Seven

Girls changing rooms

Jessie stood and bit her lips. All around her the girls were getting changed and the longer she put it off the more attention she was getting. She swallowed hard and took her blazer off revealing her arms. The girls that were closest stopped and stared. Jessie growled at them and they went back to changing. She unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it off revealing the cuts up her back. The whole changing room went silent. Jessie knew what they were staring at. She threw her pale blue t-shirt on to cover up the cuts on her back but was still self-conscious about her arms. She quickly changed her skirt for her tracksuit and ran out into the gym. She sat in the far corner and swung her legs. She was hideous. She pulled out a hair band and tugged all her hair backwards into a ponytail so she could see revealing her scar on her face. She knew what the other girls would say when they came out. Mr Crowhurst still wasn't there yet.

Boys changing rooms

Rick was stood next to Josh who was worrying about Jessie. She hadn't been allowed to not take part and he was worried by what the other girls would see. He was so distracted he took his blazer off, unbuttoned his shirt and undid his tie. He pulled his shirt off and went to put his black t-shirt on but Rick stopped him by placing his hand on Josh's back. Josh twinged and realised what he'd done. Josh spun round. "Rick I can explain," he started. Rick raised an eyebrow.

"She was abusing you too," Rick said stunned. Josh shook his head.

"No she wasn't. Look I'll explain later but you can't tell Mike," Josh told him. Rick glared but nodded in agreement and Josh pulled his t-shirt on. The pair of them went out into the hall. They both spotted Jessie sat on her own, her bare burnt arms showing. They looked at each other and ran over. "Jessie are you alright?" Josh asked. She looked up and Rick slid backwards on the bench. From her hairline above her right eye to her right ear was what appeared to be a deep scar. Rick stared at her for a while and then came to his senses.

"How... badly... was she abused?" he asked his voice shaking with anger. Josh looked up at him his eyes glistening.

"the extent of damage isn't just what you can see. The right hand side of the stomach is completely covered in purple bruises, the left hand is covered in fading bruises. She has several lacerations and cuts up her back like I do and she has some on her hips," Josh explained quietly. "Oh and the one on her neck." Rick just looked at the pair of them.

"That's awful," he said. He realised that the girls were coming in from the changing rooms and were staring at Jessie with disgusted faces. Mr Crowhurst walked in and was surprised by how quiet it was in the gym. He saw everyone staring in the direction of the two new students and Rick. He walked over and was suddenly alarmed by what he saw.

"This is why she didn't want to do PE isn't it?" he asked. Josh nodded. "Oh why didn't I listen. You two are both in care I should have clicked it had something to do with your past. She's not just burnt or scarred is she?" Both boys shook their head. He nodded. "ok," he crouched down in front of Jessie. "listen Jessie. I'm not going to make you do PE but you're changed now so maybe you should try and give it a go." Jessie nodded.

"I'll do it," she said. "But can I borrow a jumper to cover up my arms?" she asked. He shook his head.

"We don't have any. I'm sorry," he said. Jessie sighed and stood up.

"Oh well, I'll just do it like this," she said and walked towards the rest of the class. Rick and Josh looked at each other with raised eyebrows. The whole class stared at Jessie's arms. Mr Crowhurst signalled for them all to pay him attention.

"ok. So one of our new ones is injured. Just leave her alone and don't stare. If she wants to tell you she will but I doubt she will, just be careful of her arms," Mr Crowhurst said. "Anyway I'm going to split you in to teams of five and you will play against each other." He went round counting out teams of five. Jessie was with Josh, Rick, Frank and Sophie. Sophie was still chewing her bubblegum but was also staring at Jessie's arms.

"So like what happen'd to you arms like?" Sophie asked. Jessie sighed.

"You really don't want to know," Jessie told her unhappily. Frank was staring at them as well.

"Why didn't you say something Jessie?" he said. She shrugged as he team were called up to play. She put on her basketball bib and stood in centre court for the toss up. She hit it and Rick caught it. He bounced it and passed to Frank who threw to Jessie, who dribbled it past the opposite teams, aimed and scored a basket. Rick and Josh hit her on the back as the team retreated to the other end apart from Sophie who was just chewing her gum to one side of the court.

"Good job, we're fairly good at basketball," Jessie muttered to Josh as she intercepted a pass and went haring down to the other end of the court and scored another basket. Josh grinned at her as she came back. Frank then got the ball and scored. They were winning and by the end of their match they won 5-2. They played four other games and won each time. Jessie had scored thirteen baskets, Frank 8, Josh 7 and Rick 6. Sophie had scored one much to everyone's surprise. Jessie hurriedly got changed and walked to maths with the boys. Rick wanted to know everything.

A/N: Please review and let me know what you think of this chapter. Did you like the twist about Josh also having marks? Indigo :)