No person could remain inactive for long. Once provoked past a point of no return one would always snap. Anna knew this and had just demonstrated the theory with an experiment involving Brook Coulter's head colliding with Anna's rolling pin.

'Why did you hit her, Anna? You must have known how dangerous that would be!'

'She was trying to knock Pearl's bowl over and wouldn't listen when I tol' her to stop so I hit her. It was only a soft wood rolling pin…'

'Only a-! Anna!'

'She's not nice, Mrs., really, she ain't.'

'Anna. Brook is in hospital with concussion, that was not a soft hit.' She sighed, sinking into her chair.

'Well.' Anna sighed too.

'They never do get it do they? Bloody authorities!'

'I don't know what you want me to say, Mrs.'

'This isn't a good start, Anna.'

''know.' A smile slipped across Anna's face, out in the hallway, she could hear Pearl in the hall, trying to eavesdrop.

'Bless 'er…'

'Since I can see that you were provoked, I'll let it slide, Anna, FOR NOW. If Brook's parents make a fuss then I will have to take action. Instant action.'

'They mus' know their daughter's a little cow.'

'Anna, you're dismissed, go and take lunch break five minutes early and don't cause trouble in Home Economics again, please.'

'Yeah, Mrs, thanks for that.' She stood and walked the door.

'And Anna?'

'Mm?'

'Do speak properly.'

'Sorry, I do try an' speak proper.' Anna ignored her words of how that was most positively not speaking properly and joined Pearl in the hallway.

'What did she say to you?'

'Ahh, nothin' really, just to watch me temper and all that.'

'And to speak properly.' Pearl giggled.

'Yeah that an' all.'

'Where do you come from, though, Anna?'

'You what?'

Pearl laughed again.

'Your accent, where's it from?'

'Here.'

'Here? You're the only person I know who speaks like that!'

''cause I'm special.' Anna said with a wink, wanting to get off the subject of her old fashioned cockney dialect. She'd had enough for one day. That's what had made her hit Brook.

'You shouldn't get into trouble for me, you know.'

''sno trouble.'

They rounded the corner. Brook's friends watched Anna with a mixture of fear and disgust. Pearl stopped walking; Anna could almost smell her fear. Her heart rate had increased.

'Better go first, then.' She strolled casually over to them; Carys (Brook's second in command) moved to block her path. With a sigh heavily laden with exasperation, Anna said;

''Scuse me dearies.'

They laughed.

'Who do you think you are?'

'We've been through this, I swear…'

'Think you're a clever one, don't you?'

'Nope. I know so.'

'Right, you littl-'

'What's going on?'

They turned, hurrying away as the P.E teacher, Miss Lance, stood behind them. Anna sighed, relieved.

'Nothin', Miss.'

'You're new, aren't you?'

'Yeah.'

'What's your name?'

'Anna Lovett.'

'Lovett?' She laughed. 'Well, that's nice.' She walked away, still chuckling to herself as she entered the staff room. 'Poor kid out there, did you hear that, her last name? Like something out of bloody…what's his name, Jack the Ripper? Oh God-'

'Cheeky bugger.' Anna turned to Pearl, who was still rooted to the spot, 'Ain't nothing funny about my name.'

Pearl shook her head.

'You 'right?'

'Yes…just a little...rattled.'

'Ahh, ignore 'em. They're no good.'

'Yes, I guess. You want to get lunch?'

'Uhh, I'm not hungry, but I'll come with you.'

'Okay.' Pearl smiled, still looking unnerved and led Anna to the canteen. It was busy, noisy and smelled bad. To Anna, anyway.

'What kind o'…food.' Anna dodged a piece of lettuce strayed from a food fight, 'do they serve here?'

'Just normal stuff. Mostly vegetarian, actually.' She picked up a tray. Anna pulled a face.

'No chance of a meat pie, then…'

'Appetizing.'

Pearl giggled. That's when a large amount of salad cream splattered into the back of Anna's head.

'SHOT!' She heard, turning to see the perpetrator high-5 a friend.

