“It wasn’t me,” I said. “Honest.”

“It was Myles,” Freya said. “He told everyone.”

“Get lost!” Jacob snapped. “Like Myles would know!”

“Freya heard him,” I said. “Myles’s dad owns a restaurant by St Margaret’s. He saw you.”

Jacob didn’t say anything.

“Why would I tell anyone?” I asked him. “We made a pact, remember?”

“We’re telling the truth,” Freya said. “I promise.”

Jacob thought about it. “Myles?” he said.

“Yes,” Freya insisted. “You know he hates you.”

Jacob nodded.

“I’m sorry I grabbed you,” he told me. “I wasn’t thinking. I was just –”

“We have to stop Myles,” Freya said, and I remembered something she’d told me.

“Yeah,” I added. “He might be tough, but the harder they come …”

“The harder they fall!” Freya finished. She beamed a smile at me.

Jacob’s face grew stony.

“You’re right,” he told me. “We have to bring Myles down.”

I heard the doors open behind us.

“Calloway! Freya!”

Ms Jenkins didn’t sound too happy. We turned and trudged towards her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked us. “Do you have permission?”

“We’re just trying to help Jacob, Miss,” I replied.

Ms Jenkins’ face softened.

“Come on, Cal,” she said with a half-smile. “I know you mean well, but you must obey the rules.”

“But Jacob didn’t do anything!” I protested. “It’s that Myles Granger, he’s nothing but a bully and a trouble-maker.”

“Leave that to me and Mr Ahmed,” Ms Jenkins said. “Neither you nor Freya should be here without permission.”

“But you can’t punish him!” Freya insisted.

Ms Jenkins sighed and led us away.

*

Jacob stayed in isolation, and Anu and the others were nasty about him all afternoon. It was hard to ignore them and for the first time ever I wished school would end early. Not even Mr Ross could keep my attention and I love History.

I rushed out with Freya when the lesson ended. But, in the main corridor, we knew something was wrong. The word “Fight!” hung in the air and people were pushing and shoving to get out of school fast.

“I’ve got an awful feeling that it’s Jacob in trouble,” I said to Freya.

“Me too. Come on, run!”

We ran out to find Myles by the school gates, with two other Year 10 lads. They were holding Jacob tight by the arms, and they were laughing at him as he struggled.

“STOP IT!” I shouted without thinking.

“Stop it! Stop it!” some older kids mocked.

I didn’t care. I dropped my bag and ran over. I didn’t know what I was going to do. But I had to do something.

“Leave him alone!” I said, and I tried to pull Jacob away.

“Piss off,” Myles’s mates jeered.

“Get lost, you little shit!” Myles warned, as he punched Jacob full on the mouth.

Jacob struggled but Myles’s two henchmen were too strong even for him.

“Get a teacher!” I heard Freya scream.

“You dirty little scrounger!” Myles yelled. “Think you can have me?”