Keep You Safe: A tear-jerking and compelling story that will make you think from the international multi-million bestselling author. Melissa Hill
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Автор: Melissa Hill
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современная зарубежная литература
isbn: 9780008217150
isbn:
‘Great.’ Clara forced a smile, but in truth she wasn’t too keen on her cousins coming to visit. Brian was OK, but Cam was just so moody and nasty to everyone. She didn’t know why his mum and dad didn’t warn him to be kind and show manners like hers insisted she and Jake always did. But, she supposed, some kids were just like that.
Her mum held up her iPhone and snapped a picture, nodding in approval. ‘Perfect. Now you go and have a lovely day. Dad and I are proud of you, sweetheart – you’re such a trooper.’
Clara waved goodbye and hopped from the car. Taking a deep breath, she felt like skipping, but tried to play it cool, scanning the outside of the school for her friends. Spotting some other girls from her class, she strode with purpose in their direction.
As she walked, her thoughts briefly turned to Rosie. She felt a small burst of worry enter her chest. Clara knew that her classmate was still in the hospital – at least that’s what she had heard her mum say. She was a bit worried about Rosie.
They weren’t best friends or anything, but she still really liked her. Rosie was fun, not at all girly and she loved playing dinosaurs with the boys. Clara liked dinosaurs too but her best friends Rachel and Megan didn’t really, so it was nice to have another girl who enjoyed playing with them too.
And she also felt a bit bad for Rosie because her dad died. Clara really couldn’t imagine what that must be like, but guessed it must be a terrible thing. She couldn’t imagine losing her own dad. And now poor Rosie was in the hospital – she had become much sicker with measles than Clara.
That was something else she couldn’t imagine because she had felt like she was going to die while she had them. What must it be like to feel even worse?
Furrowing her brow, Clara decided that she would keep Rosie in her thoughts, but that she wouldn’t let her worries ruin her first day back. Picking up her pace, she felt her spirits buoy once again, especially as she heard the squeals of delight from Rachel and Megan. She ran the final steps to her friends and they all cried out in excitement.
However, the girls’ obvious excitement at being reunited attracted the attention of another classmate they usually tried to avoid.
Kevin Campbell.
The young boy approached the three girls with a scowl on this face. He was flanked on either side by two of his other friends – older boys who liked to be nasty.
Great, more meanies.
‘Who said you could come back to school?’ he sneered. ‘Are you trying to get everyone else sick now?’
Clara turned to look directly at Kevin. She hated having to talk to him, but she knew from experience that ignoring him just made him worse. So she faced him down, like her mum and dad had taught her.
‘Principal Connelly talked to my doctor and my parents. Everyone said I was ready to come back. Just go away. It’s none of your business anyway,’ she said, trying to keep her voice steady. She felt Megan stand reassuringly close alongside her.
But this answer didn’t satisfy Kevin.
‘It is my business. I don’t want to get sick because of you. I don’t want my friends to catch your rotten diseases. You know, I heard that Rosie could die. Do you know that if that happens, it will be your fault, Clara? I wonder how old you have to be to go to jail? They might not lock you up for killing her, but they will definitely lock your parents up – and then you and Jake will be put up for adoption or something.’ His friends laughed loudly, which merely served to egg Kevin on. ‘Probably be better that way anyway. My mum says that your parents are stupid and crazy. So it’s good if they do get locked up. I mean, murderers should go to jail – especially ones who kill kids.’
Clara felt a lump grow in her throat. Her mum had told her that Rosie getting sick hadn’t been her fault. But now she wasn’t so sure. What if Rosie did die? She willed herself not to cry, but still a tear leaked from her eye.
Of course, Kevin saw it. ‘Are you going to cry, Clara?’ he guffawed. ‘Well, you probably should. If I were you, I would feel terrible for killing one of my friends.’
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