Read Online Friends Forever! by Grace Dent - Free Book Online Page A

open. “How’s it going, babe?”
    â€œHey,” says Claude, running over and joining the hug. “We heard about your nan. Your dad called our mothers. We can’t believe it. We’re so sorry, Ronnie.”
    â€œThanks,” I say quietly, feeling all juddery again. I’m so relieved to see them both.
    â€œToday has been just totally horrible,” I sniff, taking a hankie out and blowing my nose. “Just totally surreal.”
    Claude releases me from her hug, wrapping her arm around my waist. “Look, Ronnie,” she says, “I just want to say how sorry I am that I’ve not been there for you over the last few days. I feel terrible.”
    â€œMe too,” sighs Fleur, biting her lip. “I’d have come round on Saturday if you’d called. You didn’t even text, though. You must have thought I wouldn’t care after, well, y’know, everything that’s happened. I feel awful.”
    I dab my eyes and shrug. “I didn’t think that . . . I just . . . ,” I begin, but my voice trails off.
    This has all got so stupid and complicated.
    â€œRonnie, we do care,” says Claude firmly, taking charge of the awkward silence. “Things have just got messy between me and Fleur, that’s all. No one’s angry at you.”
    â€œTotally,” nods Fleur.
    I look at my two friends, standing there with tearful expressions.
    â€œLook, if there’s anything we can do to make you and your mum feel better,” says Claude, “just give us a shout, we’ll be there.”
    â€œYeah! Anything at all,” nods Fleur. “Like babysitting, or making cups of tea or running errands or, well, anything. I know what it’s like when grans die. Everybody has to pull together.”
    â€œThanks, girls,” I whisper. “To be honest, I feel a whole lot better just seeing you both and, well, knowing we’re all fine again.”
    Claude and Fleur look at each other, then look away.
    There’s another awkward silence.
    â€œWhat?” I say.
    â€œWell,” says Fleur sheepishly, “depends what you mean by ‘fine.’ ”
    Claude crosses her arms and throws Fleur a withering look. “Leave it, Fleur,” she mutters.
    â€œNo, c’mon,” I say plaintively. “Surely you two must be okay now. You both came down here together, after all.”
    Claude fixes me with her best fake politician smile. “We’re fine,” she begins, nudging Fleur to shut up. “We’ve just got a few niggles that need ironing out—”
    â€œBut we didn’t come together,” Fleur announces, talking over her. “I came down here to wait for you by myself. Then brainiac here showed up. I wouldn’t leave and neither would she!”
    Claude tries to let that wash over her, but she can’t. “And why should I have left, candy-floss brain?”
    â€œSo we decided to play chess,” Fleur says, ignoring her. “Then we wouldn’t have to talk to each other.”
    â€œOh, I see . . . ,” I say dryly. “Great.” I sit down at one of the garden tables, shaking my head in disbelief.
    â€œFleur!” hisses Claude. “I can’t believe you’d be so insensitive as to start this in front of Ronnie, on today of all days!”
    â€œI’m not starting anything!” Fleur huffs under her breath. “I was just telling the truth.”
    â€œOh, we’re all telling the truth today, are we?” Claude growls under her breath. “Well, let’s leave that for another day, perhaps? I’ve certainly got plenty of home truths to tell you!”
    The pair swing around and look at me apologetically. I’m not angry at them, though. In fact, after the day I’ve had, they both seem rather comical.
    â€œAnyway, Claude,” Fleur says, wandering over to where I’m sitting, trying to sound breezy. “Good of Cressida to