‘You two are in enough trouble!’ Miss Stockwell snapped at the year-eights. Then back at Georgia. ‘That’s a thirty-minute detention for lateness and a strike for uniform infraction. If you get a second strike before the end of the year, you’ll get another detention.’

Georgia’s phone started ringing as she headed into the school’s main lobby. It was supposed to be on silent, but luckily Miss Stockwell was out of earshot. She pulled the phone, fearing Mum or Dad. Seeing Zac made her smile. He was the one person who’d probably make her feel better.

‘I’m in school,’ Georgia whispered as she dashed for cover in an alcove between two banks of lockers.

‘I thought I’d be leaving a message,’ Zac said. ‘You met a kid called Sam last night?’

‘Sure,’ Georgia agreed. ‘He mentioned that he knew you.’

She heard footsteps and glanced around anxiously, but it was a year-seven boy holding a sick note.

‘One of Sam’s mums is a woman called Wendy Dewar,’ Zac explained. ‘She works as a publicist, she’s on the national committee of SAG and she runs the Red News Network. She loves the picture on the cover of today’s Times and she’s desperate to speak to you …’

Georgia interrupted. ‘You mean London Met?’

Zac laughed. ‘I haven’t seen London Met. But you’re on the cover of The Times and Mail. And it’s everywhere online.

‘My nan gets the Mail …’ Georgia moaned.

‘Sophie would be so proud of you!’ Zac gushed.

‘You think?’ Georgia said, not convinced her big sister would approve of a window-breaking rampage …

‘So, Sam’s mum, Wendy, got in touch with me and asked for your number. I said I’d have to ask you first.’

‘What does she want?’

‘That photo has made you the face of the budget-cuts campaign. I think she wants to interview you for RNN, and try to get you interviews elsewhere to promote SAG.’

‘Why interview me?’ Georgia asked. ‘I got carried away last night. I know dick-all about politics!’

‘Wendy’s really nice, but if you don’t want to help the cause …’ Zac sounded disappointed. ‘She won’t ask you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.’

Georgia twisted her black pump and bit a thumbnail. ‘What do you think I should do?’

‘Most of us live our lives without ever impacting on anything. The photo’s a fluke, but it gives you a chance to make a difference.’

‘People go through life blindly,’ Georgia said. ‘That’s what Sophie wrote in her suicide note …’

‘Sophie was messed up when she was depressed,’ Zac said, ‘but I do agree with that.’

Georgia heard more footsteps, but this time they were heavier. She had to speak fast.

‘All right, give this Wendy my number. Now I really have to go.’