Chapter Four
P.E.

Samantha spent the next day avoiding Phil. Every time she saw him in the corridor, she turned around and walked the other way, pretending she hadn't seen him. Her luck ran out when she remembered that they had an English lesson later that day and she sat next to him.

She walked into her English class after break and sat down in her usual seat, completely ignoring Phil as he sat beside her.
"Today we're gonna carry on with our group work on Great Expectations. Now there were a few missing last lesson …" Miss Ackland began, looking at her register. "Ah yes, Samantha, Stuart, Joanne and … Phil. You four can make a group and I'll come round in a minute and tell you what you have to do."

Phil and Stuart started to bicker straight away over which of them would do what activities. Sam and Jo sat silently listening to their pathetic arguing.
"You know, if you two don't shut up we're not gonna get anything done." Jo said.
"Well me and Sam will go and do some research and then you and Jo can make a title and find some pictures." Phil said.
"No, me and Sam will do the research; you and Jo can do the pictures." Stuart replied.
"Shut up, me and Sam will do the research and you two can do the pictures." Jo said. "And don't argue or I'll set Sparkle on you!"
Phil shuddered slightly. He had bad memories of Jo and Gary's pet rotweiler Sparkle. "Fine!" He sulked.

"Looks like someone's popular then!" Jo grinned as she logged onto a computer.
"I dunno what you mean." Sam said innocently.
"Course you don't."

"Honey stop drooling sweetheart." Jo said as she sat down for lunch.
"What?" Honey asked.
"You drooling over Manson."
"He's nice."
"He gave me detention!" Sam said.
"You shouldn't have been trying to protect your boyfriend." Honey replied.
"How many more times? I don't like Phil." Sam reminded them.
Honey and Jo looked at each other and laughed.

After lunch they had P.E. They sat in the hall waiting to be registered.
"I'm gonna get my mum to write me a note next week." Sam whispered.
"This week girls we're gonna be playing netball. So make sure you've got the right kit on, spares in the cupboard over there. Red netball skirts and white t-shirts please girls.

Samantha and Jo walked out of the changing rooms and out onto the courts.
"Nice skirt Samantha." Zain smirked at her, nudging Smithy and Phil.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jo asked.
"I was just commenting on how lovely Samantha looks today. But then again she does look lovely everyday." Zain replied. "We're not doing football today ….. We're gonna sneak off and go down town. You lovely ladies want to come?" He asked.
"No thanks." Sam sneered before heading off to the netball courts.
"You weren't supposed to scare her off you idiot!" Phil said angrily, shoving him in the shoulder.
"What? I was just acting like you." Zain said.