Page 18 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

Despite the headmaster being given the names of the suspected perpetrators, Mr Trousdale did nothing, which had enraged Jasmine. She realised then that the rumours about Mr Trousdale being scared of Jason Scragg’s father were very probably true.

The headmaster’s lack of action meant Jason Scragg’s bullying campaign continued, with Max hiding what was happening from Jasmine as much as he could. But she’d noticed how he dragged his feet on the walk to school, not to mention the notes stuck to the back of his jumper with the word “Rubbish” scrawled across. It had been the same with his PE bag, which he’d found on the floor next to his coat peg, the contents strewn far and wide and, judging by the footprints, they’d been given a thorough stamping on. Adding insult to injury, his name on the inside of his bag had been scribbled out and the word “Rubbish” written in its place.

Despite Max’s efforts at hiding it, word soon got round the other pupils at Micklewick Bay Primary School, resulting in them keeping him at arm’s length in order to avoid attracting Jason Scragg’s attention. No one wanted to be tarred with the same brush as Max Grainger and suffer the consequences.

Which was what had prompted Jasmine to take action. She knew it could lead to her getting into serious trouble with school and her parents, but she felt so strongly about what Scraggo and his pathetic henchmen were doing to Max, she was prepared to risk it.

By the end of the week, she’d formed a plan and was ready to put it into action as soon as the moment presented itself.

It was the mocking voices and cry of, ‘Leave me alone!’ that caught the attention of Jasmine and her friends that Friday when they’d barely left the school gates.

Jasmine looked on in disbelief as her brain processed the scene before her: Max was covered in rubbish.How did thathappen?Her gaze moved to the figure standing beside him, her jaw tightening as her eyes landed on Scraggo. She took in the upturned bin in his hands and cruel sneer on his face, realisation hitting her. ‘No!’

Scraggo threw the bin to the ground, the clatter echoing around the street, as he and his cronies started laughing and jeering at Max. In the next moment, he gave Max a hefty shove, knocking him to the ground. ‘Urgh! You really are rubbish now, aren’t you,Rubbish?’ He loomed over Max, sniggering as other pupils gathered round them.

A burning rage exploded in Jasmine’s chest. Much as she hadn’t wanted anything as horrible and humiliating as this to happen to Max, she’d been waiting for an opportunity to exact revenge on her friend’s behalf. And now was the perfect time.

Seeing Max struggle to his feet, fighting back tears, snapped her into action. She stormed her way over to Scraggo who was making a big show of encouraging the onlooking pupils to mock her friend.

‘Leave him alone! Just leave him alone!’ she roared, fury propelling her as she hurtled towards him, her backpack swinging from side to side on her back. The cries of her friends telling her to be careful falling on stony ground behind her, she felt utterly fearless.

Scraggo, along with everyone watching, turned to face her. ‘Or what?’ he asked, mockingly, before shoving Max again.

‘Or you’ll be sorry, that’s what!’

‘Oh, yeah?’ He threw an amused look in the direction of his two friends, before swaggering towards her, an arrogant smile curling his top lip. ‘How d’you reckon I’m gonna be sorry, then? You’re nowt but a weedy girl.’

Jasmine landed in front of him, her nostrils flaring, her face burning with anger. He gave her a hard shove to the shoulder and she staggered backwards. ‘Come on then, show me how I’m gonna be sorry.’ A gasp ran around the group of pupils who’d been watching events unfold, tension suddenly filling the air as he reached for her.

‘Get your hands off me!’ she yelled as he took hold of her shoulders.

‘Argghhh!’ Before Scraggo had a chance to utter another word his legs were whipped from beneath him and he hit the floor with a resounding thud, air huffing from his lungs.

‘That’s how.’ Jasmine made a show of dusting her hands off. ‘And what was that you were saying about me being a weedy girl?’ She wriggled her backpack from her shoulders and reached inside. ‘And this is for what you did to Max’s coat.’ She squeezed hard on the bottle of red paint she’d brought from home, covering Scraggo’s coat and school trousers. ‘How’s that for a taste of your own medicine, you loser?’

‘Gerroff! You’re crazy! Gerroff!’ Scraggo yelled, rolling around and covering his face with his arms to avoid the paint, but Jasmine’s aim was too good and she wouldn’t be satisfied until she’d emptied the bottle on him.

Hoots of laughter registered in her ears, along with the voices of Stella, Florrie and Lark who’d started clapping and cheering. Cries of ‘Whoop! Whoop!’ and ‘Go, Jazz!’ filled the air as the rest of the onlooking pupils joined in.

Scraggo staggered to his feet, his coat spattered with paint, the laughter and jeers growing louder. With his cheeks flushedwith embarrassment, he grappled for his schoolbag and made a hasty retreat.

‘You okay, Max?’ Jasmine asked softly as she helped brush the rubbish from his clothes.

He nodded, still dazed. ‘Yeah.’

‘Did he hurt you?’ Her eyes went to the graze on his chin; she’d take him back to her house so her mum could clean it up for him. Thoughts of her mum sent a dart of panic shooting through her; Jasmine knew she wasn’t going to be pleased once she’d heard what her daughter had done.

‘Not really. There’s this, though.’ He pulled his top lip taut, revealing a chip in one of his front teeth.

What she saw chased all worries of her mother from her mind, though she tried to hide her shock, not wanting to cause Max any further distress. ‘Don’t worry, that can be mended.’ She pushed up a smile. ‘D’you remember when our Jonathan chipped his tooth?’

Max nodded.

‘Well, the dentist did something to it – can’t remember what it was exactly – but now you can’t even tell his tooth was broken. It’s that good, I can never remember which tooth it is. My mum and dad’ll sort it out for you like they did for Jonathan.’

Max swallowed and peered up at her. ‘Thanks, Jingilby,’ he said in a small voice.

‘What for?’

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