Page 138 of Our Secrets and Lies

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Shannon pushed her dinner around her plate.

‘What’s wrong with you, love? Not hungry?’ Sarah asked.

‘Shannon not hungry? That’s hilarious, she never stops shoving food down her cake-hole.’ Ollie sniggered.

‘Shut up, you twat. At least I didn’t get sent home from school for trying to barbecue snails with a lighter.’

‘Let’s all be nice to each other for a change,’ Sarah pleaded.

Shannonpushed her dinner away. ‘I can’t eat.’

‘What’s up?’ Darren asked.

Shannon looked around the table. She couldn’t say it in front of Ollie and she was too embarrassed to say it in front of her dad. She looked at her mum. ‘Can I talk to you for a minute in private?’

‘Oh, Jesus.’ Sarah’s hand flew to her heart.

Shannon paused, then realized. ‘For God’s sake, I’m not pregnant.’

‘Pregnant, you?Sure who’d ride you?’ Ollie said.

‘Loads of guys, actually,’ Shannon hissed.

‘For the love of God, I’m trying to eat my dinner,’ Darren huffed.

‘Come on.’ Sarah pulled Shannon out and they sat down in the lounge. ‘What’s going on?’

Shannon tried to get the words out. ‘It’s Kelly. I’m worried about her. There was this video. It’s … well, it’s kind of a porn video and the girl in it is kindof, well, doing stuff, and she looks like Kelly, but obviously it isn’t Kelly, and anywayit’s gone viral and zillions of people are commenting and being horrible and she won’t answer her phone.’

Sarah nodded. ‘Did you speak to her at all today?’

Shannon shook her head and tears began to roll down her face. ‘I’ve tried calling and texting all afternoon. I went into the shop earlier but Billysaid she wasn’t home. I’m really worried, Mum. She’s having such a horrible time and she’s been really low since the Taylor thing, and then I heard from Mandy who heard from Peter who heard from Jason that Sean broke up with Kelly today. I’m … I think she might do something stupid.’

Sarah stared at her. ‘You mean hurt herself?’

Shannon nodded. ‘Maybe. I mean, it’s just too much, Mum.’

Sarahstood up and hugged her daughter. ‘I’ll run over to Lucy’s now and see if she’s there. You keep trying her phone. Call Dylan and see if he’s spoken to her today.’

‘I’m coming with you,’ Shannon said.

Sarah and Shannon sprinted down the road to the shop. They ran in. Billy was behind the counter.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Is Kelly here?’

‘Yes. She came home about forty minutes ago, said she wasn’tfeeling well.’

‘Oh, good,’ Sarah said, catching her breath.

‘I’m going to check on her.’ Shannon ran through the shop and into the kitchen.

Lucy was setting the table for dinner.

‘I’m just checking on Kelly.’

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