I came out of the house like I did every morning for school. Tommy, Olivia, Chuckie, Kimi, Angelica and Suzie were all already there. They were all in convocations so I just stood with them by the bus stop and kept looking at Phil and Lil's house. I really need to see Phil this morning, it was typical he would be late. Phil finally came running out the house.

"Hey Dil," Phil said walking up behind me, "Here, take this," Phil handed me some money.

"I don't need this," I replied. I looked at the rest of the group but they seemed to be too involved in their own convocations. "Pete will take any money I have, so can you look after this until lunch?" I asked handing him the extra money I'd brought this morning.

"Sure," Phil said pocketing the money. "Will you be okay in your lessons with Pete?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," I said, though I had no idea if I would be or not.

"Well meet us at morning break, and then find us at lunch as well okay?" Phil said. I nodded. The bus turned into our street.

"You won't tell anyone, will you?" I asked grabbing his sleeve as he turned to get on the bus.

"No way, if that's what you want," Phil replied and then followed Angelica onto the bus. I felt more relieved now. Phil understood and I had him on my side.

"Not wearing a coat Pickles?" Pete said from the back of the bus. I was sitting on my own with Chuckie and Phil in front of me. Phil turned around too and looked at Pete.

"What you looking at loser boy?" Pete said to Phil. Phil gave Pete a dirty look.

"I really couldn't say," Phil said laughing at him. Pete looked angry now.

"Is that that guy again?" Chuckie asked looking round.

"Yeah, he's a proper weirdo," Phil said turning back.

"Where's Lil," Chuckie asked.

"She's ill, some tummy bug or whatever," Phil replied.

I turned back and Pete was still looking at me. He made the same thumb across his neck movement and started laughing. I turned away and tried to keep myself calm.

As the bus stopped everyone poured off. The guys had all run off to their classes and I felt an arm grab me as I went to mine.

"You tell anyone Pickles and you're dead," Pete repeated in my ear, "And I'll kill the loser you tell as well." I stood frozen in the corridor. Pete had walked off to Science but now I felt even worse. I'd dropped Phil in this with me. But Phil's bigger; surely Pete wouldn't try to attack him. Oh God I was in trouble.

Lessons that day were okay; better than usual. I had the odd airplane and ball of paper thrown at my head when the teachers turned away but that was normal now. At the end of History Pete came up to me and took the money I was carrying. I tried to act upset about it, though I knew Phil had my money.

Lunch came and I got my money from Phil and then avoided Pete's table when I sat down. I was having quite a good day.

"Dil! What happened to your face!" Kimi screeched when she saw the cuts and bruises. The whole table turned and looked at me.

"I feel over," I shrugged.

"Bro why didn't you tell me?" Tommy asked. I was surprised he'd even noticed I was at the table. I looked at him as I ate my mashed potatoes.

"Like you would've listened," I muttered.

"Tommy, what was the English homework?" Phil asked Tommy. Everyone else went back to their lunch. Tommy got out his homework and showed Phil. I was really regretting what I'd just said to Tommy. Though I must have said it too quiet for anyone to hear.

When we'd finished eating everyone was getting up. Kimi stopped me and pulled me to one side.

"What's up?" She asked.

"N...nothing!" I said, though she could tell something was wrong.

"Why you mad at Tommy? Because he has someone else in his life except you?" Kimi asked making me feel guilty.

"No, it's just, oh I can't say," I said and ran off. I ran as fast as my legs could take me through the canteen. I ran through the corridor. I ran past Tommy, Olivia, Chuckie and Phil. I ran out the front of the school. I sat on the step and slung my head into my hands. I was a lousy brother. I couldn't stand my brother having his first girlfriend. I wanted him to myself.

"What you doing?" Phil said coming out the main entrance after me. I couldn't say anything though. I thought if I ignored him he'd go away. But then I heard his footsteps come up behind me.

"I'm fine," I said through my hands.

"That's great," he said unenthusiastically, "but what you doing out here?" he asked again.

"I just need to sit, okay?" I snapped. "Away from people." People as in Phil and Mum and Kimi, all nosing into my life.

"Boys, what are you doing out here? Get to your lessons!" I heard Mrs. Marsden's old squeaky voice say. I stood up and turned around and walked inside with Phil.

"Wipe that tear would you," Phil said as he went into an English room. I hadn't even noticed a tear but I swiftly got rid of it. Imagine the torment I'd get if Pete had seen.

Last lesson was the worst of the day. Mr. Radford wasn't in so we had one of those can't-control-a-class supplies. After ten minutes she ended up running out of the class because of Pete and his friends. The class cheered, all except me. Now I had no one to stop Pete and his mates getting at me.

"Mummy's boy!" Pete yelled from his seat at the back. I didn't turn. Experience had taught me that if I turned they would laugh and say I knew they were right.

"Skinny!" Tessa yelled from her seat next to Pete.

"Weakling!" Rod yelled from the other side of Pete.

"He's not answering us," Rod said loudly to Pete. I looked at the people in the seats next to me, they were turning around and looking at Pete and his crew then they looked at me.

"Perhaps we should go down there and teach him a lesson," Tessa suggested.

"No," Pete said, I felt a sudden gush of relief, "He'll come to us." I gulped and looked down at the desk. I scratched the pen into the wood and pretended I couldn't hear them.

"Skinny, Skinny, Skinny, Skinny," They chanted over and over. It got louder and louder. Other kids started banging their fists on the desk and kicking the floor, "Skinny, Skinny." It got louder until they were shouting at me. The chant was all around me. I kept my head down and tried my hardest to blank it out.

"What is going on in here?" Mr. Hemmingway shouted as he crashed into the classroom. It suddenly went silent. I still had my head down. I thought I might cry but I tried to keep it in. Mr. Hemmingway started shouting at the class then he came and stood next to me.

"You think this is funny?" Mr. Hemmingway shouted at me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to the Principals office. I heard a burst of laughter after the door shut. I sat in the small room. The Principal yelling at me, saying that cheekiness is rude and what not. I wasn't listening that much. My eyes were drowning in tears. I heard him say that crying wouldn't get me out of this. I felt so stupid. I wanted to go home, I wanted my mum.