Brave New Girl Read Online Free PDF

listened. It sounded like four of them at least, and he was there, that was his voice, teasing someone about an easy goal.
    I ran back outside. Sasha was twirling a ringlet of dark brown hair, watching herself in the mirror.
    â€œYes, Sasha,” I said. “You are beautiful but will you come inside.” And I did mean it. She was lovely, my sister, honey-brown skin, dark-brown hair that might just be black. Why couldn’t Luke see how lucky he would be to have a girlfriend like her?
    Sasha cupped her hand over the phone. “Can’t I wait out here?”
    â€œNo! Finish your call! Please!”
    â€œSeren, what is up with you?” She spoke to Fay again. “Excuse me, but my baby sister is giving me so much grief.”
    I winced at the word ‘baby’. “Sasha, come on!”
    Sasha covered the phone again and rolled her eyes. “What is your problem? I am coming, OK? Do I have to hold your hand to go shopping now?”
    I sighed and went inside and hoped she’d follow.The boys had moved to the chiller counter. It was easy to find them because one of them was laughing really loud. I kept my distance, just out of sight on the other side of the cleaning powder.
    â€œYou’re never asking her?” That was Luke. His voice sounded really nasty. I could practically hear him making a screwed-up-in-disgust face.
    Then I realised. They weren’t talking about football any more. They were talking about girls. I felt my stomach do that super-speed swoop it only usually does in tower block lifts. Thirtieth floor to ground level in seconds.
    They were saying things about some of the girls in Sasha’s year. Horrible things. Talking about them like they were animals. No, worse than animals. Meat. Lumps of meat, like the cold, crispy pork and dead barbecue duck hung up on hooks by the checkout.
    Ugly words. Horrible words. I couldn’t believe that Luke, with his floppy hair and girl-magnet smile would say such disgusting things.
    Then Sasha’s name. He said Sasha’s name and someone else laughed. I screwed my eyes up tight, willing them to stop, but it didn’t work. I thought I was going to be sick. I could feel all the blood draining away from my face and rushing back to my heart.At least Sasha wasn’t hearing this.
    Luke went on. “I asked her for this picture, yeah, for the Leavers’ Book….”
    I felt someone take hold of my hand and squeeze it. It was Sasha, she was standing right next to me and I realised I didn’t know how long she’d been there.
    â€œSasha Campbell Brown?” one of them said, shaking his head. “She’s so after you, Luke man, it is sad!”
    Luke laughed. “Sasha? Fay’s mate? That is one mad-looking girl... we got her down as Miss Desperate 2012! If there was a gold medal for stalking, she’d get it!” Luke laughed the loudest.
    I saw Sasha’s face begin to crumple. I was shaking my head.
    â€œYou’re not, Sash, you’re so not!” I said it too loud. Suddenly, there was Jamie Kendrick looking down at us from over the Persil Non Bio.
    He coughed.
    Sasha dabbed at the mascara from where it had started to run under her eyes. I could hear the blip of the till, but nothing else. It was perfectly quiet.
    Sasha blinked. I picked up some washing powder. From the other side of the aisle I heard Luke saying, “What! What?”
    Jamie looked at us. “Sasha,” he said, and waved a silly little wave. “Hi.”
    Luke said, “Oops!” More laughter. Loads of laughter.
    I looked back at Jamie. He looked embarrassed. The others didn’t seem to care.
    Sasha pulled away but I kept hold of her. “Let me go, Seren,” Sasha said in a quiet, tiny-girl voice.
    â€œNo,” I said, low. “Nobody talks to my sister like that.” I thought I’d said it quietly but there was a chorus of ‘ooohs’ from the chiller-cabinet aisle.
    I took