Star-Crossed by Jo Cotterill Page A

any minute.”
    You are half amused and half mortified by this information. Looking around the room again, you see that all the groups have moved closer together, talking quietly and casting glances every so often to your table. Looking back down at your lap, you sigh. You knew that people were talking about you, but not to this extent. You shake your head with anger. This is so stupid, you think. And who does Misha think she is?! And I have a psychiatrist now? Come on. She has gotta get over this. She’s so bitter.
    Kate leans cautiously towards you, pulling you out of your thoughts. Reuben is looking between you and the staring girls around the table with a very confused expression on his face. So he didn’t know either.
    Her emerald eyes are wide and her chin is resting on her palms, elbows on the table. She bites her lip, then asks you what they all want to know. “So. Did you do it?”
    I don’t believe it. They actually think that I am some kind of psychopath. I’ve had enough of this.
    You get up. The girls flinch, as if scared that you are going to start beating them up too. You give a humourless laugh.
    â€œDo you seriously have nothing better to do than discuss my life?”
    No one says a word.
    You give a tiny sigh of disbelief, turn quickly and leave the way you came in. The corridor is deserted. You are going so fast that Reuben has to run to catch you up. You put your hands to your forehead and look down at your pacing feet.
    â€œWhy can’t they find someone else to talk about?! It’s always Jen this, Jen that, Jen beat Chris to a mangled and bloody pulp in the street. Like I’d be that lucky to get the chance! This isn’t just me, you know. He hates me too! He does stuff to wind me up, like these stupid rumours, and I’m the one who looks like the crazy person, when in fact he is the psycho behind it all! If he just stayed out of my way then I could get on with my life. Damn, he pisses me off!”
    Reuben hurries along behind you. You expect him to say something, but he doesn’t. When Rubes is silent like this, you know what it means. It means that he’s not going to say what he’s thinking, because he knows it’s not going to go down well.
    It’s even more frustrating that he’s always right…
    â€œWhat are you thinking, Rubes?” you ask him wearily.
    He shakes his head. “You’re not going to like it.”
    â€œI know. But tell me anyway. I’m being unreasonable or something, aren’t I?”
    He takes a deep breath. “Well, you say that you never start anything, but you did kind of encourage the rumours. You did write that note next to his name—”
    You stop and turn around, raising your hands in indignation. “I was being ironic ! I don’t want him to die! I was just mad and … embarrassed and … argh !” You spin back and carry on walking. “I know that it was a stupid idea, but it didn’t mean a—”
    The corridor is coming to a bend, but you’re furious and you don’t see the turn.
    â€œ Jen! ”
    You smack straight into something quite solid, look up, then back away, rolling your eyes. This is exactly what I need …
    â€œWatch where you’re going, bitch!”
    Chris’s two best friends, Sam McDonald and Travis Parker, block your way out of the narrow hallway. Travis is the shorter of the two, but both are tall and built like rugby players. You wouldn’t want to meet either of them in a deserted alley on a dark night. Now they are towering over you and Reuben like two bears, ready for an attack.
    â€œCan you let us past?” you say, with as much politeness as you can muster through gritted teeth.
    The boys look at each other, then back at you, and shake their heads.
    â€œNah,” says Travis, taking one of your arms in a pincer-like grip. You wince and try to shake him off, but it doesn’t work. “I