I looked at her and the waiting crowd. I glanced outside at Skye and down at the pale make-up and smashed glass on the floor. It would be easy. All I had to do was say that word.

“No,” I said. “It wasn’t my fault and I’m not sorry.”

Chapter 2

Sleep should have made me feel better. It didn’t. It wasn’t helpful that my empty stomach was gurgling all night. I even turned my light on at 2.30 this morning and added another three rows to Kandi’s blanket. Now it’s 7.15 and I just want to stay in bed all day, but Annie’s gonna keep on knocking on my door until I get up.

I was thinking about my friendships too. I haven’t been here long, so it’s not like me and Bash and Skye go back to Nursery, but I thought we were mates. I’m gonna have to talk to Bash about running off and leaving me like that. When we were messaging last night, it was easy to pretend that everything that happened in the shop was a laugh. Bash reckoned she left because she was worried that her parents would find out and ban her from seeing me and Skye. I still think she should have stayed and taken the blame. Instead, I was the one who ended up in the shop manager’s office and Annie had to leave work and come over.

But I do love it when Annie turns up in places for me – just to see how folks react. I don’t know what they expect my guardian to be like, but a tiny white woman in yoga pants isn’t it.

Annie strode into that shop yesterday looking like she could tear it down with her bare hands. She was wearing her posh trainers but stomping like Shrek. Annie told them people that they should feel shame for bullying a child like me. The security guard tried to say something about me not being a child. Annie put him right on that, saying “A fifteen year old is definitely a child unless you can damn well show me the law that says I’m wrong.”

Annie said loud and clear that I wasn’t stealing from them. I wasn’t abusing no one. If the security guard wanted to pick a public fight, Annie could direct him to the gym below her yoga studio. He’d find a whole room full of macho body-builders he could choose from. If I hadn’t been so stressed, I would have cheered.

Another knock on my bedroom door. I need to forget about that and think about school now.

“Charlene!” Annie calls. “I cannot be late this morning!”