It's all about TRUST

Chapter 4

Holly, Chapter 4

When we got out of hmv, we went straight to Claire’s.

‘They have really nice earrings there,’ I said.

‘Yeah I guess they are quite nice. I think I might get some funky hair extensions for school,’ replied Alexis.

‘Do you think that will make you popular?’ I asked.

‘I don’t know… maybe if they see me as one of them – ready to break the rules – they might accept me.’

‘Hmmm.’ I thought about it. If Alexis suddenly became popular, then surely I wouldn’t. The only real friend I had was Alexis, and even then I would probably lose her if she became popular. She wouldn’t have time for the un-cool like me, and her new “friends” probably wouldn’t even let her hang out with me. But Alexis is un-popular, like me. Un-popular people don’t suddenly become popular. So I was safe.

I looked around Claire’s. I would have quite liked some panda earrings that I saw, but I only had enough money to get me home. I didn’t think Alexis would lend me any more money, after buying me all that make-up, so I decided I would just have to forget about them.

‘Hey, Holly! Come over here!’ said Alexis. I walked over to join her. ‘Look what I’ve found.’ She was looking at a pair of “Best friends” necklaces.

‘Aw wow they’re gorgeous!’ I said. They were a heart split into two with little bears hanging off them on a necklace.

‘Should we buy them?’ Alexis asked me.

‘Erm, well, I haven’t got any money,’ I said.

‘Oh don’t worry, I’ve got a tenner left in my account and two pounds-twenty left in my pocket for the bus; I’ll pay for it.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘yeah, it’s fine, I’m buying these red hair extensions too.’ She held up some fiery red hair extensions, which I hadn’t noticed her holding before. Alexis went and paid the seven pounds with her card. When she had paid for it, we both put our necklaces on. They looked beautiful; even better when they were fitted together. Alexis put the hair extensions in her bag. I looked at my watch.

‘Oh my gosh!’ I exclaimed, ‘It’s twenty past four already, and the next bus home is at four thirty! We should get going.’

‘$h!t. Let’s run!’ We turned round and started jogging through the shopping centre. We probably looked like lunatics.

‘Language! Since when?’ I said, panting.

‘That’s hardly a swear word!’

‘Yeah but still! You shouldn’t be swearing in a public place like this!’

‘Oh come on!’

‘Are you starting to use swear words so you get popular?’ I asked suspiciously.

‘No,’ replied Alexis, but I didn’t quite believe her.

‘Don’t change who you are just so you can be popular!’

‘I’m not!’ said Alexis, offended.

‘Just warning you.’

With four minutes to spare, we reached the bus stop.

No way.

Leaning against the bus stop sign was, you guessed it, Tom Medsfield and his friends. Great. Just great. Number one; Tom’s friends always teased me. Number two; Tom always acted really weirdly around me. Number three; I had the smallest, littlest, tiniest crush on him. Okay. Now I’ve said it.

Tom was in a lot of my classes at school. I even sat next to him in English. He was never mean to me, but his friends were. Maybe, just maybe, he would be going out with me now if it weren’t for that horrible John, or that wretched Sam.

The bus arrived at exactly four-thirty. I hopped on with Alexis; Tom, Sam and John came on after. As they went past us they smirked, (not Tom though) and went to the back. I decided to sit a couple of seats from the front – away from them. I got my phone out. My heart skipped a beat. 6 missed calls. Oh dear. Mother was going to be so worried about me. I showed Alexis. She frowned. I hesitated for a moment before tapping the numbers of my landline. Mother picked up immediately.

‘Oh Holly! What have you been up to?’

‘Shopping.’

‘I was so worried about you! Why didn’t you pick up?’

‘I didn’t hear it. I’m sorry mother. Next time I’ll phone you every so often, or put my ringtone on loud.’

‘I’m sorry Holly, but there won’t be a next time. I can’t risk this. You know how it is.’

‘But mum! He doesn’t even know what I look like; it was before I was born that it happened,’ I said angrily.

‘Holly! You idiot! You are in a public place and you just gave away a load of information! I’m grounding you as soon as you are home.’ I groaned. Being grounded was great fun. Not.