Chapter 8
LILI AND EM AGED TWELVE
On the first Monday of the summer term, they sat at the bottom of the playing field. Lili let a ladybird run over her hand.
‘Hannah and her friends are such bitches,’ said Em.
‘I thought they’d get bored of the nasty comments by now.’
‘Kamal said they’re idiots and it’s only because they’re jealous that we can play football and got to meet Katy Perry last Christmas.’
‘That’s cos he fancies you,’ Em said, and they both giggled. ‘Those VIP tickets were pretty amazing though. Your parents were so cool getting them for us.’
Lili rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah, yeah. A guilt present – for them getting a divorce.’
‘I blame Dad for my problems. I mean, who the hell calls their daughter Myrtle?’
‘It was after his favourite aunt who couldn’t have a kid of her own though, right?
Anyway, my mum’s not much better, naming me Lydia after some random doctor who delivered me.
I know it was a difficult birth but…’ The ladybird flew away.
‘No wonder Hannah and her friends say we’ve got old lady names. ’
‘Gotta admire Hannah’s English skills, really, nicknaming us Myrtle Turtle and Lydia Bacteria within the first week of high school. Kinda catchy.’
‘And now she’s calling us lezzers.’
Em raised an eyebrow.
‘Kamal told me that as well. Hannah’s saying that us wanting to meet Katy Perry cos we liked her song “I Kissed A Girl” means we must secretly be into each other. Why do you think I held your hand crossing the playground today?’
Em grinned. ‘Lydia Taylor! That’s why those losers jeered. I wondered why Kamal was laughing. You really don’t give a shit, do you?’
‘No. For a start, why is being called a lesbian insulting? Mum’s best friend at work, Jill, is gay, and a far better person than Hannah will ever be.
I only care about the opinions of kind people – like my nan.
I can talk to her about anything. She said answering back to people like Hannah, or showing you are upset, feeds them; that they’re insecure, they get desperate and think the only way to feel better is to put others down.
Our old classmates from primary school still like us, and Laura in my maths set has invited us both to her party next week.
We play football with the boys and I reckon most of the teachers think Hannah is a brown-nosing idiot… you and I are doing okay.’
‘As always, you are right, my friend,’ said Em. She leant forwards and kissed her on the lips.
Lili pushed her away, laughing, and wiped her mouth on her sleeve. ‘Too far.’
Em laughed too and got up. ‘Come on. Kamal is waving. Time to thrash him and his mates at footie again. Hope I’m on the same team as Zach, he’s sooo hot. Race you there!’
She went to run but Lili stood up and caught her hand.
‘You and me won’t change, will we? Whatever happens? We’ll always be there for each other?’
‘Course. You know that.’ A mischievous look crossed Em’s face.
‘In science the other day we were doing marine animals and Mr Morley said turtles can carry salmonella bacteria on their shells, which is really dangerous to humans. So as long as we always stick together, we’ll always be able to keep the dickhead humans in their place. ’
‘Forever and ever,’ said Lili in a satisfied tone. ‘Till we’re old ladies, when our names will finally suit us.’
‘Yep. Together forever. Apart from the next two minutes when I run so far ahead you’ll never catch up!’