‘Get back here, you wimp!’ Jonie’s voice followed her.

Bella panicked. She realised the cut-through would eventually lead back to Creepy Cawley’s, to the hedges that lined the end of his cul-de-sac; the ones they usually hid in before playing Knock, Knock, Ginger. Maybe if she hid there now, Jonie wouldn’t find her; she wouldn’t expect Bella to be brave enough to go near there right after he’d caught her.

Bella had only reached the grassy area, just short of the huge bushes, when Jonie came hurtling towards her, pushing her to the ground. They rolled around on the grass, Jonie yanking Bella’s hair.

‘How dare you push me!’ Jonie yelled.

‘You can’t get away with leaving me like that, Jonie. You’re mean and a bully.’

‘Ahh, gonna go cry to Daddy, are you? You’re such a baby,’ Jonie said. She was sitting on Bella now, straddling her belly and pinning her arms down. Bella struggled beneath her weight, trying to wriggle free. But it was no good. Jonie was stronger.

‘Get. Off. Me!’ Bella thrashed as much as she could, managing to drag herself across the grass a few inches, but Jonie grabbed her again.

‘What’s your problem?’ she shouted.

‘You, Jonie. You are my problem. Always making me do stuff you want. You’re selfish and I don’t want to be your friend anymore.’ Bella felt a relief saying the words out loud. The words she’d practised inside her head for months. She wanted to be free of Jonie Hayes.

‘Tough. We’re friends and that’s that. Our mums are best friends so we have to be.’

‘No, we don’t!’ Bella propelled her body once more, and finally broke free. She scrabbled on the grass, her feet slipping. She’d almost made it to the bushes, to the gap she could squeeze through, when Jonie’s hand pulled at her ankle, and she collapsed on her tummy back on the grass. Anger flared. Bella reached her hand out in front of her, her fingers closing around a large stone. She flipped over on to her back, and as Jonie landed on her stomach, Bella swung her arm. The stone made a dull thudding noise as it hit Jonie’s forehead.

For a moment, Jonie just looked stunned, but then she seemed to sway.

Bella watched in quiet horror as a huge lump swelled up on Jonie’s head. It seemed to grow bigger and bigger while she stared. Was it going to pop?

Jonie sat back onto the grass. She slowly raised her hand, and as she touched the lump, her eyes grew wide.

Bella thought she saw hatred in them. She had to get away from Jonie. Now. Because it looked like she was about to go totally ape on Bella.

She quickly threw the stone into the bushes and got up, ready to make her escape.

‘What have you done?’ Jonie said, both hands now balled into fists.

She was going to attack again – Bella knew it. While Jonie was on the ground, she had to make sure she stayed there. Bella moved forwards, and when she was beside Jonie, she raised her foot, kicking her in her chest. Jonie again grabbed Bella’s ankle, pulling it to make her fall over. But she didn’t fall, she stayed upright.