“She was just messing about,” I said.

Mrs Collier didn’t look convinced but she let me go anyway. I grabbed my bag and headed to my form room. When I arrived, a big freckly lad with short ginger hair was standing at the front next to the teacher.

“Newbie!” someone shouted.

The new boy glared at us all.

“This is Jacob,” Mr Gossage said. “He’s joining Year 9.”

Jacob went a bit red.

“Ahh!” Freya said. “Look – he’s gone all shy!”

Some lads sniggered, but Freya hadn’t been teasing. I’d known her since nursery and she wasn’t ever mean to anyone.

“Freya, Cal – could you show Jacob around next lesson?” Mr Gossage asked.

“Er, suppose so,” I said, and Freya smiled.

*

Freya led Jacob and me around school, starting with Maths and Science. Jacob had stopped scowling, but now he just looked bored.

“Any questions?” Freya asked.

I tried to make eye contact with her, but I couldn’t. Freya was my secret crush – Selina Kyle to my Batman. She had dark hair and a button nose. Her eyes were big and brown, and her skin was pale. She wore glasses like me, only hers had cool frames. She was cute.

“Jacob?” she asked again. “Questions?”

“Nah,” Jacob said. “All looks the same to me, innit?”

“Fab!” Freya said. “Let’s go to Art – my favourite!”

Freya didn’t notice how bored Jacob was – she was all smiles and excitement. I was happy to be with her, and curious about Jacob too.

He only spoke to say he was bored. His clothes looked shabby – his shirt was almost grey, not white. I noticed that his shoes were all scuffed.

“We done?” he asked, when we returned to the front door.

“Yep!” Freya said. “Now, I’ll take you to your next lesson. What is it?”

“Dunno,” Jacob said, and he stared at his timetable.

“Shall I look?” I offered.

“What?” Jacob snapped. “You think I can’t read or summat, bruv?”

“I was just offering to help,” I said to my feet.

“Stuff your help!” Jacob said. “I’m off …”

And with that he trudged away.

“Not exactly friendly, is he?” Freya said. “Never mind. We’ve got English next, haven’t we?”

I nodded. Freya had said “we” like there was a “we”.

“Calloway?” she asked.

“Hmm?”

“Why are you grinning?”

“Oh, no reason.” I hadn’t even realised I was.

At the end of the corridor, we saw Jacob kick a door open so hard it slammed into the wall.

2

Justice League

Mum was making veggie shepherd’s pie when I got home.

“Help me mash these potatoes, will you?” she asked. “How was school?”

I thought of how Anu had twisted my ear until it throbbed.

“Great,” I lied. “A new boy started today. Me and Freya showed him around.”

“Freya Saunders?” Mum asked. “She’s a lovely girl – you’ve been friends since nursery.”

I scowled. Why was Mum doing that weird parent thing of telling me stuff that I already knew?