I didn’t realise till today.

I’ve heard all the rumours about her, she got expelled from her last school because she slept with everyone in her boarding house, she- well. All the rumours.

But whilst one or two I know are truths, I still just see her. She’s short, the top of her head is… halfway up my upper arm. She’s slim, covers less of herself than Adam and Eve.

But I also see the rest.

The pretty smile, and the genuine smile. The thin red lines stacked like barcodes across her arms and legs.

We were playing net ball today.

She didn’t really understand the rules.

Being small made it harder.

I was marking her.

When someone passed the ball too hard, too high, toward her face rather than her hands, I caught it.

Admittedly, my arms went round her and I passed it to Anna who immediately entered the D, so I benefited on two counts.

And then came the more interesting part.

I think I crossed a line.

Freya was guarding too aggressively. And as I marked her, I half lifted her out the way.

She didn’t complain though.

And I swear she went a little pink under that goth make up.

But…

And then after school, we were waiting for the bus when it started to rain. She’s more of a rebel, never wears her blazer, but she got goosebumps.

I couldn’t just stand and watch her shiver.

I gave her my blazer, which swamped her.