The Territory by Sarah Govett

and risk-taking are BAD personality traits. Show a lack of judgement. As does mixing with violent citizens. So, even though you’re a victim, you’re not worth saving. Getting hurt at a party, doesn’t matter whose fault it was, counts as ‘self-inflicted’. Guess the top Ministry peeps didn’t get many invitations when they were young.
    Apparently I blacked out as soon as I’d hit the table. Daisy had called Mum and Dad immediately. She knew an ambulance wouldn’t come and that if she called one, we’d probably both be put under surveillance.
    Everyone apart from Raf, Daisy and Jack had left when they arrived. Daisy said Dad took one look at my head and Jack’s hand and told him to, ‘Get out, while you still can.’ I can’t quite believe it. Dad’s a big fan of Jack’s. But I suppose he did (accidentally) deck his baby girl. Then Dad lifted me over his shoulder ‘like a sack of potatoes’ (thanks Daisy – maybe like ‘sleeping beauty’ would have been nicer!) and carried me all the way home.
    Mum’s science training and medical supplies came in useful. She gave me something for the pain, bathed the cut (luckily above the hairline so I won’t get a grimbo face scar) and kept me awake to check it hadn’t hurt my brain and turned me into a genuine denser. I actually began to enjoy it. I felt the most secure and cocooned I had for ages. Felt the stresses of the world and the endless revision and the exam just slip away. I think the drugs were pretty strong.
    Mum made me stay in bed the whole day and wouldn’t even let me revise, didn’t want me to strain my head! We laughed about it. Never, when I was little, would I have thought I’d be pushing my mum to let me study more. Please, just one more chapter of Physics – pretty please!
    I had visitors all afternoon. It was better than a birthday.
    First Daisy, filling me in on all the details. Like how Hugo and Quentin had just fled as soon as I’d been punched out. How Raf had gazed ‘all gooey eyed’ on my limp body. (Cool.) And how Jack had almost gone into a state of shock at what he’d done. And how she’d had to spend the rest of the night (with Raf’s help – he’s so great!) cleaning up; trying to tidy up any breakages and remove bloodstains. Daisy was trying to pretend it was all OK and just really funny, but I could tell she was seriously stressing. One of her mum’s prized tacky glass sculptures had been shattered and Daisy hadn’t been able to completely get the blood off the wallpaper. In the end they’d pulled a sofa in front of it as a lame disguise, so hopefully her Mum won’t move it and go mental when she gets back in five hours time.
    Raf dropped round at about 3pm, but massively annoyingly I’d just fallen asleep again so didn’t get to see him. Even worse, Mum hadn’t realised I was asleep and had shown him into my room and I’d been snoring. How unattractive is that!?!
    Jack sheepishly appeared just before dinner. His face was all puffy and it looked like he’d been crying although he totally denied it.
    ‘I’m so sorry, Noa,’ he said, and his voice was regret itself. ‘I can’t believe I hurt you. I didn’t see you there. I just see red and then … it’s like my fists control themselves. I know that sounds lame, but that’s what happens. Honestly.’
    ‘Don’t worry – I know what you’re like. I know it was an accident. How’s Quentin?’
    ‘Dunno. I think I broke his nose.’
    ‘Poor Daisy. Lucky Raf was there to help her clean up.’
    ‘Well, he did start it.’
    I couldn’t quite believe what Jack was saying.
    ‘He basically jumped Hugo and caused the whole fight.’
    ‘Jack. You are unbelievable. They came to get us drunk and perv on Norms. Quentin was feeling me up. Just get out, Jack. Get out.’
    I was so upset I nearly forgot about having to see Mr Daniels tomorrow. Nearly.

    Mr Daniels is a nasty man with too much power and now he’s out to ruin my life.
    I made sure I got to his