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Mum’s eyes, Dad put on his parenting voice, which was annoying given that I was more of a parent in the household than either of them lately, but I kept hold of my temper because I didn’t want to make anyone feel worse.
    ‘If we
do
think badly of Ti, it’s only because of the number of stories we hear about her getting into trouble. You’re in Year Ten now; you’ll be sitting your GCSEs next year – it’s time to focus.’
    Mum nodded, but her attention was flagging, and Dad glowered at me like let’s hurry this along.
    ‘You really don’t need to worry,’ I said. ‘I’m going to get my head down and work. I don’t have any friends to distract me now anyway . . .’ I meant this last bit as a joke, but saying it I felt sorry for myself, and it came out petulant.
    ‘That’s unfair, Rosie!’ Mum said. ‘You
know
we want you to have friends. All we said about Ti was that perhaps you were too close, that perhaps you could have other friends as well. And she isn’t the
most
hardworking girl in the world, you’ve got to admit . . . Sophie said Charlie—’
    ‘Never listen to anything Sophie Fielding says, Mum! Charlie’s so jealous of Ophelia she can’t even be friends with anyone who talks to her any more.’
    Mum tilted her head. ‘I know Sophie’s not exactly the most neutral source at the BBC, but—’
    ‘See, you’ve listened to her! You can’t listen to her. Anyone but her, Mum, seriously.’
    ‘Rosie, if you don’t tell us what happens, we have no choice but to get our news from other people.’
    ‘Just not Sophie Fielding!’
    ‘She’s only looking out for her daughter, Rosie. Charlie’s had a difficult year . . .’
    ‘Honestly, Mum, Charlie Fielding does not need protecting. She’s a bully. All that stuff that happened with Ophelia was Charlie winding her up. She was asking for it!’
    ‘No one is ever “asking” to be physically attacked, Rosie,’ Mum said. ‘The De Furias might think shouting and violence is acceptable, but the Blooms don’t. We think it’s important not to upset each other in this household. “Asking for it.” You mustn’t say that. It makes you sound ignorant. We’ve brought you up better.’
    I was so frustrated I leapt from the bed. Forget how tired she was, I was tired too. She was sympathetic to everyone but Ti.
    ‘Charlie Fielding is a snake, Mum.’
    ‘
Rosie
—’
    ‘She is. If you knew her properly, if you
saw
her at school . . .’
    ‘I know you’ve had your fallings out, but whenever I see her she says how she wishes you could put the past behind you. She’s made mistakes like anyone else. She’s not such a bad kid. She always makes me a cup of tea when I visit – used to visit – and tells me about rehearsals, all that, and she’s
so
good to her mum. You should give her a chance. Especially now Ti’s left.’
    ‘She’s an actress, Mum. You shouldn’t believe a word that comes out her mouth. Charlie Fielding is a bitch, pure and true.’
    ‘Rosie! You can’t call people that! Especially girls. Remember the
sisterhood
.’
    ‘Mum, there is no sisterhood. I’m really sorry. It’s a nice idea, but it doesn’t exist. Not at secondary school.’
    ‘But you used to be so close!’
    ‘We were only “close” while I went along with everything she said. She’s a nasty snake, and you shouldn’t trust her. I’m actually being very restrained here, Mum. The B-word is a very PG way of expressing how I feel about Charlie Fielding.’
    Mum closed her eyes, and I knew I’d said too much, but how was I supposed to remember? The whole thing about Mum had always been that she was genuinely up for discussion. She
loved
changing her mind; it made her feel enlightened. She didn’t care about being right at all costs like most people. Like Dad.
    ‘You’re right,’ she would say mid-argument, the moment it dawned on her. ‘I get it now. I thought I was right, but it’s you. Clever girl!’
    She’d even thank me for showing her