Thursday afternoon, Christian once again took the top place, scoring 96% in the spot test, with Lucy trailing by an infuriating two per cent.

“Told you, Lucy-loser, you’re never beating me, no matter how hard you try. So save face and give up already.”

“Listen here, scholarship kid! If it wasn’t for that contest, there’s no way they would have accepted you at Lyons with your sour disposition, so quit your childish comments and prove yourself in the Challenge,” Lucy countered. “If you win, only then I might accept you’re better than me. But until then, you’re the same as all of us here – little appetisers in a world of gastronomic giants – not better and certainly not the best!”

Lucy watched as the colour drained from his blush complexion. Was it the mention of the scholarship, or her outburst? She immediately felt bad for calling him the ‘scholarship kid’.

But, he had been chipping away at her tolerance and had eventually managed to dig his claws into her. Ordinarily, she would never allow someone to affect her like this, but Christian had been unrelenting. She’d finally had enough. But was that an excuse for her own nasty comment?

Feeling the embarrassment creeping upon her face, she dropped her head and walked away with her shoulders hunched. Had she turned back, she might have noticed a softening in Christian’s expression as his eyes followed her. But just as soon as it appeared, it vanished, and he shook his head as though mentally chastising himself.

Slumping down onto a chair in the chill zone, Lucy felt tears prickling her eyes and threatening to spill down her cheeks. She took a deep breath to contain them, but not before Willow noticed her distress.

“Hey now, what’s going on here? Why are you crying, Lucy?” asked Willow, in a voice, hoarse with concern.

“I’m not crying,” Lucy replied, attempting a smile.

“You’re certainly not smiling, Lucy. Tell Aunt Willow what’s bothering you and she’ll fix it – just like that,” Willow said, snapping her fingers.

“It’s Christian,” she sighed. “He’s so mean, and I don’t know why it’s aimed at me since I haven’t done or said anything to offend him. Yet he’s always in my face, telling me how he’s better than me and that I’ll never amount to a decent chef,” she said, sniffing as the tears started forming in her eyes again.

“But that’s not the worst of it, Willow. I called him ‘scholarship kid’ and gave him an earful, deliberately aimed at hurting him. And that’s not the type of person I am. I’m ashamed of myself for allowing him to drag me down like that,” she said, sniffing loudly.

“And look at me almost bawling – that’s not me either. I’m ‘Laughing Lucy’ dammit, and I’m claiming back my power this instant! Christian McPutrid had better bring his A-game to the Challenge because I intend beating his ass like an African drum. And I swear that’s the last time I resort to name-calling,” she said, blushing.

Willow wrapped her arms around Lucy, giving her a long, tight hug.

“That’s my girl! Do no harm, but take no shit!” Willow said, causing Lucy to laugh until the tears streamed down her face.

“Thank you, Aunt Willow – I needed that.”

Tell us: Do you agree that it is not right to name call someone – even if they have just done it to you? (‘Lucy-loser’ v ‘scholarship kid’.)