Chapter 11

Jess dithered at the front of the queue, taking in what remained of the school's meagre offerings with an audible grimace. A pile of green beans, steamed fish portions and some grain that was probably quinoa. It was always quinoa.

She grabbed a banana from the fruit tray and placed it on her tray beside her apple juice.

'A healthy meal indeed,' she thought.

Out of habit, Jess scanned the cafeteria for a vacant table before remembering she had a group to sit with now. Walking over to their table, she almost tripped when Ricky threw his hefty arm into her path.

"Sit here," he grunted, kicking out the plastic chair opposite.

Jess felt the eyes of his friends sizing her up as she slid into the chair. She tried to ignore them, concentrating on the tiny meal in front of her. Every move she made felt deliberate and robotic, as though she were under scrutiny; a bug bene