath pulled in and out through her nose, her heart gaining pace.
    â€˜So we can meet him properly.’
    â€˜I’ll get it!’ Clover yelled, sprinting for the door.