Carly raced after Freddie, the jeers and laughing loud in her ears. She saw him push through the double doors and turn left into a deserted corridor, and followed him.
She found him sitting on the floor against the wall, staring in the opposite direction.
"Hey," she said quietly.
He turned and gave her a brief smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Hi," he replied.
Carly walked over and slid down the wall next to him. She kept close to his side, not minding that his shoulder was covered by a scratchy coat and it grazed her cheek.
"I'm sorry about your mom," Carly whispered, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. He returned the pressure and continued to watch her, an almost confused look on his face.
"Why weren't you laughing?" He asked suddenly.
"Because you were getting embarrassed and it wasn't really very funny," Carly answered.
One corner of his mouth turned up a bit and his expression evened out.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
A comfortable silence ensued, in which she rested her head on his shoulder and he played with her fingers.
"Can I crash at your place tonight?" Freddie asked. "I'm sick of my mom right now."
Carly smiled. "Sure. You want to come over now?"
Freddie shook his head. "I need to talk to her first."
"OK."
"I wish she wouldn't treat me like I'm a five-year-old," Freddie muttered bitterly.
Carly moved her other hand round his arm and hugged it tightly. "When you talk to her, tonight, just be straight with her. Say that you've had enough."
"I'll try. I'm fifteen; I should have some freedom."
Carly patted his arm. "See? Now you're being a man!"
Freddie laughed and grinned at her.
Just then Mrs Benson came hurtling round the corner, flushed and out of breath.
"Freddie! There you are! Come on, if you're good we'll watch the Wildlife Channel together."
"One second," Freddie said. He pulled himself and Carly up from the wall, exchanging pressure on their joined hands one last time before he let go and went after his mother.
"See you later!" He called, waving and then disappearing out of the doors into the school.
Carly smiled to herself for a moment, remembering the photos that his mom had shown.
Freddie had been quite a cute baby, she decided.