the hidden weight of the bracelet around my wrist all day. Even though we keep our sleeves pulled down so that nobody else can see, I know Elyse can feel it as well, because she keeps looking over at me like she can’t really believe it either.
When we get back to my house later on, she’s being extra nice to me and I can’t explain why it makes me feel such a golden glow. Obviously I still feel bad about my introduction to a life of crime, but I’m even more shocked with myself at how easily it starts to feel worth it. I know it’s kind of a pattern with me and I can’t blame Elyse – I worry so much and feel so bad about things, yet I know I wouldn’t take this back, even if I could.
‘It’s great round at your house.’ Elyse smiles at me, as the two of us are on our own in the kitchen making tea. ‘I like coming round here; it’s really…relaxed. I bet your parents are really cool as well.’
‘It’s my mum and her boyfriend, actually. Yeah, they’re all right. Hey, why don’t you and Mel stay for dinner tonight? Mum said it’d be OK.’
‘Thanks, that sounds great – but we’d better not.’
Every day, before my mum arrives home from work, Elyse and Mel rush off without being prompted. Mum’s been asking me about it, saying they’d be welcome to stay.
‘Have you got plans tonight?’ I ask, fishing. ‘Like, seeing your boyfriend or something? You know, that guy who was in the car with you after the gig? I mean, I saw you leaving, and…’
I’ve been wracking my brains for a way of bringing up that gorgeous boy, without sounding like a total stalker. I’ve clearly failed.
‘Gareth?’ she exclaims. ‘He’s not my boyfriend – he’s gross! He’s just our next-door neighbour and he gave us a lift home. As if!’
‘Weren’t there two guys in the car?’ I press. ‘One of them was really tall and good-looking, with a leather jacket, and—‘
‘Dude, it was just creepy Gareth – and that definitely doesn’t sound like him.’
‘Gareth next door?’ Mel pipes up, and we both jump as we hadn’t realised she was listening. ‘I thought
you
were the one who didn’t think he was that bad. I mean, you’re always—‘
‘Calm down, girls – God!’ Elyse exclaims, cutting her off. ‘Let’s not get carried away. Mel, you’re being crazy as usual. Sorana, I think you’re seeing things.’
She laughs and walks off, and I realise I should really have shut up – so much for not sounding like a stalker. I guess I must be seeing things; after all, for a second, I had even thought that boy was looking at me and not Elyse – I’m clearly delusional. I try to forget it, but just for a second I wonder if Elyse was putting me off on purpose. I realise that – beyond the ephemeral kind of stuff we’ve bonded over – I don’t know much about the twins at all yet.
On another level, though, after spending the whole week with them, I feel as if we’ve really got to know each other. I don’t know what it is, but something has definitely clicked between us and this feels like the start of something new and really exciting – just what I’ve wished for. Suddenly, it’s nearly over.
It feels like the world has changed in a very short space of time. For a while, I can’t put my finger on what exactly the difference is and then, falling asleep on Sunday night before school starts again, I realise: I’m really happy.
Chapter Eight
If I’d been expecting to go back to school miraculously transformed, I was wrong. From the moment I see Amie Bellairs first thing on Monday morning, the real world comes crashing back in. She’s got stitches in her lip, her nose taped up, and an attitude that screams ‘fuck off’. I don’t even dare ask how she is. As soon as Lexy arrives, they take up their usual place on the sofa and the bitching commences.
I can’t help but strain my ears to hear what they’re saying. I hate myself for wondering whether Lexy saw Josh over half term. I know
When we get back to my house later on, she’s being extra nice to me and I can’t explain why it makes me feel such a golden glow. Obviously I still feel bad about my introduction to a life of crime, but I’m even more shocked with myself at how easily it starts to feel worth it. I know it’s kind of a pattern with me and I can’t blame Elyse – I worry so much and feel so bad about things, yet I know I wouldn’t take this back, even if I could.
‘It’s great round at your house.’ Elyse smiles at me, as the two of us are on our own in the kitchen making tea. ‘I like coming round here; it’s really…relaxed. I bet your parents are really cool as well.’
‘It’s my mum and her boyfriend, actually. Yeah, they’re all right. Hey, why don’t you and Mel stay for dinner tonight? Mum said it’d be OK.’
‘Thanks, that sounds great – but we’d better not.’
Every day, before my mum arrives home from work, Elyse and Mel rush off without being prompted. Mum’s been asking me about it, saying they’d be welcome to stay.
‘Have you got plans tonight?’ I ask, fishing. ‘Like, seeing your boyfriend or something? You know, that guy who was in the car with you after the gig? I mean, I saw you leaving, and…’
I’ve been wracking my brains for a way of bringing up that gorgeous boy, without sounding like a total stalker. I’ve clearly failed.
‘Gareth?’ she exclaims. ‘He’s not my boyfriend – he’s gross! He’s just our next-door neighbour and he gave us a lift home. As if!’
‘Weren’t there two guys in the car?’ I press. ‘One of them was really tall and good-looking, with a leather jacket, and—‘
‘Dude, it was just creepy Gareth – and that definitely doesn’t sound like him.’
‘Gareth next door?’ Mel pipes up, and we both jump as we hadn’t realised she was listening. ‘I thought
you
were the one who didn’t think he was that bad. I mean, you’re always—‘
‘Calm down, girls – God!’ Elyse exclaims, cutting her off. ‘Let’s not get carried away. Mel, you’re being crazy as usual. Sorana, I think you’re seeing things.’
She laughs and walks off, and I realise I should really have shut up – so much for not sounding like a stalker. I guess I must be seeing things; after all, for a second, I had even thought that boy was looking at me and not Elyse – I’m clearly delusional. I try to forget it, but just for a second I wonder if Elyse was putting me off on purpose. I realise that – beyond the ephemeral kind of stuff we’ve bonded over – I don’t know much about the twins at all yet.
On another level, though, after spending the whole week with them, I feel as if we’ve really got to know each other. I don’t know what it is, but something has definitely clicked between us and this feels like the start of something new and really exciting – just what I’ve wished for. Suddenly, it’s nearly over.
It feels like the world has changed in a very short space of time. For a while, I can’t put my finger on what exactly the difference is and then, falling asleep on Sunday night before school starts again, I realise: I’m really happy.
Chapter Eight
If I’d been expecting to go back to school miraculously transformed, I was wrong. From the moment I see Amie Bellairs first thing on Monday morning, the real world comes crashing back in. She’s got stitches in her lip, her nose taped up, and an attitude that screams ‘fuck off’. I don’t even dare ask how she is. As soon as Lexy arrives, they take up their usual place on the sofa and the bitching commences.
I can’t help but strain my ears to hear what they’re saying. I hate myself for wondering whether Lexy saw Josh over half term. I know
Similar Books
