her.’
‘It’s not for me to tell her any thing,’ Mia replied defensively. ‘Darren wants to do it himself.’
‘I bet,’ Lisa snorted, voicing what they were all thinking: that Darren Mitchell had played her, and had no intention of chucking his girlfriend for her.
‘He will ,’ Mia insisted. ‘And anyone who thinks different can piss off, ’cos I don’t need to listen to you talking shit about my boyfriend.’
‘Boyfriend, my arse! He’s using you, you stupid cow.’
‘Who you calling stupid?’
‘We’re only looking out for you,’ Jenny said calmly, sensing that Mia was getting upset.
‘ I ’m not,’ Lisa countered sharply. ‘She shouldn’t be doing the dirty on Sandra.’
‘And when did you start being Sandra’s best mate?’ Mia demanded.
‘I’m not,’ Lisa retorted. ‘Like I said, I hate her. But if you’re going to brag about it, at least have the balls to tell her .’ She jerked her thumb back towards the toilet door – just as Sandra walked out.
‘Tell who about what?’ Sandra asked.
‘Nothing,’ Lisa muttered.
Tutting, Sandra pushed them out of the way.
‘Wow, you’re brave,’ Mia said sarcastically when she’d gone.
‘Maybe I’m just not stupid enough to piss her off and get my head kicked in,’ Lisa spat. ‘But if you want me to go and tell her what I was really talking about, just say the word.’
‘No one’s stopping you,’ Mia said coolly, knowing that Lisa wouldn’t dare.
‘Oh, piss off.’ Lisa jerked her chin up proudly. ‘At least I’m not a slag who’d flash my tits for money.’
‘Neither am I!’
‘Oh, really? So how come you’re hooking up with Lorraine Braithwaite’s agent, ’cos that’s the only so-called modelling she’s ever done. And don’t act all innocent, ’cos everyone knows what’s she’s like.’
‘I’m not talking about her , so get your facts right,’ Mia drawled. ‘I’m talking about Darren’s cousin Lorraine.’
‘Lorraine Braithwaite is his cousin,’ said Laura, shrugging guiltily when Mia glared at her. ‘Sorry, I thought you knew.’
Mia hadn’t known, and she was furious that Darren hadn’t thought to mention it.
‘I knew she was a whore from when she got caught giving that teacher a blow job and got expelled,’ Lisa was saying now, a disapproving sneer on her face.
‘Yeah, then I heard she got into porn,’ another girl chipped in. ‘But she picked up some disease that made her fanny go all manky and none of the men would shag her, so she had to go into Page Three instead.’
‘Well, I don’t care what she does,’ Mia told them defensively. ‘I’m going to be a proper model.’
‘If you say so,’ Lisa drawled. ‘Won’t hold my breath, though.’
Mia’s eyes flashed with rage. Whatever they thought of Lorraine Braithwaite, they had no right to try and tar her with the same brush. Even if she wanted to get into something dirty like that – which she didn’t – her mum probably wouldn’t let her; and Darren definitely wouldn’t. He probably hadn’t even realised what his cousin really did for a living.
‘You all right?’ Laura asked softly as the bell rang and the girls started heading towards their first classes.
‘Oh, yeah, I’m just fine,’ Mia snapped. ‘My mates think I’m a slag, and my so-called best mate couldn’t even be bothered to warn me.’
‘I’m sorry, but I honestly thought you knew,’ Laura murmured. ‘Anyway, Darren should have told you. It wasn’t fair, getting your hopes up for nothing.’
‘Who says it’s for nothing?’ Mia retorted proudly. ‘Obviously I won’t go to that agent now I know what he’s about, but he’s not the only one in the world. And soon as I’ve got those photos done, the others will be falling over themselves to sign me up – you watch.’
Sighing when Mia turned on her heel and marched off towards their first class, Laura set off after her. Mia was pretty, there was no denying that, but she was