Dreamrider Read Online Free Page B

question I was supposed to answer, but he carried on without pause.
    â€˜I think I would be doing you a favour if I took it off you. You know, one less cake a day. You might lose some weight. That would help, wouldn’t it? Like, I’m your local weight watchers. What do you think?’
    â€˜You can have it,’ I said. I held out the cake. He seemed disgusted.
    â€˜I don’t want to eat it,’ he said. ‘Not after it’s been in your fingers. Have you never learned elementary hygiene, my fat friend? No, this is what I want to do with it.’
    He took the cake from me and smashed it into my face, rubbing it around my nose and up into my eyes, forcing it into my hair. I kept still.
    â€˜Look at me,’ he said.
    I scraped cake away from my eyes. He was still squatting and his face was a blank. There wasn’t any sign of enjoyment or the adrenalin rush I’d normally see. He wiped crumbs from his fingers onto my shirt.
    â€˜For some reason, mate, I’ve taken a dislike to you,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why. It happens like that sometimes, doesn’t it?’ His voice was quiet and reasonable.
    â€˜Yeah,’ I said. I knew an answer was required.
    â€˜Anyway,’ he continued, ‘it goes without saying that this was merely an unfortunate accident. Nor will you mention this.’ He flicked out a hand and it caught me across the nose. It wasn’t hard. Not a punch, but it stung. Blood gathered in my nostrils and dripped down into the brown sticky mess on my top lip. ‘Because that didn’t happen. I’m sure we understand each other.’ He sighed. ‘Well, I’d love to stay here chatting, but, like I said, this place is out of bounds and I wouldn’t want to get in trouble. I’ve a reputation to maintain. My name’s Martin, by the way.’ He held out his hand. I took it and he gave me a firm handshake. ‘Pleased to meet you. And welcome to Millways High.’
    I sat in the corner, my head tilted back, an icepack pressed to my nose. It didn’t seem to be doing much good. I could feel a trickle of blood down my throat.
    â€˜What do you know about this, Jamie?’ asked Miss Palmer.
    I was glad I didn’t have to look at him. The rage was clear in his voice, though.
    â€˜Nothin’,’ he said. ‘I told you. I had nothin’ to do with it. Why are you always pickin’ on me?’
    â€˜I’m not accusing you of anything, Jamie,’ said Miss Palmer. Her voice was calm and reasonable. I could feel the effort it took. ‘The fact is that when Mr Atkins found Michael, you were with him. Laughing. I think it’s reasonable to ask you what happened.’
    â€˜I told you. He comes in from the oval, with that crap all over him. Yeah, I laughed. Who wouldn’t? But it wasn’t my fault.’
    â€˜Michael?’
    I shifted the icepack a little.
    â€˜I tripped over the tree roots, Miss. It was an accident.’
    â€˜You see. You heard him. I had nothin’ to do with it. There’s two of us saying that. What does it take to make you believe me? I’m tired of this shit . . .’
    â€˜Jamie, you can go. But a word of advice. Be very careful. Of your language, your attitude. Everything. Do you understand?’
    He grunted. I heard him leave, his rage loud in the slap of his footsteps and the slamming of the door. I knew I’d have to face that rage eventually. That’s the way it worked. I lowered my head and carefully removed the icepack. It was stained red and chocolate brown. Mr Atkins sat opposite me. He cupped his chin in his hands and raised his eyebrows at Miss Palmer. There was silence for a while and then he spoke.
    â€˜Michael,’ he said. ‘Mr Archer has gone. What is said in this room will stay in this room. Do you understand?’
    I nodded.
    â€˜What happened, Michael?’
    â€˜I tripped over some tree roots, Sir. Got the cake