Bullying

Chapter Twelve - Tom

I look in the mirror while I’m brushing my hair. The gray streak in the middle of my fringe makes me look older than my mom. She stands behind me. "You look just like yourfather." I smile at her. "You were very brave, Tom." I turn and look at her. Tears are streaming down her face. "Mom." I hug her and she cries onto my shoulder. "I love you mom."

"I love you too." Shepulls away. "Now go on, you’re going to be late." I kiss her cheek and run downstairs. I grab my bag off the settee. Charlie takes a bite out of her toast. "Hey wait for me, I’ll be in two secs." Inod and then remember I said to Hol I would meet her at the stables. "Ok, one, two. I’m going!" I close the door behind me and run to get there in time. I run down the road towards Holly’s. I turn andrun down the track towards the field. I can see Holly, bent over trying to find something. Her dad looks at me. I smile at him. He walks past me. "You make sure she gets to school on time, I know whatshe’s like with that horse."

"Yes Mr. Ibbotson I will." He walks away and I sit on the gate. Holly turns around and I see her face light up. "Good morning!"
"Come on, we’re gonna be late forschool." She saunters towards me and flicks my fringe, I push her hand away, it took me ages to get it right. "Stop that, it took me ages to cover it up."
"Why, it suits you." She hops over the fence sogracefully and so cute, I hold her arm as she jumps from the gate.

"I don’t like it." I try to cover the streak with my hand. Holly smiles and laughs and I push her gently, she staggers sidewaysbut carries on laughing. "You’re so cute when you do that." She says between giggles. Charlie runs over to us.
"Hey, which part of wait for me did you not understand?" She yells at me from across theroad. I lean down and kiss Holly. Charlie cringes. "I told you not in front of me, gross, wrong in pure, in pure."

"Relax cous it’s just a kiss." I kiss Hol again just to annoy her.
"You are a...