Page 12 of The New Girl

Ruby rolled her eyes. Orla was obsessed with her ‘image’. How she looked, who she was friends with, what she wore ... everything.

Orla pulled a lip gloss out of her bag and began to apply it to her lips. ‘Conor Levy asked me out.’ She waited for Ruby to react. Ruby didn’t have a clue who Conor Levy was. ‘Conor Levy is the hottest guy at St Gabriel’s. Everyone wants to go out with him, but apparently he likesme. He sent me a text yesterday. I’m meeting him after school on Friday.’ Orla beamed.

‘Is he a nice person?’ Ruby asked.

‘Are you serious? I’ve just told you he’s the hottest guy in the whole of St Gabriel’s. Who cares if he’s nice or not? He’s so fit.’

‘I think nice matters,’ Ruby said.

‘You’re such a nerd. You’re going to end up with a dorky guy who’s really “nice” and boring.’

Ruby stood up and picked up her bag. There was no point in arguing with her sister. Besides, if they didn’t leave now, they’d be late for school. ‘Come on,’ she said.

Orla looked down at her phone. ‘Go ahead, I’m not walking with you. I’m waiting for Karen. She’s on her way. Go on, quickly, or you might be one second late for precious school.’

Ruby left the café and headed for school. Another day looking after Safa. Why did she always end up looking after people? At home it was Robbie and now at school it was Safa. It would be nice if, someday, someone looked after her for a change.

CHAPTER SIX

Safa

Safa tried to follow the words but the way Miss Ingle pronounced the words and the way they were written was completely different. This Irish language was very difficult.

Ruby was looking out the window, not listening at all.

Safa nudged her gently. ‘Sorry, but where are we on the page? I’m lost.’

Ruby shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I hate Irish. It’s really hard and boring and no one outside Ireland speaks it anyway.’

‘But it’s your national language,’ Safa said.

‘Yeah, but we all speak English. Hardly anyone speaks Irish at home.’

‘I’d want to learn my national language.’

‘Well, I’m rubbish at languages so what’s the point?’

‘Baba, my father, says that learning a new language is excellent for the brain. It helps it to expand. You are exercising a muscle.’

Ruby looked at her as if she was mad. ‘There are way better muscles to exercise.’

‘What do you like?’

‘Drama.’

‘Acting?’

‘Doing plays and acting and singing too, I guess.’

‘That’s great. Is the class doing a play this year?’

‘Yes, a musical.’

‘What musical?’

‘We don’t know yet.’

‘Will you be hoping for a big part?’

---