well. You can all have the
rest of my dinner – if you want it.’
Seymour and Nishi look like they might actually take me seriously for the first time ever when they see that I really am prepared to leave the remainder of my food. This has literally never
happened before. They are both speechless.
‘See you both tomorrow then,’ I add, forcing a smile in the hope that they’ll leave me alone. ‘And see you soon, Anna. Night, everyone.’
I’m honestly relieved that neither Seymour nor Nishi offers to walk me home, even though they both live really near me. However, I can’t help but wonder if they are all going to
start talking about me behind my back the second I exit the building.
I’m past caring; the fresh air actually helps as I spill on to the pavement outside and start walking. It only takes me a few steps before righteous indignation kicks in and powers me
along.
‘Hey, Chew – wait!’
I’m barely listening. Expecting Seymour or, less likely, Nishi to be the owner of the voice shouting out behind me, I don’t bother to turn around and just keep walking.
‘Tuesday,’ Anna gasps as she catches up. ‘I’m glad I caught up with you.’
She’s panting and grinning, but she isn’t even red in the face like I would be – Anna always looks very together. She’s basically an indie Audrey Hepburn.
‘Actually,’ I say, which starts off as a croak but soon begins to go back to normal, ‘since you just saved my life, I’m probably the one who should be chasing you around,
offering to do good deeds or something.’
‘That’s OK.’ She shrugs. ‘Somebody had to do something. I learned everything I know from
Mrs Doubtfire
. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you.’
‘Really?’
I don’t mean to sound sceptical. As I’ve said a billion times before, I really like Anna. It’s just that we have never really hung out, or spent any length of time one on one.
Now I come to think about it, the longest times have probably been when Nishi has been to the loo in Macari’s. Nishi can be a bit possessive of both of us, I suppose.
Oh god – my conversation with Nish in the canteen springs to mind. I hope Anna
isn’t
secretly in love with me. I mentally roll my eyes at myself – I’m such an
idiot; no wonder my best friend and my boyfriend both appear to hate me.
‘Yeah,’ Anna goes on to explain. ‘I just wanted to say that I think the other two are both being really harsh. And I don’t think it’s right for Nishi to gang up on
you with Seymour like that – she’s supposed to be your best friend.’
‘Well, thanks a lot – but you were a bit quiet too when this was actually happening . . .’
I know I’m being uncharitable and I should just be grateful for the support now. None of this is Anna’s fault.
‘I’m not proud of myself, OK?’ she says quietly. ‘I’m working on it. It’s just that sometimes, with Nishi, it’s really hard to speak up. I’m sure
you don’t understand because you’re really good at holding your own, but she can be so forceful and she just automatically assumes that I have to agree with her about everything. Like,
if I’m not with her I’m against her. God, you must think I’m so pathetic.’
‘Oh, Anna! I really, really don’t – I promise. I understand exactly what you mean. Nishi’s always been like that. When we were eight and anyone asked her what she wanted
to be when she grew up, she would always say she was going to be the Queen of the World. It was only when we were fifteen and she started studying politics that she downgraded to Prime Minister. I
wouldn’t be surprised if she is, one day.’
‘It’s why we love her, right?’ Anna agrees. ‘It’s just that sometimes . . . I don’t know, I feel like she just likes the idea of me, and she would rather I
didn’t ever say or do anything to spoil it.’
‘I do know what you mean, totally,’ I tell her, gabbling to hide the panic that’s invading my stomach again.
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