I rush to the Zen Loo. My heart is pumping like it would if I’d been in a situation of extreme terror. I’ve googled this. It’s very unlikely that I will die from this Erin attack—it just feels like it at the moment. I splash water on my face and breathe in deep breaths. And then I go into a cubicle and cry and cry till my face probably looks like a red-lipped batfish.
WHERE IS LAUREN WHEN I NEED HER?! Trust her to have the flu when I’m having a minor meltdown.
When I leave, Bradley is waiting for me AGAIN. “Do you need more toilet paper, Millie?”
“No, I’m okay,” I sniff. “How did you know I was here?”
“I guessed,” Bradley whispers. “The whole school is talking about it. There’s a photo of you and Erin. It was a Snapchat, but it’s been screengrabbed. I think she probably had someone waiting to take it. It was a planned attack. An ambush.”
“Is it bad?” I don’t really want to know the answer.
“No, it just looks like you’re talking.”
“We weren’t. She went for me.”
“Of course she did, Millie! You are totally being successful by just being you, and you’re getting attention. Sometimes getting bombed is a sign of success!”
I sniff. I can’t stop crying.
“I think I’m the stupidest person in the world. I don’t feel wise anymore.”
Bradley smiles at me and gives me a big hug. It’s surprisingly nice being hugged by Bradley. “No, you’re not stupid. I’ve had my trousers on inside out for two hours today. Everyone knows my mum shops at Tesco now and that I am size fifteen.”
This makes me smile a bit. It reminds me of the sort of thing Lauren would say. Lozza is a queen. And she is sweet and funny and kind and her occasional toolness only hurts her. Never anyone else. Except that time with the squirrel. And we don’t talk about that.
Why hasn’t she messaged me? I MISS HER.
“Come on, Millie,” Bradley says. “Don’t let her see that she’s made you feel bad.”
I look up at him blearily. “What I really need now is some cucumber. Not to scare cats with—but to put on my eyes to reduce inflammation. Or tea bags. They tend to be more common than cucumbers in schools and in life, generally.”
And then something comes over me. Rushing and real. Confused but all certain at the same crashing time. I kiss Bradley Sanderson hard on the lips. And just as he puts his arms around me, I pull back.
Bradley has gone bright red but seems quite pleased.
“OR,” I quickly continue, “I should wear my enormously glam and exceedingly slightly ludicrous sunglasses ALL day. Though that will make me look like I’m hiding after a scandal.”
Bradley pauses. “Well, um—you are, really, Millie.”
Bradley is right. This is what everyone will be talking about for months. The day that Erin completely took down Millie Porter. It will become legend. I bet Erin is already planning the statue that will go on the spot. I will forever be cast in bronze as—
Okay, my head is probably going a bit overboard there. But still. This is big.
And why did I kiss Bradley Sanderson?