I could hear Phil's voice from the other side of the canteen. It stuck out more so than anyone else's. He was discussing all the uses there are for having a roll as hard as the ones we get served. He was talking to Chuckie, Lil and Kimi. Tommy was there, but so was Olivia. It makes me puke when I see them together, it's like their brains have been taken over by aliens from Neptune! They weren't taking part in the convocation at the lunch table.

I passed all the tables until I reached theirs. I didn't have my lunch yet though, that's why I'd go there.

"Hey T, can I borrow some money for lunch?" I asked. But he was too busy looking into Olivia's eyes. Ever since she'd moved to our town they have barley been apart. Except at night, but then they're on the phone all the time.

"Tommy? Tommy! Can I borrow some money!" I said a little louder. Suddenly Phil chucked a roll at his head.

"Another good use," he said to the others making them chuckle. But now I had his attention. I asked him again.

"Sorry Dil, I spent it all when I went out yesterday," he replied. Yeah, he'd been out with Olivia of course.

"Dil, why haven't you got money?" Phil asked.

"Err...I...lost it," I lied. I hadn't lost it, but I didn't want the others to worry about me. Lil then gave me some money for lunch.

"I'd better get it back tomorrow!" she shouted as I ran to the dinner que. I picked up some lunch and headed back to their table. I hadn't been looking where I was going though. I walked straight towards Pete's table. Pete got up, of course, and walked out in front of me.

"Where'd you get the money, Pickles?" Pete asked, pushing me back.

"I...found it," I lied again. But Pete looked unimpressed. He picked up my dessert.

"Well I guess you couldn't have got it from a friend, you don't have any," Pete laughed at me. As he said it I looked at Tommy's table. He was still looking at Olivia. Which was surprising since the rest of the canteen was staring at us.

"Excuse me, I believe your in Dil's way," Phil said, he had appeared from behind Pete, Kimi and Lil were with him.

"Who are you?" Pete said to them.

"We're Dil's friends," Chuckie said as he walked up. I smiled. They didn't really say that much.

"Come on Dil, you need to eat," Kimi said, then Kimi and Lil walked me back to the table.

"I'll be taking that," Phil said, taking my dessert back out of his greasy hands. When I sat down I looked at Tommy. He finally looked up.

"Hey Dil, what's up?" he asked smiling. I couldn't believe him. He hadn't even noticed all that just now with Pete, "Where's your dessert?" Phil came along and put it back on my tray.

"What's going on between you and that guy?" Lil asked me. I didn't want to tell them the truth.

"I...I owed him money, that's why I didn't have it today," I said. But that was a lie too, I didn't owe him he just took whatever I had.

"Why'd you owe him?" Chuckie asked.

"Nah It's just...I dun..." I mumbled but Tommy interrupted.

"What just happened?" Tommy asked, now looking concerned.

"Your brother got stopped by some guy," Kimi said, "Who was he?"

"Pete," I said, wishing I hadn't, "He's in my year, you don't have to worry guys, I'll pay him back tomorrow,"

"As long as your okay, little bro," Tommy said turning back to Olivia. I wasn't though. Pete wasn't going to go away that easily. I was his target this term.

I ran to the bus, and jumped on. Tommy and the gang were sitting in a group of seats near the front. Tommy was sitting with Olivia of course. Lil and Kimi were next to each other behind them then Phil sat alone.

"Where's Chuckie?" I asked as I sat next to him.

"He has some science work to catch up on," Kimi said turning around.

"Why you late?" Phil asked me.

"Oh, just err needed to get some stuff," I said, trying not to sound as worried as I was. They would so totally notice something was up.

"Oh, cool" Lil replied. I was lucky; they were more concerned with something else.

"How long before Tommy and Olivia stop...staring?" Phil asked the group. We looked at them; they looked like they hadn't moved since lunch.

"It's going to be a while," Kimi said.

"It could be someone new by the end of the week, I mean they've been like this for two and a half weeks now, it can't be much longer," Lil said.

"You guys don't know how lucky you are! I have to deal with this at home as well!" I said. My voice sounded as though I was happy about it, I so wasn't though. I needed to speak to Tommy but he wouldn't speak to me, like properly like before. The gang carried on talking, but I could hear someone calling my name from behind.

"Pickles...Pickles," he whispered. I knew it was he. I felt I had to turn around. As I looked at him a paper airplane hit me in the eye. Half the bus sniggered. I looked at the paper airplane.

'Meet me at the corner of Cordor Street tonight, 8.30' the note read. I looked up and Pete was dragging his thumb across his neck. I gulped them turned back to the others.

"Dil what's that?" Phil asked trying to take the paper.

"It's nothing," I squealed in a rather high voice. I stuffed the paper in my pocket and didn't say a word the rest of the journey home. When the bus stopped outside our house we all got off, Olivia included. I watched them go towards our house.

"Dil, you want to come to ours as well?" Lil asked as she and Kimi got of the bus.

"Nah," I replied, "I got...some things on,"

"You sure?" Phil said in disbelief, "I thought you'd want to get away from them," Phil said pointing his thumb over to Tommy and Olivia.

"I'm...okay," I mumbled as I walked over to the door. But I certainly was not okay. I stuffed my hand in my pocket and felt the crisp crinkles in the paper. I was so down. I went straight to my room and read the note over and over. I didn't want to go. But this wasn't like church, I couldn't just ask mum and she'd get a little mad and say it's okay. Because this was Pete. Pete wouldn't let me get away with not turning up. I felt a tear in my eye, but I swiftly wiped it away. 'Dil Pickles is a strong boy. Strong boys don't cry,' I thought to myself. 'I'm not a wimp, I'm not skinny, and I'm not a mummy's boy.'

The day started turning to night. I wanted to talk to my brother I needed his help. But he didn't notice me anymore, now that Olivia was in his life.

I put on my large coat. The one mum bought two winters ago that was way too big. It fit me now. I felt big. I felt strong. Then I thought about Pete. Want was going to happen to me tonight?