CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Beetle Girl

The children, dressed in their black and purple uniform, poured through the school gates. Darkus stood to one side, and glanced down at Baxter, who was nestled in his blazer pocket. The beetle waggled a claw at him. ‘Now, remember to stay hidden,’ Darkus whispered to the rhinoceros beetle, as he scanned the crowds heading to their classrooms, chattering and calling to one another. A black iridescent car pulled up, hints of violet and emerald flickering in the light. He smiled, remembering the first time he’d seen it, and how he’d thought it looked like something out of one of his comics. Now it was his friend’s car.

The rude voice of Robby sounded above the clamour of children. ‘Whoa! Check out those wheels!’

Daniel Dowie pulled a comb out of his blazer pocket and dragged it through his oily quiff.

The front door opened. A woman dressed in black, with scars on her cheeks, stepped out and opened the rear door of the car. Out stepped Novak in her black and purple uniform, followed by Gerard, who held out a purple satchel.

‘Your packed lunch is in your bag, and so is your pencil case. I checked with the school and they’ll be providing any books you need.’

‘Stop fussing, Gerard.’ Novak giggled and kissed him on the cheek as she took her bag.

‘We’ll be here at the end of the day to pick you up,’ he called as she headed towards the gate.

‘Hello, princess.’ Daniel Dowie called out. ‘What’s your name?’

Novak barely paused to give him a withering look.

Darkus heard a snort from beside him. Virginia and Bertolt had arrived to meet Novak for her first day at school. He grinned at them. Marvin was hanging from Virginia’s braid, and Newton was glowing gently inside Bertolt’s hair, making him appear angelic.

‘They’d better not be mean to her,’ Bertolt said, looking very serious.

‘She’ll make mincemeat of them,’ Virginia chuckled.

‘Yup.’ Darkus nodded.

Novak saw the three of them standing inside the gate, and waved.

‘What’s she doing, waving at Beetle Boy?’ Robby exclaimed. ‘Hey, princess. You don’t want to go near him. He might set his beetle on you.’

Novak ignored him and ran towards Darkus, Virginia and Bertolt.

‘Welcome to your first day at school,’ Darkus said. ‘I see you’ve already met our bullies.’

Novak took him by surprise, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. He stumbled backwards a step.

‘Isn’t this exciting?’ she gushed.

‘Not really.’ Virginia shook her head. ‘It’s school.’

‘Exactly!’ Novak bounced up and down, hugging Virginia and then Bertolt.

‘It’s exciting to have you here.’ Bertolt blushed as he squeezed her back.

‘So where’s our classroom?’ Novak asked, taking Darkus’s hand. ‘I want to see it.’

‘Oi, Beetle Boy!’ Robby shouted.

The four of them turned and looked at the approaching gaggle of boys, strutting over behind Daniel Dowie and Robby.

‘Aren’t you going to introduce us to your girlfriend?’ Robby asked, and all the clones sniggered. ‘Don’t go thinking she’s gonna be into you for long.’ He pointed at Daniel Dowie, who pouted at Novak and waggled his eyebrows. ‘Not once she’s met Dowie the ladykiller.’

Darkus felt Novak’s grip on his hand tighten with anger.

‘Excuse me.’ Novak glared at Robby. ‘Would you kindly ask your friend to stop pulling those weird faces at me, he’s making me feel ill.’ Robby’s mouth dropped open and his metal braces glinted. ‘Oh, and I’ll have you know that I’m not Darkus’s girlfriend because he’s never asked me out, but if he ever did ask me out, I’d say yes in a heartbeat, because he is the kindest, bravest, cleverest boy I’ve ever met.’

Darkus drew in a sharp breath and choked on his own saliva. His face burnt as Bertolt thumped him on the back.

‘Oooooooooooooooooo.’ Robby waggled his head and made sloppy kissing noises. ‘What did he do to you? Get one of his beetles to bite you?’ He laughed at his own joke. ‘Better watch out or you’ll get turned into a Beetle Girl!’

‘Beetle Girl! Beetle Girl!’ the clones all echoed.

‘Much as we’d love to kick your arses right now,’ Virginia said, ‘we have to get to class.’ She turned her back on the crowing bullies, and the other three did the same.

‘Beetle Girl! Beetle Girl!’ The chant followed them.

Novak looked at Darkus, a wicked smile creeping across her face as her eyes went black. ‘Do you want to tell them, or shall I?’