Read Online The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson - Free Book Online Page B

playing with the silver chain around her neck.
    ‘Er, yeah, OK.’ I say, shifting in my seat.
    ‘Why did you really move schools? There’s that stupid rumour going round, about you chopping off a teacher’s finger, or something crazy like that, but I don’t believe it for one second.’
    Over the past few days I’ve overheard snatches of the same rumour. I have no clue where it came from, but figured there was no harm in letting it fly; anything to reinforce my image as the tough guy from the wrong side of the tracks.
    ‘So why don’t you believe it?’ I ask carefully.
    ‘Because. You’re not like that.’
    ‘What makes you so sure?’
    ‘Oh, I don’t know, let’s just say I’m a very perceptive person,’ she says, smiling.
    I don’t smile back.
    ‘So come on, what really happened?’ she asks.
    I check the front of the room. Miss Jennings is talking to Lauren Melrose.
    ‘Come on, you can tell me. I won’t blab it around, I promise, cross my heart and all that,’ Alicia says, running her finger across her chest.
    But Alicia doesn’t know what she’s signing up for. The truth is bigger than she could probably ever imagine.
    ‘OK,’ I say, leaning in for effect. ‘But you really can’t tell anyone.’
    ‘Your secret is safe with me,’ Alicia replies solemnly, mimicking my action and moving in closer. God, she smells good. All the time my mind is whirring for something to say.
    ‘The thing is,’ I begin, my voice lowered. ‘I got in with a bad lot at my old school. And I could see how stuff was going to go for me, you know, if I stayed. And, well, I didn’t want that for myself, so I got a transfer.’
    ‘You can do that?’
    ‘Under special circumstances, yeah.’
    Alicia sits back. ‘Wow, that’s a pretty grown-up decision to make.’
    I shrug, as if it’s no big deal.
    ‘Why don’t you tell people that then?’ she asks. ‘Why do you let them go round making stories up about you getting expelled?’
    I shrug. ‘None of their business. I figure they can think what they like. The most important thing is that I know the truth, you know?’
    I look down at my fingers. There’s a splodge of ink on the pad of my right index finger. I can feel Alicia watching me.
    ‘Miss Baker, is there a problem?’ Miss Jennings calls.
    Alicia rolls her eyes at me and turns to face the front of the class. I dare to breathe out.
    ‘I voted for you by the way,’ I say, when the bell rings ten minutes later and we’re packing away our stuff. ‘In that singing competition.’
    ‘You did?’ Alicia asks.
    ‘Course. You were great.’
    ‘You really think so?’
    ‘Definitely. Best on there by miles,’ I find myself saying.
    ‘Aw, thanks Leo,’ she says, pink and pleased.
    And it feels sort of good to have made her feel good.
    ‘You know who you remind me of?’ I continue. ‘This singer my gran used to like when she was alive. Shit, I’ve forgotten her name now, Ella something …’
    Alicia grips hold of my arm.
    ‘Oh my God, not Ella Fitzgerald?’ she whispers.
    ‘Yeah, that’s it.’
    ‘Ella Fitzgerald is like my inspiration!’ Alicia says, her eyes shining. ‘You honestly think I’m like her, Leo?’
    ‘I said so didn’t I?’
    She beams.
    ‘Leo?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Can I ask you something else?’
    ‘Er, OK,’ I say, putting on my backpack.
    ‘How come you don’t do PE? It’s the only other class we have together and you’re always on the bench.’
    I am totally aware PE is the only other class I share with Aliciaand how good she looks in that tiny pleated skirt and tight polo shirt.
    ‘Knee problems, from a football injury a few years back,’ I lie smoothly, in the swing of things now.
    ‘That must be hard, not being able to play any more,’ she says, the classroom emptying around us.
    ‘It’s not great, but what can you do? It’s not like I was good enough to play professionally or anything,’ I say with a modest shrug.
    She pauses and folds her arms.
    ‘You’re