She sighed. This was going to be a long day.

Anna cursed whoever came up with her timetable, the last lesson of the day was chemistry, a subject Anna hated, and a subject in which she was not in Pearl's class. They had agreed to meet at the front gates when lessons had finished, but now, leaning against those gates, with no Pearl in sight and getting buffeted by the crowds, Anna was ready to bite someone's head off – literally.

'It's like bloody St Dunstan's on a Saturday morning!'

Eventually, Pearl was sighted and Anna ran to her gratefully.

'Took your time, love!' She laughed.

'Sorry.' Pearl looked behind her, 'had to avoid Carys.'

'Ah. Yeah, better had for now, I'm givin' her a wide berth too!'

'Ready?'

'God yeah!'

They left the grounds and headed through the park, Pearl was trying to get Anna to eat sweets.

'Go on, just try one, you'll like it!'

'No, really, I don't like any of it.'

'Who doesn't like sweets? Go on…please?'

'Listen, why you so keen to get me to eat, eh?'

'You haven't eaten anything all day.'

'Not hungry.'

'You must be!' Pearl forced a toffee into Anna's hand

'Pearl!' Anna laughed, 'gimme a break!' They rounded the corner and froze. Brook's group, led by Carys, were standing in wait.

'Anna…' Pearl warned her as she approached.

'So if it isn't little Miss Lovett.' Carys sneered as she took a step forward. 'I owe you a favour.'

'You owe me a 'thank you'.' Anna heard Pearl gasp and a murmur of anger and surprise from those standing behind Carys.

'You think you call the shots don't you?' Carys strode forward, exuding confidence, this wasn't her first fight, this wasn't the first time she'd broken the confidence of someone she disliked, this wasn't the first time she'd done someone damage. 'Let's see how you look with a broken nose, shall we?' She drew back her hand.

Anna stood, allowing her fist to fly forwards. For Anna's exceptional eyesight, this wasn't a problem. She waited until Carys was millimetres from the end of her nose before she reacted, her hand flying up and catching round Carys' fingers. In one swift, fluid movement, Anna's opponent was sprawled on the floor, a look of shock on her face. Carys lifted her hand and saw, along with everyone else, the bruises made by Anna's hand closing around her own. She raised her head to see Anna and gasped, scrambling backwards over the woodland floor, as the rest of the group dispersed. She'd noticed the change; the primal instinct Anna held had taken over.

'You're a psycho!' Carys yelled and she backed away, now on her feet. Instinct kicked in, Anna stalked forwards, slightly too fast. Carys screamed and hurried away. When she was at the other end of the park path, she called again the insult, 'psycho!' before running.

Anna turned and walked back to Pearl, who was sitting on a tree stump biting her nails.

'Are you hurt?' She asked.

'Nah, she didn't get me.' Anna smiled gently.

'How did you-never mind.' They walked down the path. Pearl glanced at Anna again, 'Hey, what's up with your eyes?'

'What?' Anna suddenly felt alarmed.

'They've gone all wide and bright…'

'Oh.' Anna desperately tried to change topic. 'Maybe they won't bother you now.'

'Maybe. Anna…please eat the toffee now.'

Relenting, Anna unwrapped it and, taking a deep breath, she chewed and swallowed it as quickly as possible. She shuddered.

'See? Don't like 'em, me.'

'Yes. That's odd, you know. I think they're the best.'

Anna smiled and they walked in silence, she felt something wet run down her upper lip. They reached her turning point.

'This is where we go in different directions.' Anna stopped and faced Pearl.

'Yes, can we mee-Anna!'

'What?' Anna's eyes shifted in confusion.

'I thought you said that Carys didn't get you!'

'Mm.' Realization dawned on her. Anna reached up her sleeve to catch the blood dripping from her nose before it ran down her chin and onto her t-shirt. 'She didn't. See you tomorrow.'

'Can we meet again?'

'If you want to, love. Same place, same time, see you then.'

'Bye.' Pearl walked to the end of the street and waved but when she turned round, Anna was already gone.