Page 30 of The New Girl

‘What happened at the party?’ Safa asked.

Orla turned to look at her. ‘I’ll tell you exactly what happened. I was chatting to Conor Levy, the best-looking boy there by miles, and he was definitely keen, and then I went to the loo. When I came back, I heard Kylie Phelan telling him that my brother was a retard and there were retard genes in my family. She said we were all a bit “mental” and he should stay away from me. And then ... and then ...’ Orla began to sob. ‘She ... she kissed him and he kissed her back. I hate him and I hate her. I hope she gets run over by a car on her way home and dies a slow and painful death.’

Safa patted her back.

Ruby stood up and kicked the leg of her bed. ‘OMG, what a cow. How dare she say that about Robbie?’ Anger pulsed through her veins. ‘How dare she say that about our family? Robbie was just really unlucky, it could happen to anyone. I hate her too.’ Ruby felt tears prick her own eyes.

She was sick of people judging their family because of Robbie. Before he was born they were just ‘the Fitzpatricks’. But now they were ‘those poor Fitzpatricks with the special-needs kid’. She hated it with all her heart. She didn’t want people to pity them. They were fine. Well, OK, they weren’t really, but they were getting on with things. They were a family. They loved each other and what family was perfect anyway?

Safa fished about in her backpack and handed each sister a tissue. Safa always seemed to know what to do. Ruby wondered how she did it. Was it because she was a refugee? Did refugees always have things you might need in their backpacks?

Orla lay back on the bed and groaned. ‘God, I feel horrible. I am never drinking again, ever.’

‘Why did you start?’ Safa asked.

Orla pushed herself up on her elbows. ‘Because I was humiliated and embarrassed and I wanted to forget about everything.’

‘I guess that didn’t work out too well,’ Ruby said. She didn’t want her sister to drink again. It was bad for you and she didn’t want her mum and dad to worry about Orla getting into trouble.

Orla glared at her. ‘I’ve had the worst night of my life. I know I was a total idiot to drink. Can you please not give me a hard time?’

Ruby muttered, ‘Sorry.’

Safa patted Orla’s arm. ‘You’ll feel better tomorrow after a good night of sleep. This seems like the biggest thing ever, but really it isn’t. This boy doesn’t deserve you; he’s obviously weak and easily influenced. You deserve better.’

Orla blew her nose. ‘Thanks, Safa. How did you get to be so grown up? I feel like I’m talking to an adult right now.’

Safa smiled. ‘Life experience.’

Orla reached over and hugged her. ‘You must have had a rubbish life. I hope it gets better.’

Ruby gasped. ‘Jeez, Orla, don’t say that. Her life isn’t rubbish.’

Safa laughed. ‘It’s OK, Ruby. My life was good until three years ago. Even though there was a war in Syria, our town was not affected. But then everything changed and bombs began to fall out of the sky. Since then there have been many bad parts. But Baba always says, “Bad times can’t last for ever.”’

Orla sighed. ‘I used to think that, but now I’m not so sure.’ Suddenly she jumped up from her bed and vomited again into the bin. ‘God, I feel like I’m dying.’

Safa smiled. ‘Baba also says that alcohol is never the answer to your problems; it only makes them worse,’ Safa said.

‘He’s right,’ Orla said. ‘I’ve never felt so sick in my life. Your dad is, like, the smartest man in the whole wide world. He’s, like, a total genius, like Alfred Instagram or whatever his name is.’

Ruby rolled her eyes. ‘Seriously, Orla, even I know it’s Albert Einstein.’ Sometimes she wondered if Orla was just really dumb or if she played it up a bit.

Orla sat on the bed and wrapped her duvet around herself. ‘Leave me alone. I’m sick.’

‘It’s your own stupid fault,’ Ruby snapped. ‘You should never have drunk.’

‘Stop talking. You’re giving me a headache.’

‘I’ll shout unless you swear never to drink again.’ Ruby was really furious with her sister. If their mum and dad found out, there would be world war three. There was enough drama in the house without this. Besides, she hated seeing her sister vomiting and crying. This wasn’t Orla. Orla was tough and together and strong. Ruby needed her sister to stay strong. With Mum already falling apart, she couldn’t stand it if Orla broke too.

‘I swear, I swear.’ Orla held up her hands. ‘Just be quiet, pleeeeease.’

Safa stood up and told Orla she hoped she felt better soon. ‘I have to go – Mama will be worried about me.’ She left the sisters sitting on opposite beds, glaring at each other.

Orla peeled off her damp clothes and put on her pyjamas. She then snuck out to the bathroom with the vomit bin and rinsed it out. Ruby sprayed deodorant around the room so her mum wouldn’t notice the smell of puke.

Orla came back and curled up in bed. She switched off the light and said quietly, ‘If you breathe one word of this to Mum or Dad, you’re dead.’

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