Page 96 of Our Secrets and Lies

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Kelly took the tub of ice cream from the huge supermarket freezer and put it in her basket beside the chocolate and popcorn. As she headed down the aisle towards the checkout, her way was blocked.

‘Look who it is. Kelly Murphy, the biggest loser in St Jude’s,’ Melissa sneered. ‘We thought we’d find you in this dump. We came to see how you lowlifes live. We saw your granddad’s crappy shop.What a kip.’

Kelly’s heart sank. It was bad enough to have to deal with Melissa in school, but to have her here, in her neighbourhood, insulting Billy’s shop, was too much. She felt tears of rage and hurt well up. ‘Why don’t you fuck off home, then?’ Kelly hissed.

‘OMG, have you no shame? You look like a hobo,’ Alicia said.

‘I have to post this.’ Melissa took a photo of Kelly.

Kelly triedto push past them, but they shoved her back.

‘Charity cases like you shouldn’t be allowed to go to St Jude’s. You’re dragging the school down,’ Chloe said.

‘You look like you’ve just climbed out of a dumpster.’ Melissa wrinkled her nose.

‘Where did you get that jumper? It’s, like, the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. I’d rather die than wear that,’ Alicia said, snapping another photo of her.

‘Please borrow it and die,’ Kelly snapped.

‘You’re so pathetic,’ Melissa said. ‘Everyone thinks you’re such a loser. And I mean everyone. Why don’t you just do usall a favour and go back to your old school and scummy friends?’

‘What’s going on here?’ Shannon appeared from behind Kelly, holding a two-litre bottle of Coke and a six-pack of crisps. ‘Are these girls bothering you, Kelly?’

‘Oh,my God, is this one of your friends from Scumtown?’ Melissa snorted.

‘I’m Shannon, and you’re Melissa. I recognize your ugly mug from Instagram. You’re actually even more vile-looking in real life, you poor cow.’

Melissa’s face went bright red. ‘How dare you speak to me, you lowlife? You should put the crisps down – you’re obese.’

Shannon roared laughing. ‘Obese? I’m curvy, love, and the fellaslove it.’

‘Maybe the boys in this crappy neighbourhood do,’ Chloe said, ‘but not at St Jude’s, where people have taste and class.’

‘Class!’ Shannon whooped. ‘You’re a bunch of vicious bitches who eat each other for breakfast. You should lay off Kelly, otherwise me and my mates will have to come up there and sort you all out.’

Melissa shook her hands in the air. ‘Oooh, I’m shaking in my boots.The only thing you could do is crush us with your revolting flabby body. Does everyone in your area look this gross?’

Shannon grinned. ‘If I’m not mistaken, your sister is shagging Dylan morning, noon and night. So someone in your family can’t get enough of us.’

‘She’s just … going through a phase. She’s being a rebel, but it won’t last.’

‘I dunno, she seems very keen. All of her Instagramphotos are of her wrapped around him. You and Kelly here are almost related.’ Shannon chortled. ‘Dylan is probably sticking his big dick into your sister right now.’

‘Fuck off, you scumbag!’ Melissa roared.

‘Dear, oh dear, I’m very surprised that a lady like yourself would curse. What would Mummy and Daddy think?’

Kelly laughed. She couldn’t help it – Melissa looked so out of her depth.

Melissaglared at Kelly. ‘I’ll get you for this.’

‘Don’t you threaten Kelly.’ Shannon put her face right into Melissa’s. ‘If you hurt her, I’ll come up to that school and give you a good seeing-to. I hate bullies.’

‘Come on, Melissa.’ Alicia pulled her friend away.

Shannon turned to Kelly. ‘What a shower of bitches.’

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