Bad Company Read Online Free PDF Page A

your promises.’
    He was shaking his head. ‘No. You’re wrong, sweetheart. I didn’t know he was coming. I told him never to come back here. I never want to see him, or hear from him again. You’ve got to believe that, Lissa. Just give me this one chance.’
    Had he told Magnus Pierce all this? Or had Magnus Pierce come here to pay him off for keeping his mouth shut? That’s what they did. I’d seen it in a movie once.
    ‘If your Mum knows, she’ll only worry. And there’s nothing for her to worry about.’
    I shrugged my shoulders. ‘I don’t care what you do.’ And I walked out of the room and left him sitting there. I didn’t say I’d tell Mum, and I didn’t say I wouldn’t. Let him stew for a while. Let him worry. It was about time he did.
    But of course I didn’t tell Mum. I couldn’t bear the thought of her worrying. Even though it made me puke to see the way he hugged her in the kitchen and kissed her neck. He could always get round Mum no matter what he did. Well, it wouldn’t work with me. He’d never get round me again.
    Murdo was mad. Again. He had just had the results of our Christmas tests and they were dismal. We were a bunch of no good, lazy, useless, ‘in-div-id-ualssss’. He spat out the words angrily.
    Diane glanced at me and mouthed, ‘So much for boosting our self-esteem.’
    I giggled and Murdo’s ranting halted abruptly. His eyes darted to me. ‘Something amusing you, Miss Blythe?’
    I swallowed and tried to think of something to say. ‘Come here!’ When Murdo was angry his accent became more Highland than usual.
    ‘Come herrre!’ he burred. When Murdo gave you an order, you obeyed. I stepped from the safety of my desk and sidled down the aisle toward him.
    He always seemed bigger when he was angry, and broader. Right this minute he seemed to be filling the whole classroom.
    I stopped in front of him.
    ‘I’m glad you find all this so funny.’ His glance went to Diane. He’d seen us stuck together like glue since she’d come to the school. At first I’d thought he was pleased about that. But now, his glare seemed to include her.
    That put my back up. No one glares at my best friend.
    ‘I’m not happy with your attitude, lass,’ he said. I wastrying desperately to think of some clever retort, but all I could think of was that his breakfast was still embedded between his teeth. Bits of cornflake, and toast and a little sliver of grated cheese.
    He shook his head with disappointment. ‘Lissa!’ he hissed, and he sprayed bits of cornflake all over me. ‘What have you got to say for yourself?’
    I wanted to say something clever, something so funny the whole class would laugh. I wanted to say something that would impress Diane. And it came to me in a flash of inspiration.
    I pointed to the grated cheese. ‘Are you keeping that for later … or do you intend to spit that all over me as well?’
    I heard Diane giggle. But she was the only one. The rest of the class fell silent, except for an initial, communal gasp.
    Murdo’s face went even redder than usual. The anger seemed to leave him immediately. He closed his mouth and I realised in a moment that shamed me that he was embarrassed. Embarrassed and surprised.
    ‘Stay behind after class,’ was all he said, turning from me. ‘You and I are going to have a little chat.’
    No one in the class even glanced my way as I shambled back to my desk. They all kept their eyes downcast. Murdo was bad-tempered, and disgusting. But he was just aboutthe most popular teacher in the school. Always striving to get the best out of us. Always pushing us to realise our potential.
    Even Ralph, who sulked his way through most of his other classes came alive for Murdo.
    Then I looked at Diane. Her eyes flickered across at me and they smiled. From under her desk she gave me the thumbs up, and I didn’t feel bad any more. I knew I’d done the right thing.
    As long as Diane understood.

Chapter Six
    January 30th
    Murdo kept me back